We all deserve elected leaders who share our values and priorities. These are some of mine.

Safe, clean, reliable transportation is essential for the health of our City's people and the planet, so it has to be a top priority for City Council, too. We need to make public transit work – both for the riders who rely on it today and for residents who need better travel options for the future. Our regional transit network needs more frequent service, and it has to be accessible to all our residents – no matter their age or mobility needs. The City’s youngest riders need reliable school bus service, and we need to invest in protected bus stops and better paratransit service for older riders and people with disabilities. We also need to continue developing safer streets for walkers, bikers, scooters, and wheelchair users by calming traffic and improving our crosswalks, sidewalks, trails, and paths. While there are some low-cost, quick solutions, others will require long-term infrastructure changes, and I’m committed to funding those investments.

Charlottesville needs a wide range of strategies to make our city a healthy and inclusive community we're all proud to call home. We need to continue expanding subsidized, affordable, and market-rate housing so that people of all income levels, backgrounds, and life stages can have a home here. That means embracing thoughtful density citywide, but especially near transit corridors and major employers, including downtown and UVA. When more residents can live close to where they work, shop, and play, we’ll reduce traffic congestion and environmental impact while creating vibrant neighborhoods. Our housing supply also needs a strong safety net for residents facing housing instability, including low-barrier shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing.

As a public health practitioner, I know that real public safety addresses both immediate emergencies and the underlying health and social needs of residents. I will work to sustain funding to ensure first responders earn enough to live in the city they serve. When City staff live locally, they build stronger community connections and can respond more quickly to emergencies. We also need to invest further upstream to take on the root causes of behavioral health challenges and substance use disorders, and that work requires deep collaboration between public health and safety professionals. Through my work with the Blue Ridge Health District, I created the Community Paramedicine Collab, a network of regional EMS agencies that delivers in-home services to reduce ER visits, and I’m eager to scale that model in Charlottesville. We need to build stronger mobile health programs in the City that connect emergency medical providers with community organizations to help residents manage health issues before they become emergencies.

Charlottesville's Climate Action Plan is a strong foundation for reaching our community climate commitments, and City Council will need to consistently fund implementation to meet our goals. I will prioritize the Climate Action Fund to support critical initiatives already underway, including the Resilient Together project that coordinates climate resilience planning for Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA. We must also take concrete steps to improve and protect our river health and water quality through better stormwater management and reduced runoff pollution. Confronting climate change is a global challenge and requires coordination across every level of government. That’s why I’ll continue investing in regional programs like the Community Energy Resource Hub, which helps residents access federal, state, and local support for energy efficiency. By making these smart investments today, we’ll create a more sustainable, resilient city for generations to come.

While the School Board directly oversees the City Schools, our City Council allocates their budget, so Council plays a vital role in ensuring every City student gets the education they deserve. Charlottesville City Schools need robust and consistent funding to attract and retain excellent teachers, administrators, and support staff with competitive compensation. That means paying school employees enough to live in the city where they work. We also need continued investment in our school facilities — from classrooms and recreational areas to administrative spaces — to meet the needs of our diverse and growing student population. As a Charlottesville High School parent, I see the impact these investments have every day, and I'm committed to fostering a school system where all our students and staff can thrive.