Having spent most of my life either living or working in the district, I’m excited by the opportunity to represent you on the Board of Commissioners. I am running in the Democratic Primary for the newly open seat in District 18 that takes place on or before August 6th, 2024. This election is about selecting trustworthy voices to speak up on your behalf for the services and projects you care about. My priorities are Housing, Public Safety, and Community Engagement.
With so many people currently struggling to make ends meet, polls have consistently shown Housing to be the top issue – nationally and locally – that people are concerned about. With Greater Grand Rapids growing as fast as it is, there aren’t enough affordable options for people to choose from, and that is bad news for the future stability and prosperity of our county.
Alongside that expansion comes the challenge of keeping residents safe while supporting open-minded law enforcement agencies who will collaborate on new ideas from the community. This includes the promotion of programs outside and within the Kent County Jail to help disrupt the revolving door of recidivism.
We must ensure that residents are updated with timely and transparent information and involved in their local government as much as possible. It’s not just about what we as elected leaders are doing, either. There are many organizations and neighborhood groups that are doing great things, and I’d like to partner with them for even more success.