VOTE411 Voter Guide

I am running for re-election because I’ve been proud to serve the people of District 6 and want to continue building on the work we’ve started. Representing our community on the La Crosse County Board has been a meaningful responsibility and has deepened my understanding of both the challenges and opportunities we face.

I’ve worked on affordable housing, homelessness response, PFAS mitigation, mental health services, infrastructure, and local economic opportunity. We’ve made progress, but there’s more to do. Making housing more attainable, maintaining safe infrastructure, engaging residents in county decision-making, and committing to thoughtful budgeting all require steady leadership and follow-through.

I’m seeking another term because experience, relationships, and persistence matter. I want to keep showing up, listening closely, and advocating for solutions that move District 6 forward.

I want to ensure we continue investing in the essential county services that support daily life in District 6 like regional transit, public and community health, county roads and facilities, emergency management, veterans services, ADRC programs, land conservation, and more. County government plays a vital role in areas we don’t always see, and stable, responsible funding matters.

I strongly support continued expansion of housing stability and homelessness response efforts. Housing affordability and homelessness are concerns I regularly hear from District 6 residents, and addressing them requires coordinated, long-term solutions that strengthen the entire community.

Finally, I want to strengthen county economic tools. Through my service on the county's Economic Development Fund Board, I have supported grants and low-interest loans for small businesses. Expanding access to these resources helps sustain our local economy and create opportunity for District 6 residents.

In my view – and in what District 6 residents consistently share with me – the two most pressing issues facing La Crosse County are housing stability and environmental sustainability.

Housing affordability and homelessness affect people all across our community. Stable housing is foundational, and while the county is expanding prevention and supportive housing efforts, demand still exceeds supply. We need sustained, coordinated solutions that expand attainable housing, uplift our residents, and address root causes.

At the same time, environmental challenges like PFAS contamination and water quality directly impact public health and our local economy. Proactive decisions are essential to protecting our natural resources and ensuring a strong future for every resident of La Crosse County.

Addressing these challenges requires both thoughtful policy and real-world experience. I’ve worked directly with unsheltered individuals in La Crosse and helped connect them to services, and that experience has shown me that lasting progress depends on coordinated systems, strong partnerships, and sustained county leadership. We must continue investing in supportive housing, early housing stability efforts for people at risk, and collaboration with local providers while expanding attainable housing options. I’ve also consistently advocated at the state level for things like housing and PFAS funding to ensure District 6’s concerns are heard and acted upon.

To improve sustainability, we should continue investing in water quality protection, PFAS testing, infrastructure resilience, and renewable energy like local solar. These forward-looking efforts protect public health, create good-paying jobs, and reduce long-term county costs – while maintaining thoughtful, responsible budgeting.

What draws me to run for County Board is a desire to bring practical and service-focused leadership to decisions affecting voters and residents in District 6. District 6 constituents highlight challenges around housing, public safety, and responsible budgeting—issues that require thoughtful, evidence-based solutions. As a physician anesthesiologist, I am trained to listen, evaluate facts, and make decisions that protect community well-being. As a Navy Veteran, I was taught the importance of teamwork and accountability. As a small business owner with an MBA and a certificate in data analytics, I understand the importance of efficient government and balanced budgets. But most importantly, as a father raising a 5-year-old daughter, I care deeply about safe neighborhoods, strong schools, and long-term planning that protects our future! I’m running to represent District 6 by working respectfully across viewpoints and being a careful steward of taxpayer dollars.

County resources should focus on better coordination between health, housing, workforce, and social services. As a physician, I often see individuals, families, seniors, and Veterans struggle not because services don’t exist, but because they are difficult to navigate or limited in availability. A goal without a plan or follow-up is just a wish…too often there is a gap between county initiatives and measurable outcomes. During conversations with voters at local apartments, many seniors shared that transportation options such as SMRT Bus remain difficult to access for routine needs like medical appointments or groceries, forcing reliance on costly private rides – concerning as the County Board has allocated $157,000 in the 2026 budget to support the service. Residents also raised concerns about the effectiveness of homelessness initiatives like Pathways Home, despite significant investments including $19.6 million to renovate Hillview, $1.1M in ARPA, and $200,000 in county funding.

Top issues facing La Crosse County are community well-being—homelessness and mental health—and local infrastructure. Recently, I attended a county update on Pathways Home, which has made progress toward a goal of functional zero homelessness by 2028 by housing nearly 300 previously unsheltered. Unfortunately, project leaders also noted challenges confirming local residency status for some individuals due to lack of identification, raising concerns from constituents about balancing compassion with responsible use of limited county resources. As a physician, I support early mental health intervention to prevent homelessness, including crisis care models like Emplify Health by Gundersen’s planned EmPATH Unit. Voters also raise infrastructure concerns, including transportation planning, bike lanes, and traffic flow such as the proposed roundabout at 3rd, 4th, and La Crosse Street. Residents want solutions that balance safety, business access, parking, and multimodal transportation.

I would address the aforementioned issues by leveraging my vast experiences in healthcare, business, data analytics, and military leadership to serve the residents of La Crosse County. I take the safety of all our citizens very seriously and will work to ensure resources are appropriately allocated and residents feel comfortable walking the streets of La Crosse. My focus would be practical: strengthen coordination between agencies, healthcare providers, and social services; use data to identify service gaps; and prioritize prevention. County government should be efficient, fiscally responsible, and focused on making services easier for residents to access. I look forward to serving on the La Crosse County Board.