I am new to politics, and I am running because I believe local government works best with fresh ideas. I bring a unique combination of real-world experience, community involvement, and a deep commitment to our city. My wife and I have called Eagan home for 25 years, where we raised our children, coached youth sports, volunteered, and built lasting relationships.
As a small business owner and general contractor, I solve problems, manage budgets, and make thoughtful decisions every day. I am not running with a political agenda, I am running to listen, bring fresh perspectives, and help guide Eagan's future with transparency, common sense, and a focus on keeping our community strong, connected, and affordable for generations to come.
• Thoughtful Change: Plan growth carefully, balancing development, affordability, and quality of life while protecting what makes Eagan special.
• Fresh Voices in Government: Increase transparency, listen to residents, and ensure community members have a voice in important decisions.
• Strong, Connected Community: Support local businesses, invest in safe and walkable neighborhoods, and keep Eagan welcoming and affordable for all generations.
I believe good local government starts with listening. I will engage residents by attending community events, meeting with neighborhood groups, supporting local businesses, and being accessible to residents across Eagan. Every resident deserves to be heard and welcomed. My goal is to build trust through open communication, transparency, and thoughtful decisions that reflect the needs of our entire community.
Transparency starts with communication. I will support clear, accessible information about city decisions, budgets, and major projects so residents understand how and why decisions are made. I believe in engaging the community early, listening to concerns, and being accessible and responsive as an elected official.
I offer both breadth and depth of experience. I am a 33-year resident of Eagan, a small business owner, and a former Army officer. I have spent over 24 years in public service to Eagan, and have the experience and connections needed to be an effective leader. Moreover, in recent years, Eagan government has received 90%+ approval ratings from both residents and businesses. This is indicative of strong public support for the current management team and practices. I will provide continuity of leadership, and will maintain the community standards and practices that have led to Eagan's success. I have a proven track record of environmentally responsible, inclusive, ethical, and fiscally conservative action, and intend to continue this work.
The purpose of municipal government is to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. Quality open space, solid infrastructure, and adequately funded public safety services are integral to achieving these goals. All of this requires secure and stable funding, so I will work to ensure efficient service provision and a robust tax base. Finally, I will also make certain that our decision-making processes are open, equitable, and accessible to input from our entire community.
By attending community events, meeting with residents and business owners one-on-one, and making myself available to listen. I will continue to work to safeguard the core services from which we all benefit, regardless of background: solid infrastructure, high-quality public safety services, and excellent community parks. I will also continue to be an advocate for citizens who are often overlooked, such as those with special needs or neurodivergence. Our diversity is a strength to be celebrated.
A key step is our annual comprehensive independent third-party audit of Eagan’s finances. For over 25 years in row, Eagan has received a clean audit and attained the highest levels of transparency. We also hold multiple public meetings throughout the fiscal planning cycle, encouraging members of the public to attend and voice their input into our budget. Local government is a partnership between elected officials and taxpayers, and I will continue to strongly support openness and accessibility.
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I have a background of local and regional government knowledge and experience. As Eagan’s representative on the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority Board and Suburban Transit Association Board, both of which I’ve chaired, and a member of the Transportation Advisory Board working with the Metropolitan Council, I represent Eagan in the regional transportation planning and funding process. I’ve demonstrated regional leadership as president of the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities and League of Minnesota Cities Board member.
Eagan is recognized for local government innovation, prudent fiscal management, budget transparency, and citizen engagement. I look forward to continue serving on behalf of Eagan residents. Experience matters!
Fiscal prudence and quality, cost-effective services. We must be good stewards of taxpayer funds and preserve a Aaa bond rating.
Maintenance of reliable public safety. Eagan police and firefighters are committed to serve and protect us, and they deserve our support.
Achievement of race equity and sustainability initiatives. Equity is needed in services, programs, policies, and budgetary decisions. Eagan has adopted a Climate Action Plan for which resources are needed to achieve initiatives.
Recognizing that our city needs a welcoming race equity and inclusion foundation, the Council provided direction for and has implemented a race equity and inclusion major initiative. Inclusive and equitable City hiring practices, program offerings, provision of City services, proactive outreach for citizen advisory commission opportunities, Council expansion, housing policies, and job-promoting business regulations are examples of strategies and practices I support to achieve this initiative.
I send to Eagan residents a monthly email update of City activities. I welcome comments and questions on topics addressed or other issues. I often receive inquiries and suggestions in response to these updates resulting in follow-ups and resolution of issues. Together with citizen advisory commissions, listening sessions, public meetings to discuss city projects and budgets, and community engagement through surveys and feedback mechanisms, this is an effective way to communicate with residents.
Here's what I do all day: I read the deals other people skim. I run technology for a national law firm, multimillion-dollar budgets, systems that can't go down, 400+ people counting on them. Eagan is about to face decisions on data centers, development, and housing that don't look like anything this council has seen, and I already know what those contracts say in the fine print. I also grew up a Korean adoptee in southern Minnesota, usually the only one in the room. So I know what happens to a town when people get talked about instead of talked to. I'll make sure every culture, language, and neighborhood gets heard before we sign anything. Somebody has to steward this city through what's coming. I'd like it to be someone who's done the home
First, a city government where the money traces to outcomes and the council hears everyone, not just whoever shows up loudest. Second, real oversight of development, data centers included. We weigh the actual fiscal and environmental cost before we sign, not after. I've read these deals. Third, a city the people who run it can afford to live in. When the teachers in our schools and the staff in our clinics get priced out, we've lost something. Three priorities. One idea: keep Eagan great.
I spent a childhood being the only one in the room, so I'm not going to pretend representation is a talking point for me. It isn't. A council that only hears from the loudest people is working with half the picture, and half a picture makes for bad decisions. So I'll go where people are. Every neighborhood. Languages residents actually speak. Renters, seniors, newcomers, working families, all of them heard before the vote, not briefed after it. That's not a program. That's just the job.
You want to know where your money went. That's not a radical demand, it's the whole arrangement. I manage multimillion-dollar budgets for a living, and the rule is simple: every dollar traces to something you can point at. I'll bring that to City Hall. Spending reported plainly. Decisions explained in English before they're final, not announced afterward. And when a deal turns on technology or infrastructure, I'll ask the hard questions out loud, in the room, where you can watch me do it.
