How We Show Up Matters

Dear supporter –

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as our District 3 Commissioner. Building and sustaining a great community doesn’t begin with what we expect of others, it starts with what we expect of ourselves. How we show up matters.  I shared these words at my swearing-in ceremony one year ago. They stay with me every day as I serve district 3 and all of Johnson County.

Shame, blame, and profane seems to be the game at other levels of government. I am proud of the teamwork and dedication of my fellow commissioners. Good policy doesn’t make good drama and that’s OK with me.  I like effective policymaking. I like figuring out the best ways to meet residents’ needs and expectations, and helping folks understand the why and how of an issue – so we can figure out the best solutions together.

I spent year one putting in the work to learn, listen, and experience the moving parts of serving in local government. It has been a rewarding and humbling experience. I’d like to share with you a little of what I have learned, and hopefully the value I have given back.

Communication begins with listening and meeting folks where they are at. Sounds simple right? But to be effective means being intentional and attention to detail. If there is an issue involving neighbors in a particular area, take the meeting out to them.  If the County has made a mistake, listen to impacted residents and solicit their thoughts on manageable solutions. If the issue is outside of the County’s scope of authority, connect folks to the right sources, and help them communicate their concerns effectively. Provide folks answers to their questions, even if they are not the answers they want to hear. Getting comfortable with uncomfortable conversations is a part of my role.

I am thankful to work with a great professional staff on all these types of approaches to address a wide array of issues. New housing and business opportunities, landfill odors, code violations, housing and food insecurity, property tax, aging in place, property damage, transit needs, train stoppage and blockage, planning and zoning changes, and tax billing error impacting a portion of my district are just a sampling of what we’ve worked on in district 3.  I am grateful for the positive response from residents who appreciate being met where they are at on an issue and working together for solutions.

Interdependency of Federal, State, and Local funding and policy. Many of the mandated responsibilities at the local level depend on braiding federal, state, and local funding together to cover costs. These are all our tax dollars working together to meet local priorities. Uncertainty at the federal level jeopardizes local infrastructure, safety, and human services and programs. This holds true on the policy side as well. Be it property taxes or local services such as the DMV, often what you experience at the local level is informed by policy/legislation at multiple levels. We are working hard to advocate for effective policy updates/changes.

I am excited for 2026, the upcoming World Cup, and welcoming new neighbors and new businesses. 

Thank you for your trust in me. I am proud to serve you,