As a renter, I have felt the crunch of rising rent. Growing up as the child of a single mother of three children, I have experienced near homelessness, food scarcity, and the family trauma that comes along with it.

I understand what it takes to make housing both affordable and sustainable, and I know what families are facing if we fail to address these problems head-on. We must take bold, practical steps to make housing both affordable and sustainable for the long term.

I commit to working with our regional partners to ensure we build housing for our ever-evolving needs in Washington County.

As a domestic violence prosecutor, I have witnessed the importance of providing adequate resources and protection to victims who are at their most vulnerable.

I have watched the success or failure of those who are convicted of a crime depend on the resources that we invest in them.

I have listened as officers and deputies have told me that time and time again, they are being asked to respond to calls where mental health services would have been more appropriate.

With a multi-faceted approach, we can have a justice system that reflects our values.

As a father, with a stroller and infant carrier in tow, I have walked streets throughout our county with infrastructure that is not safe for our families. This issue is especially apparent in the unincorporated areas of our county.

I have lived in this county without a car, and I have experienced the frustrations that many of you deal with every day, walking and using public transportation to get to work, school, or wherever you need to go.

Whether you walk, push a stroller, or use a wheelchair, from Rock Creek to Cedar Mill to Raleigh Hills, I will work hard to keep our streets safe for all who use them and our public transportation accessible to all of us.