I love this city. Royal Oak has been my home for virtually my entire life, and it continues to inspire me, shape my worldview, and be a fundamental part of who I am. This is what fuels my passion to serve my fellow citizens as a Royal Oak City Commissioner.

I remember childhood trips to Hilzinger’s Hardware with my dad and to Ladybug Craft Shoppe with my mom. My first job was at The Main Art Theatre. Friends and I used to get coffee at Brazil. We shopped at Dave’s Comics, Off The Record, and Incognito. I waited tables at Memphis Smoke and Monterrey. I was a manager at Repeat The Beat. This is all to say, I understand and respect the importance of remembering where we’ve come from. My work with the city’s Historic District Commission is driven by that principle. That said, I also want to ensure that Royal Oak’s future is every bit as bright as those memories of days gone by.

City leadership has done a wonderful job of ensuring that this is a safe, welcoming, and desirable community for anyone wishing to create a home, grow a family, or build a business. Royal Oak is a model that other cities look to when considering how to include a broad and diverse cross section of people to form a vibrant community. I want to play a part in maintaining that forward progress and help Royal Oak continue to be a place where anyone, at any stage of life, feels welcome and has the chance to thrive.

I believe that Royal Oak must grow if we want to prosper. While we have strong
relationships with our neighboring communities, it’s important to recognize that we’re also part of a broader regional landscape where other cities are striving to attract people and commerce. The residents and enterprises that call Royal Oak home are the key drivers of our local economy. It’s essential that we maintain a dynamic and welcoming environment for both people and businesses. This will ensure that Royal Oak remains an attractive place to live, work, and play - a community that people are eager to join and visit, and where businesses are excited to establish themselves.

I would serve effectively as a Royal Oak City Commissioner because, like the city itself, I bring a diverse range of experiences, perspectives, and qualities to the table. My education comes from both private and public schools. My employment history runs from blue collar to white collar. My worldview was created by Royal Oak, but is also informed by living outside of Michigan. I’ve worked, prayed, cried, laughed, celebrated, and collaborated with people from all socioeconomic, religious, racial, ethnic, gender identity, and ability backgrounds, and have had great successes in finding common
ground and common purpose with each of them.

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What I bring to the table, and will contribute to the City Commission, is an open
mindset that’s focused on balance. I seek first to understand, and then work to
collaborate in service of the greater good. There are a number of issues that the city will need to address in the coming four years that have deep roots, and the consequences of how they’re addressed will run long into the future. I have a strong knowledge of and respect for our history. I also have the foresight to know that change is inevitable, and we must make decisions that will keep Royal Oak at the forefront of progress. More than any other reason, I want to serve as City Commissioner because I want city residents to feel represented by our leadership, and for the city itself to continue to grow to support
future generations.