Battle Creek is not simply the city where I am running for Mayor. Battle Creek is home. I was born and raised here. I left in 1990, gained decades of experience in ministry, business, leadership, and community development, and returned home in 2017, committed to putting that experience to work for the community that helped shape me. And since returning, I have been doing the work. That distinction matters to me because I am not asking the people of Battle Creek to elect me based only on what I promise to do someday. I am asking them to look at what I have already been willing to do—with limited resources, without the authority of the Mayor's office, and often without waiting for someone else to solve the problem. When families needed reliable transportation, we provided transportation solutions. When children and working parents needed educational and childcare opportunities, we developed programs and services to meet those needs. When young people needed positive places to learn, grow, and discover new possibilities, we created youth development and educational opportunities. When properties and facilities needed new purpose, we invested in revitalization, rentals, community space, and the redevelopment of resources that could serve people again. Through ministry, entrepreneurship, education, transportation, childcare, community programming, property development, and public service, I have spent the years since returning home trying to answer a simple question: What can we do with what we have to make life better for the people around us? Sometimes the resources were small. The problems were not. That experience is one of the primary reasons I am running for Mayor. I am not running to start the work. I'm continuing the work at a larger scale. Imagine what we can accomplish when that same problem-solving mindset has a larger platform to bring together city government, businesses, schools, colleges, nonprofits, neighborhood organizations, faith communities, foundations, workforce partners, and residents. That is how I see the role of Mayor. The Mayor cannot solve every problem alone, nor should the Mayor try. But the Mayor can convene people. The Mayor can champion a vision. The Mayor can make sure the right people are at the table when opportunities come. The Mayor can help build partnerships, remove barriers, advocate for investment, and make certain that residents who have felt overlooked have a voice in the future of their city. I believe Battle Creek needs that kind of leadership now. We must grow our population and tax base. We must strengthen neighborhoods and public safety. We must attract and retain businesses and jobs. We must prepare our workforce for the economy that is coming, not simply the economy that existed yesterday. We must create reasons for our young people to build their futures here. And we must make sure that when major companies are considering investment, expansion, or partnership, Battle Creek is organized and ready to compete. I know what it is like to build when resources are limited. I know what it is like to take an idea from conversation to implementation. I know what it is like to encounter obstacles and still find a way forward. That is the perspective I would bring to the Mayor's office. I have also served in elected county government, which taught me that public leadership requires more than ideas. It requires collaboration, accountability, responsible decision-making, and the ability to work with people who may not always agree with you. I am not running because I believe one person can save Battle Creek. I am running because I know what can happen when one person starts bringing the right people together to get the work done. Since 2017, I have tried to demonstrate that principle in my own community work. Becoming Mayor would not change my mission—it would expand the platform from which I can serve. This is not about beginning a political career for me. It is about taking years of hands-on experience and putting it to work at the citywide level. I left Battle Creek in 1990. I came home in 2017. Since coming home, I have invested my time, resources, experience, and energy in helping build this community. Now I am asking Battle Creek for the opportunity to continue that work on a larger scale. I believe our challenges are real, but I also believe our possibilities are greater. I have seen what can be accomplished with limited resources. Imagine what we can accomplish when we bring an entire city together. That is why I am running for Mayor. The work has already begun. Now it is time to take it citywide.
Battle Creek must become more aggressive about attracting new businesses, supporting existing employers, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating quality jobs. As Mayor, I will bring business, education, workforce, philanthropic, and community leaders together so that when companies consider investing or expanding, Battle Creek is organized, prepared, and ready to compete.
Battle Creek must become a city where people want to come, stay, raise families, and build their futures. I will focus on the conditions that drive population growth—including jobs, housing, strong neighborhoods, quality-of-life opportunities, education, and economic development—while listening directly to residents about why people leave and what would make them stay.
Every resident deserves to feel safe in their home, neighborhood, business, and community. I support strong, professional law enforcement combined with prevention, neighborhood partnerships, youth engagement, substance-abuse intervention, and strategies that address the conditions contributing to crime. Public safety and community trust must work together.
We need stronger neighborhoods, quality housing, responsible development, and productive reuse of vacant and underutilized properties. I have firsthand experience revitalizing property with limited resources. As Mayor, I will champion partnerships that encourage homeownership, rehabilitation, development, blight reduction, and investment in neighborhoods throughout Battle Creek.
Transportation is an economic-development issue. Residents need reliable ways to reach employment, education, healthcare, childcare, and other essential services. Having worked directly to solve transportation challenges locally, I want Battle Creek to bring employers, transportation providers, schools, nonprofits, and government together to identify gaps and develop practical solutions that connect people to opportunity.
Our young people should be able to see a future for themselves in Battle Creek. I will work to strengthen partnerships among our schools, Kellogg Community College, employers, skilled trades, workforce organizations, youth programs, and community partners. We must expose young people to careers, entrepreneurship, technology, AI, skilled trades, and pathways that lead from education to meaningful employment.
Residents should not feel disconnected from City Hall. I want a city government that communicates clearly, listens consistently, uses taxpayer resources responsibly, and measures results. As Mayor, I will champion greater community engagement, transparency, collaboration, and opportunities for residents who have traditionally stayed outside the political process to have their voices heard.
Battle Creek already has tremendous resources, institutions, businesses, nonprofits, churches, educators, foundations, and community leaders. Too often, however, people work in separate silos. The Mayor can be a convener. I will bring the right people to the table around major challenges and opportunities, establish shared goals, and push partnerships toward measurable results. We do not need government to do everything—we need leadership capable of getting everyone working together.
No community should ignore people who are living without safe and stable housing. Homelessness is not one single problem, so it will not be solved with one single program. As Mayor, I will bring together housing providers, nonprofits, faith communities, healthcare and behavioral-health partners, substance-use recovery services, employers, transportation providers, law enforcement, county agencies, and people with lived experience to develop a coordinated strategy. Our goal must go beyond temporarily managing homelessness. We must create pathways toward safe housing, treatment when needed, employment, transportation, supportive services, personal stability, and ultimately permanent housing. We must also focus on prevention by identifying residents and families at risk of losing their housing before they become homeless. Battle Creek can be compassionate while also expecting accountability, coordination, and measurable results. Every person has dignity, and every person deserves a pathway toward stability.
Have questions or suggestions? I would love to hear from you!
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916 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274