There is so much we can accomplish when we work together.

I'm running to increase access to city services. I'm running to improve public safety. I'm running to invest in Roanoke and the region. But most importantly, I'm running to serve you.

Increasing Access to City services.

People need to be able to trust that government is working for them; that their trash will be picked up, park grass will be cut, and their bus will arrive on time. People also need to be able to trust the decisions that their government makes over day-to-day matters from zoning to taxation and changes in personnel.

I’m committed to rebuilding trust and putting government to work for you. I believe we can work together to increase access to City services by:

• Supporting expanded times for bus service and working to include new destinations;

• Increasing responsiveness and resolution to reported nuisances and violations;

• Addressing issues with parking and towing;

• Researching avenues to address City worker shortages;

• Considering alternatives to staff recommendations;

• Engaging stakeholders before taking action; and

• Communicating Council’s decisions with the community.

I believe it is my duty to help constituents navigate the often burdensome and frustrating bureaucratic red tape of local government. It is irresponsible to tell people “there’s nothing we can do.” Rather, if we work together, we’ll find a way.

Improving Public Safety.

People deserve to feel safe on the road, in their homes, at public amenities, and in their communities. As more incidents of violence include firearms, motorists continue to ignore the rules of the road, and threats are made against our schools, we must find a way to make our communities safer.

I’m committed to promoting programs and supporting solutions that make a difference. I believe we can work together to improve public safety by:

• Increasing traffic patrols thoughtfully without creating a racial disparity of enforcement impacting people of color;

• Supporting the implementation of an intervention and prevention framework targeted at the root causes of violence in our community;

• Continuing to keep firearms out of our municipal buildings, parks, recreation centers, and our schools;

• Advocating for the health, safety, pay, and benefits for our first responders;

• Providing raises in starting salaries for law enforcement and addressing pay compression issues;

• Researching recruitment and retention strategies to keep good cops on the job; and

• Enforcing statewide police conduct standards to decertify bad apples on the force.

I’m confident we can make Roanoke a safer place, but we must have respect for those working to protect us and we must hold each other accountable for our own actions and words.

Investing in Roanoke and the Region.

The present and future of Roanoke depend on the strength of this region and cooperation amongst our neighbors to work towards common goals that impact the livelihoods of us all.

I’m committed to helping Roanoke thrive. As long as we’re willing to work together and agree to support each other’s priorities, I believe we can invest in Roanoke and the Region by:

• Supporting the arts through grants and efforts like the Roanoke Cultural Endowment;

• Providing small and diverse businesses the knowledge and tools that they need to get started and expand services;

• Addressing long deferred maintenance in our parks and natural assets that are crucial for our outdoor economy;

• Administering a land bank to convert blighted properties into affordable housing for residents and temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness;

• Supercharging environmental progress through renewable energy like solar and sustainable innovations like biogas;

• Promoting and incubating economic development to meet the needs of emerging industries;

• Educating a workforce that can fix aging infrastructure; and

• Building additional transportation options through passenger rail, and expanding the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.

We can transform this region to reach its potential while managing to keep Roanoke the same place we all know and love, but it’s going to take time, money, and resources. And its going to take all of us, working together to make it happen.

Six Pillars of Public Service

In 1999, State Senator John Edwards, D-Roanoke, passed legislation requiring all school boards to establish character education programs. Consequently, I’m young enough to have benefited from this legislation, instilling within me these personal character traits: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.

I consider these values the Six Pillars of Public Service, acting as a guide for how I ought to behave and interact with those I intend to serve. They’ve taught me to be honest. Have integrity. Be loyal. Be accepting of others. Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements. Keep on trying. Be accountable. Play by the rules. Express gratitude. Forgive others. Do my share. Stay informed. Vote. Debate civilly. And always to be a good neighbor.

These are the tenets that founded my campaign. While at times it may be difficult, and I recognize that I am only human, I strive to follow them daily. I hope that you will too.