VOTE411 Voter Guide

As a lifelong Allegan resident and judge, my philosophy centers on stewardship. My 20-year career as an attorney—prosecutor, defender, and civil advocate—taught me that law is a human endeavor. I served on the Community Corrections Advisory Board and Domestic Violence Committee, gaining a holistic view of justice. Having managed a small business and the Zoning Board of Appeals, I bring administrative precision to the 57th District Court. I am not an advocate for a client, but a steward of the system. My goal is to ensure stability, dignity, and efficiency, honoring our community’s trust while delivering fair, informed, and respectful decisions for everyone who enters our courthouse.

As a District Judge, my court acts as a neutral arbiter of trust, not a branch of law enforcement. I mediate this relationship through three core pillars. First, procedural fairness: by ensuring every individual is treated with dignity and decisions are transparent, I validate the legitimacy of the rule of law. Second, the Treatment Court model: by shifting from purely punitive to rehabilitative outcomes, I foster collaboration between LE, social workers, and the court, humanizing the process. Third, independence: I prove the court is a rigorous check and balance by upholding constitutional rights. By demystifying the law, I ensure our courthouse serves as a common framework protecting the dignity and safety of every resident.

The 57th District Court's efficiency relies on our amazing staff, whose deep institutional knowledge is invaluable. We currently use case triage to manage complexity, remote hearing options for accessibility, and Treatment Courts to address recidivism. To improve, I propose: 1) Data-driven "case-age" dashboards to identify bottlenecks; and 2) Standardized pre-trial protocols to facilitate early discovery. By leveraging our staff’s expertise and implementing these proactive measures, we ensure a transparent, predictable, and functional courtroom for everyone in Allegan County.

I have actively practiced law for nearly 20 years, working in and out of the state district and circuit courts. I spent 8 1/2 years as the contract Prosecutor for the City of Greenville, Michigan, handling their district court misdemeanors. I have handled a wide range of civil, criminal, foreclosure, landlord/tenant and post judgment issues and remedies.

I will be a conservative, rule of law judge who will not legislate from teh bench, but instead will use grace, compassion and dignity for all while tempering the law with justice. We will not play catch and release. We will set appropriate bails and bons, which will be intended to support justice, law enforcement, and to to protect our children and communities through the application of the letter of the law and common sense.

I have developed five initiatives which are meant to give value to individuals, get them to and from work, making them employable and meeting people when and where we find them. Some of these initiatives are GED or Jail, Operation Drive, and Expungement Clinic (please check the initiatives out at votesiver.com). The district court is an entry level court, and we will run the four treatment courts, and make sure we wrap our arms around our citizens and assist them in their rehabilitation efforts which ultimately will show them an alternative to the criminal path they have engaged. We will use the county jail in order to enforce our laws as written.