OUR COUNTY HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER

The 6th District needs fresh leadership focused on the future—not clinging to the past.

I was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio.

I am proud to call this community my home. I am married to my husband and partner of 16 years, Thomas, and we are the proud parents of our 5-year-old daughter, Josephine. 

I grew up in Portage County, in a blue-collar, working-class family. I grew up surrounded by people who worked in the trades, skilled labor, or manufacturing. I believe seeing that informed so much of my own perspective. I grew up knowing how important a good job was, because it had dictated so much of our lives. 

Going to college became a priority for me when I was a junior in high school. I worked odd jobs saving everything I could. Eventually, I worked full time while earning three degrees—paying my own way with my savings and student loans. Twenty years later, and I am a two-time graduate of John Carroll University, first for a Bachelor’s in Journalism and English, and then for a Master’s in Education. I also have a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from New England College.

I’ve been an educator in some capacity for my entire career.

I’ve been a teacher, a high school principal, a university administrator, an academic advisor, a professor, and have worked in ed tech. My work has always led me to places where I was in service to students, and often in very challenging circumstances. As a first-generation college student myself, I’ve always understood what it meant to navigate the system in an environment not built for students like me. I didn’t realize until years later that the problem was about access and making higher education available to all in our communities. 

Throughout my career, I have seen so much inequity. Working in education, you see quite a bit. As an educator, I’ve been an active union member and advocate. I’ve marched on the picket lines during a teachers strike. I’ve negotiated teacher and professional contracts with union and school district leadership and I’ve worked with stakeholders at every level of the educational landscape.

Passionate about issues affecting our community and the broader region.

About ten years ago, I ran for Chagrin Falls Council and won a seat there. I was the youngest councilman ever elected in that community, and the first openly gay elected official there. I chaired the administration and compensation committee, chaired the arts commission, and was the council liaison to the Chagrin Falls School Board. 

When a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity opened up out of state, reluctantly left Ohio in 2016 and moved out west. Working for the Denver Public Schools I became a community leader and was appointed by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock to serve as a commissioner for LGBTQ affairs, as well as a commissioner for Crime Prevention and Control. These roles allowed me to work closely with the sheriff’s department, state legislators, and other leaders throughout the county and exposed me to the intricacies of county level politics. I’m no stranger to rolling up my sleeves and tackling the most difficult problems in our communities—not there, and certainly not here in Cuyahoga County.

After we adopted our daughter in 2019, we made the decision to move back to Northeast Ohio. We knew ultimately that we wanted to raise our family where we both grew up. We were a bit reluctant about making the move because when we left four years prior, the job prospects were not positive. We decided to return home and play a larger role in shaping the future of our county. We all know that the last couple of decades haven’t been ideal for many communities in Cuyahoga County. We’re bleeding talent and missing out on opportunities to other regions of the county. If we’re going to breathe new life into Cuyahoga County, and take advantage of everything we have to offer, we need to embrace new ideas and new voices. 

It’s time to start looking forward.

For so many years, elections for races like this one never seemed to matter. The names and results were almost always the same. I’m running to rewrite that script. 

Cuyahoga County voters deserve a choice—a choice that doesn’t dismiss hope. A choice that sets higher expectations. This year, I’m running for County Council because I believe we need to lean boldly into the future, not settle for the past. I know I can deliver.