Occupation
Attorney, City of Columbus
Education
Ohio State University Undergrad, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law for JD
Qualifications for Office
I’m the only candidate in this race who has been doing the work within City government to protect our neighborhoods and deliver real results for the people of Columbus. For nearly seven years, I’ve served in the Columbus City Attorney’s Office where I’ve prosecuted slumlords and led efforts to fight back against predatory housing practices that hurt our most vulnerable residents.
Affordability and Accountability are two of the largest issues facing our community. Growth must benefit the whole community, not just those at the top. Public safety is not just about responding to crime, it’s about preventing it, building trust, and holding systems accountable. We must: expand our supply of affordable housing; hold developers accountable when they accept public resources but fail to deliver affordable units; fight for stronger tenant protections and accountability measures for slumlords; and expand partnerships with nonprofits that provide housing stability services. It is vital that we champion investments in after-school programs, mentorship, job training, and expand evidence-based violence prevention strategies.
I will focus on affordable housing, transparent government, and safer neighborhoods. On housing I'll fight for property tax relief for seniors and working families, protect tenants, and dense and walkable neighborhoods. I’ll expand access to information and hold regular neighborhood forums and invest in proven safety alternatives. We can expand use of tax increment financing and other development tools, but with stronger accountability requirements for affordability. We can also pursue state and federal housing grants and leverage partnerships with nonprofit developers. By investing smarter and reorienting existing resources we can reallocate the budget toward evidence-based alternatives that reduce crime and save money in the long run.
Councilmembers oversee city departments, ensure accountability across government, and serve as a check and balance alongside the Mayor’s Office and other branches of city government. I am ready to serve on day one because I have already been doing the work. For nearly ten years in the City Attorney’s Office, I have worked to improve housing, address problem properties, and protect neighborhoods. I understand how City Hall works and how to make it work better. I will focus on what matters: making communities safer through smarter public safety investments and tackling our housing crisis with real and lasting solutions. I bring experience, results, and a commitment to serve all of Columbus with transparency, urgency, and integrity.
During my time with the City Attorney’s Office, I met regularly with residents across Columbus. If elected, I will continue that work by making engagement, listening, and accessibility a top priority. I will be present at community events in every neighborhood, host regular office hours in local spaces, and use clear communication to keep residents informed and involved. I will partner with trusted community leaders, remove barriers to participation, and ensure all voices are heard, especially from underrepresented communities. Most importantly, I will make sure public input leads to real results that shape city policy.
Throughout my career, I have brought people together to solve problems and deliver results. I have seen that progress happens when diverse voices are engaged and respected. On City Council, I will lead by listening, finding common ground, and turning disagreements into action. I will build strong relationships with stakeholders, communicate transparently, and focus on shared goals. When consensus is not possible, I will work toward fair compromises that reflect our values and move us forward. Columbus needs leaders who unite people and deliver real solutions. I am committed to being that kind of leader.
Campaign Phone
9135799205
Occupation
Immigration attorney
Education
Oberlin College, Moritz College of Law
Qualifications for Office
Finance Committee Member, Columbus City Schools Board (present); Staff Attorney, Community Refugee & Immigration Services (present); Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (2022-2025); Summer Counsel, Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, Housing Law Practice (2021)
Housing and transit are the top two issues I hear Columbus residents talk about. Columbus is facing an affordable housing crisis that grows worse every year and we don’t have the kind of transit service that we need to reliably get to and from school, work, and fun.
The City’s growth strategy is currently dominated by the needs of developers, corporations, landlords, and real estate attorneys. While poor and working-class people are most impacted, residents at almost every income level believe Columbus can do better.
This is why I am committed to making housing for all a top priority and to center people not developers. I'll also advocate to move to a fare-free bus model, and improve walk and bike infrastructure.
Affordable housing is my #1 priority. I hope to lead the charge to create a fund to build and acquire permanently affordable housing for public and community ownership. Redistributing public dollars to private developers to build mostly unaffordable housing is bad policy.
At least $100 million remains from the affordable housing bond Columbus voters authorized in 2022. I propose we use this money to finance the development of high-quality housing for people at all income levels.
I'd also like to pass legislation giving tenants the right to make the first offer on their building if the landlord decides to sell. This policy would help tenants remain in their homes by connecting them to public money and financing.
My role on Columbus City Council will be to listen to residents and to be accountable to them as I work to find solutions to challenges and build upon good work already being done.
I am committed to providing high quality constituent services and to hire staff in my office who are responsive and accessible. I am equally committed to turning what we hear in the community into policy solutions by convening stakeholders, empowering community voices, and engaging in true dialogue that gets us somewhere.
As an attorney at Legal Aid, I acted as a tough negotiator for my clients who were up against a lot to achieve the best outcome possible even when we didn't get everything we wanted. That's the mindset I plan to bring to council.
My campaign has knocked over 14,000 doors in this race so far and held dozens of coffee meetings and public gatherings with local leaders and organizations. The feedback I've gathered on the campaign trail directly translates into the policy proposals I have put forth and am fighting for, which includes a plan for property tax relief, a revolving fund for affordable housing, moving to a fare-free bus model, and expanding the Early Start program so every child in columbus has access to pre-K.
When elected, I plan to continue being out in the community, asking people for honest thoughts and feedback pro-actively. I plan to host a quarterly town hall, and to have an active presence on social media to meet residents where they are online.
We can't achieve bold solutions while working in isolation. My background is as an organizer and a lawyer. In both of those roles, I've worked with a wide variety of people and groups, many of whom disagree. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I organized thousands of neighbors to show up to assist families at risk of eviction. I did that by building effective one on one relationships with co-organizers. As an attorney, I've advocated for clients going up against tough adversaries like corporate landlords and out of town investors. I learned how to win for my clients by being prepared, and by paying close attention to those on different sides. If elected, I will carry these skills with me on City Council.
