No Voluntary NDAs
I will not sign a voluntary nondisclosure agreement as a council member. Information that is legally protected must remain protected, but elected officials should not choose secrecy merely because it makes a proposal easier to advance.
Communicate Early
In many zoning matters, the notice process can leave residents with only about ten days before a public hearing, and direct mailed notice may focus only on immediately adjacent property owners. Meeting a legal minimum is not enough for a high-impact project. I will push for earlier notice, a broader notification area, plain-language summaries of proposed zoning changes, and multiple opportunities for affected neighborhoods to ask questions—even when residents do not live directly next to the property.
Encourage Real Debate
A healthy council does not measure success by the number of unanimous votes. Members should ask hard questions, disagree respectfully, and explain their reasoning so residents can see that alternatives were genuinely considered. Legal counsel has a proper role, but elected officials should speak directly to the public. Speaking through lawyers—or using attorneys as a shield from routine public questions—is an unacceptable way to govern.
Set Direction and Require Follow-Through
Professional staff provide expertise and operate the city day to day. The council sets policy, establishes priorities, and evaluates whether those priorities are being carried out. Clear goals, regular reporting, and performance check-ins create accountability without turning council members into department managers.
Keep Residents at the Center
Meeting materials should be accessible, tradeoffs should be explained in plain language, and residents should receive direct answers whenever the law allows. A stronger voice for residents begins with a government that treats them as partners.
My commitment is to lead openly, judge each issue independently, and make sure residents can understand both the decision and the process that produced it.