Members of the City Council serve the community, and I would be honored to represent the residents of Homer in this capacity. I believe I bring several skills to the position: listening, objectivity, the ability and interest to delve below the surface of issues, and an understanding of how decisions on complex issues can affect City residents deeply.

My experience as a scientist working with engineers, clients in the public and private sector, and local communities is an asset.
I believe City Council members need to consider the interests of city residents and understand the background of a subject so they can make decisions that are in the best interest of the community for the long term. The City Council approves ordinances and resolutions that the city must live with into the future. These legal documents need to be well thought out, well understood and well-reasoned before passing into city code.

This year the city faces several tough issues. Next year will hold a new set of tough issues. Regardless of what the issues are, the City Council needs to bring six minds together, do the research, listen to city residents, deliberate the merits of the topic at hand in an objective and civil manner, and vote. Diversity of viewpoints on the council is in our best interest as a community. Discussion, questioning and debate among City Council members are imperative.

One of the toughest issues currently facing the Council is our budget. There are and will be many opportunities for Homer residents to weigh in on the budget. I hope Homer citizens will come out in unprecedented numbers to provide input about maintaining or reducing city services, planning for future needs, and keeping costs down. 

Because of budget cuts in past years the city now faces eliminating programs and services. How can we continue as a vibrant city when we decrease services? This would also mean lost jobs. 

But increasing revenues through taxes creates an additional burden on our residents and a particular hardship on those already struggling to make ends meet.

I don’t have a magic answer, but I’m willing to work with our City Manager, Mayor, City Council members, and Homer residents to work out a reasoned solution.

I love this community for all its passionate people, high quality of life and many opportunities. As an active member of the community I serve on the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve Community Council, am Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust, helped bring the Kachemak Bay Water Trail to fruition and I contribute time to a small group still forming to address teen homelessness in Homer. I walk or bike almost everywhere I go in Homer, and I am interested in improving conditions for non-motorized transportation through the city. If elected I will bring my community passion and work ethic to City Council and I pledge to serve Homer to the best of my ability.