The county is facing real challenges in affordability and public safety, we need common sense leaders with a fresh perspective to tackle them. I have spent the last five years owning and operating restaurants, Chick & Ruth’s Delly and several Five Guys franchises. When my dad passed suddenly in 2021, I had to take over and navigate the pandemic with no prior restaurant experience. Now the businesses are thriving. That experience prepared me to take on tough challenges and deliver results.

In many cases, county and local needs align. When our farmers and watermen do better, we all do better. Everyone wants strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and a healthy economy, and we can achieve that while protecting our environment. District 7 has unique rural and coastal needs, so one size fits all solutions will not work. As councilman, I will advance policies that benefit the entire county while always putting our district first.

Any land use legislation should put people first. I will weigh economic benefits alongside impacts on traffic, the environment, and infrastructure. The residents closest to an issue often have the best insight, so I will actively seek their input. I will publish regular updates to keep the community informed and gather feedback, and I will meet with affected residents to hear their concerns before decisions are made.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. Right now, the county makes it too difficult to open and operate with long processes and unnecessary red tape. By streamlining regulations and approvals, we can help small businesses grow and succeed. That will create good paying jobs, strengthen our local economy, and keep more money in the community. College isn’t the right path for everyone, we need to invest in tech ed and trade apprenticeships so there are good paying jobs for all.

The county’s $500,000 median home price is unsustainable. I support ADUs and the new tiny homes law, but we must ensure the process is simple enough to actually get them built. It is not enough to legalize options if they are too difficult to use. We should focus housing on re-developing old buildings and properties and on areas near public transit. This will increase housing affordability while minimizing additional traffic and preserving green space.

The rising cost of living is the county’s greatest challenge. I outlined steps to address this in my economy and housing responses. I will also review the budget line by line to find efficiencies, as I do in my businesses, to ensure we fund education and public safety while keeping taxes low. I will work to make it easier for small childcare providers to open and streamline rooftop solar approvals to help lower energy costs.

Running to advocate for D7 constituents facing rising costs, responsible development, and community preservation—from SoCo's rural charm to Crofton's small-town feel. With 25+ years in academia, industry, and govt., plus finance/marketing degrees from UMD, I've delivered results in budgets, workforce development, and govt. efficiency. As VP of the AACO Board of Education, I vote on the budget and make tough decisions daily. I'll cut red tape for small businesses and strengthen safety/education.

I'll balance County needs with D7's diversity—farmers in South County, families in Crofton, residents in Edgewater—through data-driven, fiscally responsible decisions.

I'm transparent, listening to all voices, and avoiding one-size-fits-all policies. I will advocate to strengthen economic health while protecting SoCo's rural character, push back against over-development, and ensure tax dollars deliver real value through transparent, efficient government that leaves no community behind.

I'll assess fiscal impact, infrastructure readiness, environmental and rural preservation, quality of life (manage traffic and avoid overdevelopment), economic balance, and business barriers.

Constituents/Stakeholders will always have a seat at the table. I'll hold town halls in Crofton, Davidsonville, and South County, and ensure transparent public comment periods. As a 15+ year D7 resident, I'm committed to being accessible & responsive to everyone I serve.

I'll promote responsible economic growth by: * Advocating for streamlining permitting and reducing unnecessary regulations; * Cutting red tape for small businesses and local agriculture; * Focusing on infrastructure improvements; * Advocating for tax and fee relief where possible to ease the burden on families and small businesses; and *Fostering public-private partnerships that create high-quality jobs and raise living standards without wasteful spending.

To address the County's housing shortage, I'll advance pragmatic initiatives that increase supply responsibly while protecting neighborhoods and affordability for working families. Advocating to streamline approvals for shovel-ready projects to cut delays and costs — without sacrificing environmental and traffic — and prioritizing preservation and rehabilitation of existing housing alongside new construction. The goal: more attainable housing options without compromising quality of life.

The rising cost of living—driven by housing prices, taxes, fees, and unmanaged development—is the County's greatest challenge, straining families and threatening affordability. I'll champion fiscally disciplined budgets, smart infrastructure-supported development, and workforce initiatives that grow local jobs. I'll listen directly to D7 residents, preserve South County's rural character, and manage growth in Crofton and Edgewater with practical, results-oriented solutions.