I am excited to announce my candidacy for Port Angeles City Council! I am running for City Council to continue a passion for service that began in the armed forces, continued with a career in law enforcement and led me to volunteer with community non-profits and local government advisory boards. I will bring my knowledge and experience to our City Council to ensure public safety is supported, affordable housing policies are prioritized, and economic development is at the forefront of strategic planning.
My family moved to the Olympic Peninsula in 1990. I grew up in Port Angeles with my sister and brother, attending our local schools. Like many families today, we struggled to find affordable housing. Much of my childhood was spent moving from one rental property to another. It wasn’t until my parents qualified for a first-time homeowner’s program that we could finally settle into a place of our own. Homeownership changed the trajectory of my family’s life by giving us a safe and stable place to go after school, to grow up and to prepare for adulthood. 30 years later, families in our city are still struggling to find affordable housing, preventing them from achieving a key driver of household wealth and economic stability.
After high school, I enlisted in the US Navy. Doing so continued a family tradition of service to our nation. Both of my parents served in the Marine Corps; my grandfather served in the Army Air Corps. "Service before self" is a motto I have lived by and taught to my children as a guiding principle. My son took those lessons and carried on the tradition of service as a staff sergeant in the US Air Force. I tell you this because service was central to my decision to run for City Council. Our communities are facing uncertainty like never before. In times like these, we need people who care deeply about our community to stand up and make sure we have a safe place to live, the opportunity to work, and ability to thrive.
Something I learned while serving in the Navy’s elite Special Boat Teams was that you never quit; you never quit on your teammates, and you never quit on your mission. Our motto was: on time, on target, NEVER QUIT!
As your next city councilmember, I will apply that motto to show up for our community as difficult decisions are made, keeping our focus on issues of local importance, and never backing down from doing what is right.
Our city is one of the best places to grow up and live in Washington State, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for Port Angeles City Council to continue my passion for public service and help make our community even better!