Education
Miami University - BS Finance/IS
Qualifications for Office
Councilor - Oxford City Council '15-'23; Vice Chair - Oxford Chamber of Commerce; Former/Current Student Community Relations, Community Improvement, Housing Advisory Commission Member
Oxford is home after 25+ years, including 8 years on council and numerous boards. I'm running to make us the best small town and best college town in America.
My experience gives me an understanding of Oxford's strengths and untapped potential. I bring proven leadership, visionary planning focused on environmental and financial sustainability, and genuine accessibility—I meet with residents to discuss issues without partisan filters because everyone deserves respect.
I deliver results through transparent governance that shows residents the full picture of how and why decisions are made. This isn't about political ideology—it's about building the best possible future for our community.
I want to build Oxford's next chapter together.
Oxford's priorities must address what every resident needs: sustainable safety, balanced housing for all, and smart infrastructure investments.
As home of modern beekeeping in America, we should leverage our unique heritage while building a 12-month economy that thrives beyond the academic calendar. This means supporting local businesses, diversifying revenue, and maximizing partnerships with not just Miami, but all partners around Oxford, Butler County, and Ohio.
Environmental stewardship and responsible growth ensure Oxford's future. These aren't partisan issues—they're Oxford issues requiring collaboration between council, staff, residents, and Oxford's partners. Success means solutions that work for everyone who calls Oxford home.
Oxford needs more housing altogether, and affordability requires practical solutions for everyone. We should explore desirable housing at all price points while incentivizing lower-income options through land trusts, development partnerships, inclusionary units, and zoning.
Community land trusts offer self-sustaining approaches while easing the taxpayer burden. We should also expand partnerships with Oxford stakeholders and provide incentives for partners helping the trust. Leveraging county and state funding can also accelerate progress.
Smart zoning updates encourage mixed-income development and preserve neighborhood character. Housing for everyone is a key part of the infrastructure that will keep Oxford the best small town in America.
Education
Ph.D. Speech and Hearing Sciences (University of Washington); M.S. Communicative Disorders (University of Rhode Island); B.S. Psychology, McMaster University
Qualifications for Office
Elected to Oxford City Council Councilor, City of Oxford; Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator; People Person
I'm running for reelection because I believe in building a more inclusive, vibrant, and connected Oxford. As a founding member of the Police Community Relations & Review Commission, I worked with community stakeholders to advocate for a police social service liaison—a role that has positively impacted both officers and residents. I've served 4 years on City Council, chair the Public Arts Commission, and serve on the Housing Advisory Commission and Oxford Seniors Board. I value diverse perspectives and lead with clarity and compassion. As federal funding landscapes shift, communities like ours will face new challenges and opportunities. I believe my leadership, experience, and collaborative approach are essential to navigating what’s ahead.
City Council should prioritize economic development to support fire and EMS services beyond the 10-year levy agreement with Miami University. Key efforts include redeveloping the OXD airport property, expanding workforce housing and childcare, and revitalizing downtown through increased business occupancy, public events, and public art. Completing the Amtrak station is also important. In addition to workforce housing, Council should continue addressing housing availability and affordability across all income levels, and explore partnerships with local agencies and faith communities to support services like a winter cold shelter. Doing so will contribute to a more vibrant community and support public safety long term.
To address housing affordability, we need a range of solutions. We face both a lack of affordability and low availability—across the income spectrum, and we must address both while also focusing on prevention of homelessness. The recent hiring of a housing stability coordinator at TOPSS and the exploration of eviction diversion programs are examples of preventive measures. Encouraging property owners to accept housing vouchers and partnering with community agencies to build low-cost housing helps affordability. Updates to the zoning code will allow for more diverse housing stock at all income levels. People want to live in Oxford—and ensuring they can is essential not only for equity, but for strong, sustainable economic development.
Education
B.A. in Psychology from Miami University and M.A. in Political Psychology from Stony Brook University
Qualifications for Office
I have lived in Oxford for 19 years and have experienced the town from several perspectives - as a student, a professor, an employee Uptown, and as a permanent resident. I have already served one term and am familiar with the process of working with City staff to accomplish goals and advance initiatives.
Having served on Oxford City Council, I have been able to learn the ins and outs of setting and accomplishing goals on City Council. I have leveraged that learning to assist in the operations for several city-wide events as well as creating city-wide events like the OATS n' Honey 5k/10k. As a Council, we have seen progress in all key goal areas with plans to further that progress in the years ahead. In addition to the experience gained from serving one term on Council, I bring an approach to leadership that is centered around people - finding opportunities to listen to both constituents and city staff. Additionally, working in nonprofits for the majority of my career, I am able to think realistically about how to deliver on ambitious goals.
Economic development needs to be a key focal point for City Council in the coming years. Without investing in smart growth for the city, the progress we have made on goals like affordable housing and our ability to offer support to nonprofit organizations may not continue to be sustainable. The City of Oxford is incredibly lucky to have staff members who are talented in procuring grant funding for key projects. While I am confident in the skills of staff, the city would be remiss to not build its economy to be more robust year-round, attracting more full time residents. With a larger full-time population, the city will be more able to offer sustainable and continuing support for important projects and organizations.
Oxford has been able to partner with organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, to provide several housing developments that are designed to support home buyers in lower income brackets. In addition to continuing to partner with organizations whose aim is to provide affordable housing opportunities, Oxford should keep investigating sites in town that are a good fit for affordable housing communities and to include mixed income communities in all development plans. Additionally, more work needs to be done to support recent graduates and young professionals looking to live in Oxford. Rent and housing for those starting out continues to be out of reach. Including this demographic will expand the accessibility of living in Oxford.
Education
PhD in Geography, Master of Public Administration, BS Criminal Justice Administration
Qualifications for Office
Extensive public service and governmental work experience
I have lived in Oxford for almost 18 years. I considered running for City Council in the past because of local issues that impact me personally. In early spring, three separate individuals asked me to run based on my experience. I decided the time to run is now. I have dedicated my life to public service, including my education with an emphasis in public administration and governance. I chose a career teaching the principles of governance from a geographic perspective. Projects I have worked on include a United Nations Declaration that was passed by the General Assembly, a Comprehensive Plan for the City of Lemon Grove, CA, and I served on The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, CO. All are invaluable experiences to have as a Councilor.
One of the issues I think is of the highest priority for the city to address is a plan to focus on a major update to our water treatment facilities. Improvements will include a water softening system and the addition of a membrane water filtering structure designed to remove polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from our water. PFAS chemicals, also known as forever chemicals, accumulate in the body over time, potentially leading to multiple negative health effects. Recent studies report that most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS. The planned updates are crucial for the health of our community today and in the future. Improving the journey of water through our watershed is the highest priority for us all. Water is life!
Housing affordability in Oxford is the most critical issue facing the city and it directly impacts economic development. I have met with city staff, local citizens, Housing Advisory Commission members, the Oxford Area Solutions for Housing, and others, to dig deep into the issue. Housing affordability is far more complex than many realize. Council may want to refocus on the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) described in the Comprehensive Plan to refresh future housing affordability problem-solving sessions. Findings from the HNA pinpointed a critical gap in housing in the mid to low range for those earning at or below middle incomes, including higher end rental housing and new homes. As a friend recently told me, the middle has no place to go.
Education
The George Washington University Law School, LL.M., The Ohio State Mortiz College of Law, J.D., Miami University, B.A.
Qualifications for Office
25 years of experience as an environmental attorney at U.S. EPA in Washington D.C. doing legal and policy work to protect public health and the environment, Member, Oxford Environmental Commission, Board Member, Three Valley Conservation Trust, Oxford, Ohio
I have spent more than 25 years in public service as an attorney at U.S. EPA. I am particularly adept and interested in public policy (i.e., making choices about how government resources would affect the public). After being terminated by the Trump administration in April, I wish to continue serving the public in another capacity. I moved to Oxford because of its sense of community and I would like to use my experience in public policy to make Oxford an even better place to live.
The first is the need to provide afforable housing--both an immediate need for cold-weather short-term housing and longer-term or permanent housing. I think affordable housing for working people is necessary to support local businesses and to provide more diversity in the community. Second, I would like to see Oxford continue on its path to becoming a more pedestrian-friendly city by making it more walkable and bikeable. Oxford is not fully implementing its Complete Streets policy, and I want to ensure it's being followed. Third, I am concerned about the erosion of due process rights in the U.S.. I want to ensure that every citizen of Oxford receives full due process in its interactions with city, state or federal government.
We need to think creatively about what lower-income housing should look like. Do we want it concentrated in one or a few areas or provide access throughout the city? One way to do this may be to encourage landlords to accept federal subsidies instead of creating isolated "section 8" housing which is stigmatizing and does not integrate citizens into the community. I think the city of Oxford has historically over accommodated landlords who serve the student population. When I attended Miami, the mile square was most single family homes and now is almost entirely student housing. I would like to look carefully about how existing single family housing can be protected from becoming student rentals. Investment from the city is critical.
