VOTE411 Voter Guide

I moved to Hamilton County summer of 2001, so I'm coming up on 25 years.

Ensuring our citizens’ voices are represented in every decision is essential. Much of the difficulty ahead comes from the unbalanced structure we operate under: an office budget nearly tripled from the previous administration, the dismantling of core health‑department services, ongoing division with the City of Chattanooga, short‑sighted choices around natural resources and revenue, and knee‑jerk reactions to our planning agency without a real alternative. Our youth must be central to our development. Accountability for spending starts in my office, and I expect challenges as I work to ensure our dollars strengthen all of Hamilton County—not just a few.

I spent my formative years in South America, in a home that had abandoned everything to serve others. Growing up there showed me what happens when a government stops listening to its people. My years studying theology shaped my conscience, and the decades since—arriving in Chattanooga with only a suitcase and carry‑on—have turned that conscience into an opportunity to represent those of us who feel the pressure to build a better tomorrow. My life has taught me to find joy in seeing others succeed, because when my fellow man succeeds, his impact is greater than any program we create. When the least of us find peace, we all move forward. Last August, my son Silas took his own life. I don’t know how others carry a loss like this, but it made one truth undeniable: I cannot sit idle and expect the world to improve. Silas lost hope in tomorrow. I continue to find hope because of what I choose to do today—working to build a tomorrow every one of us can look toward with anticipation.