Who I am...
A proud member of Dayton’s workforce. For the last 15 years I have worked as a full-time project designer and construction administrator for a local general practice architectural firm. I have a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree with a specialization in Historic Preservation, and am currently studying to become certified as a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) professional.
A business professional. I am an active member of the American Institute of Architects and the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. I am also a Leadership Dayton graduate, member of the Curriculum Committee, and Chair of the Government Session.
A dedicated community volunteer. President-Elect of the Oakwood Rotary Club and former President of the Wright Memorial Library Board. I have actively participated in Relay For Life, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Building Bridges, and various other charitable and outreach programs.
An active public servant. I have been a City Councilperson since 2008 and currently serve as the Vice Mayor of Oakwood. I am the Vice Chairman of the First Suburbs Consortium of Dayton and serve on the National First Tier Suburbs Committee for the National League of Cities. I also serve on the Oakwood Budget Review Committee, Oakwood Planning Commission, and Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.
What I believe…
I believe that the people of the 37th District are looking for leadership that is willing to collaborate to make things happen. Disillusioned with partisan posturing and divisiveness, they want less rhetoric, more results.
I believe that strong business climates create jobs. It is the role of government to work with business to implement policies that will foster an attractive business environment. This involves far more than just looking at taxes. It has more to do with strengthening communities and the quality of life offered to the employers and employees of those communities. Strong schools; abundant natural resources, vibrant cultural programs, access to convenient transportation systems, and pools of highly skilled and educated workers are all things that businesses are looking for when deciding where they want to locate. We must look to attract businesses that want to be partners in the success of our communities; not just beneficiaries of tax breaks and incentives.
I believe that we are in a serious budget crisis and need to keep our revenue rates at current levels. No one wants to pay taxes, but reducing state revenues will only lead to a continued decline in the quality of life that we all want for our communities. I believe that there are creative and effective solutions out there that go beyond the old “raise taxes or cut programs” model. It is just going to take cooperation to find them.
I believe that the future of our State will ultimately be shaped by the quality of the education we provide our youth. We need to continue to reform our educational system so that we can ensure a viable and constitutional school funding model that removes undue burden from property owners and lessens the reliance on local tax levies. We need to strive to make public education the first choice of Ohio families. This is going to take accountability on the part of all participants in the system and decision-making scenarios based on reliable data.
I believe that access to higher education is vitally important for job growth and economic recovery, especially in districts like mine where displaced workers are in need of degree completion and second career education. I believe that investment in higher education funding, when tied to accountability standards, and leveraged with creative federal, state and local partnerships, is an indispensible investment in Ohio’s future.
I believe that the 3C High Speed Rail Project is an important test of Ohio’s resolve to be a leader in the region. Other states are investing monies to create their own network of passenger rail lines, and Ohio needs to stay at the forefront of that push. Just as there was great resistance to Eisenhower’s Federal Highway Program in 1956, there are those today who don’t have the vision of what this project can mean for the transportation needs of our state. There are going to be many challenges that will need to be faced to get it to reach its full potential, but nothing worth having is reached without hard work and perseverance.
What I will do…
Plain and simple, I will serve in the tradition of the “citizen politician,” who has chosen to serve in order to better the quality of life in my communities. I am not interested in career politics, or running to run.
I will take the experiences I have had in the work place and use them to craft legislative policy that reflects the sensibilities of the average worker. Ohio’s economy has been hit hard by this country’s recession and I have direct knowledge of what it’s like to have to deal with reduced hours and frozen wages. I will make it my priority to stay connected to my roots and use that as a basis for my policy decisions.
I will keep foremost in my mind, and in the minds of my colleagues in the State House, that it is at the local level where policy meets reality. The local citizen gets the majority of their services from their local government and unfunded mandates or reductions in local government funding cannot be tolerated.
I will work to strengthen Ohio’s planning statutes so that there is more emphasis given to fighting sprawl and encouraging smart growth strategies. Besides promoting a stronger tax base, raising adjacent property values and developing a healthy population density for our communities, managed growth will also preserve precious green space and save valuable tax monies that won’t need to be spent on new infrastructure.
I will work to get our state’s budget back not just to the balance demanded by the State Constitution, but to a level of sustainability. I am not going to promise tax cuts. Instead, I will work to ensure that Ohio’s taxpayers are fully aware of where their taxes are going, and understand the value those taxes have in assuring the quality of life enjoyed by all Ohioans.
If you believe in the same things that I do and want me to work for you, then I ask for your help in getting elected as the next State Representative from the 37th District.
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