VOTE411 Voter Guide

I am deeply passionate about housing, healthcare, and education. These areas are fundamental to ensuring that every person in our community has the opportunity to thrive. Housing is a cornerstone of my campaign because without stable and affordable housing, it's impossible for families to build a secure future. Our community is currently facing a severe shortage of housing, and I'm committed to bringing a variety of housing options to Springfield, from no-barrier shelters to truly affordable safe rentals and pathways to homeownership. Healthcare is another critical area. Access to affordable, quality healthcare is a basic human right, and I believe we must work to ensure that every Missourian can get the care they need. Finally, education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and building a prosperous future. I’m passionate about supporting our public schools, increasing funding for education, and ensuring that every child in our community has access to a quality education.

My approach to addressing Missouri’s challenges is built on listening, collaboration, and action. Listening is essential. Understanding the concerns of our community members allows us to craft policies that truly meet their needs. It’s important that their voices guide our priorities. Collaboration is key. By working across the aisle and partnering with stakeholders from all sectors—government, business, nonprofits, and the community—we can create comprehensive strategies to address complex issues like housing, healthcare, and education. Finally, I’m committed to taking decisive action. Whether it’s tackling the housing crisis, expanding healthcare access, or improving education, we need practical, impactful solutions. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and work tirelessly to create a stronger, more prosperous Missouri for everyone. By combining listening, collaboration, and action, I’m confident we can navigate our challenges and build a brighter future for our state.

I bring a deep understanding of the challenges working people face, informed by my personal experiences and my work in healthcare and nonprofit leadership. I’ve seen firsthand how policies can make life harder, and I’m dedicated to crafting solutions that address these issues head-on. I’m skilled at working across the aisle to find practical, common-sense answers that benefit everyone. My focus is on removing barriers, creating opportunities, and building a stronger community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

I’m actively engaged in my community through several roles. I am the Director of Operations at a local nonprofit, where we lead efforts to support underserved families and address housing shortages. I serve on the board of the GLO Center, which advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community in the Ozarks, and the Missouri Passion House Project, which provides essential household items to underserved families and individuals in crisis. Additionally, I’m a member of housing justice organizations and have participated in numerous volunteer and community events. I also contribute to the Place Team, working with the City of Springfield to develop the new city code. Through these efforts, I’m committed to building a more inclusive, equitable community.

I am interested in breaking down false narritives in the public sphere, education and skill building, transparency, and accountability. Sometimes government is who does it best other times it is best if left to the private sphere. Either way, the successful should be rewarded as long as it does not stifle competition in their respective areas. Generally speaking, I would prefer things to be private but that is blurred at times. For instance, the non-profit my opponent works for is tax exempt. He was hired around the time of eligibility (for public office), announced his candidacy 3 months later, and wants to promote their interest. So is that truly private? On our dime an organization provides a government service with employees exploiting those services for personal gain. That is not the purpose of government but the government is being used in this way. It forms a pattern since the co-founder ran 2 years ago for a similar position. Is this a foundation or political entity?

We need to empower people to be responsible. Programs and institutions need accountability. Policy which is successful needs to be rewarded. To do that we must have a definable measure of success. Are we measuring how many are served or how many grow beyond the need of being served? Do we enable people to determine their future or just create dependence? Another aspect of self agency, autonomy, and mitigating power concentrations would be a "right to repair". If people can fix their own or take it to a non-authorized dealer, tech and automotive oligarchs lose much of their power. Small businesses can be created. Our youth can learn new technology in the way our fathers did- doing it theirselves. Currently, price gouging on parts prevents this. Oligarchical collusion prevents this. If we can come to terms with it was not "always this way", we can fix our lives and have a better future. I ask myself, "Is it my place and does it strengthen the individual and their families?"

First, and foremost, I have an ability to recognized larger trends, the macro level. Our policies should be functional in the larger scope of things, as well as, beneficial to the individuals who are effected (the micro level). Institutions tend to create groupthink and look after their own image and interests. I see how those interest help and hurt society at large and the individuals who are effected by them. Because of this, I can read those who participate reasonably well. This should help with effectively changing our policies.

I have worked in the schools, behavioral/mental health, food logistics, and transportation industries. Every job had to serve the material needs of those it served, be it the homeless, mentally disabled, students, or the general public. Beyond that I have participated with local activists groups.