"I grew up in a family of community service. My mother was heavily involved in organizations including the Friends of the Library, the Symphony Guild and Magnolias in White Linen. My father was a leader in the Lions Club and a dedicated volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Interfaith Ministries and the Good Samaritan Clinic. I got my drive to serve others from them. I've spent nearly eight years working for the citizens of Pensacola, and I look forward to continuing this service.
We need to make sure that citizens are getting what they pay for and ensure that costs of services reflect this. We also need to ensure that our neighborhoods are safe and resilient. With over a decade of government experience, I understand the challenges we all face and I am able to work with my fellow elected officials at all levels to get things done."
KEY ISSUES
Lowering Costs
As a city resident, you are a part-owner of the facilities the city maintains or manages. You pay higher taxes to support city services. It only makes sense that you should pay less for city amenities than those who live outside the city. This includes swimming pools, tennis courts and recreation activities. The city also owns Pensacola Energy. This utility provides natural gas to both city and county residents. I believe city residents should receive a discount on natural gas and should not have to pay a franchise fee on a utility they own. They also shouldn't be punished for having to pay an illegal franchise fee for decades.
Neighborhood-Focused
I understand the needs of neighborhoods across our city. I've served as both an at-large and district council member. I understand the challenges facing our entire city and its residents. During my time on council, I've visited many neighborhood associations and spent time listening to their concerns. While each neighborhood is unique, they all need to have a safe environment, well maintained public areas and reliable infrastructure. The city government needs to ensure that each neighborhood receives equitable services. As your councilman, I will spend time in each neighborhood and attend neighborhood association meetings.
Working Across Governmental Lines
Beginning as a college student at the University of West Florida, I stood up for those I represented before a variety of governmental entities. Whether we were fighting for lower tuition on the steps of the Florida Capitol or trying to get the library to be open for more hours during a budget crunch, I realized that different levels of government could accomplish certain tasks that others could not. As the director of governmental relations at UWF, I worked to advance legislation and funding in the state capitol. My work continued on the City Council where I was able to pass legislation for the benefit of city residents and influence the passage or defeat of legislation on the state level. I was even able to influence federal legislation through the Florida League of Cities. As your council person, I will continue to work through all levels of government for the citizens of Pensacola.
Stormwater and Carpenter Creek
Our District has suffered from decades of bad decisions. These decisions have caused flooding and pollution of our local waterways. Carpenter Creek has been turned into a stormwater drainage ditch that threatens to flood homes and erode property in District 2. Recent work by the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program is focused on correcting some of these issues and restoring access to the creek. Each year, thousands of dollars are spent on stormwater management, but there needs to be more transparency in city's efforts. We need to create a task force to evaluate our strategies and expenditures to ensure that funds are being spent effectively and equitably between districts.