I’m a lifelong Iowan, born in Des Moines, raised in Urbandale and Windsor Heights, and graduated from Johnston High School. I attended DMACC, the University of Iowa, and Drake Law School. Upon graduating from Drake, I settled in Windsor Heights with my family, as we loved the neighborhood, trees, community, and my grandparents had lived here for decades.
In 2017, I was disappointed with how elected officials weren’t listening to my neighbors in the community. So, I decided to take action and ran for City Council, receiving the most votes out of a field of nine candidates. After serving on Council for four years, I wanted to see more leadership from the mayor, so I ran for the position. In 2021, I defeated the incumbent, receiving nearly 66% of the vote, and in 2025, I was reelected, becoming the most popularly elected Mayor in Windsor Heights history.
During my time as an elected official we lowered taxes, prioritized infrastructure spending, saw a dramatic increase in economic development, expanded community events programming, improved communication with residents, implemented a number of green initiatives including a 24×7 Carbon Free-Resolution, tree programs and solar panel installation, overhauled the City code, explored efficiencies in shared public safety services with our neighbors, and raised the speed limit and removed the speed cameras on University Avenue.
It was also during my time as an elected official that I witnessed the extreme Iowa Legislature erode home rule and tell us what we could and couldn’t do. Women’s bodily autonomy has been stripped away, gender identity has been removed from the Civil Rights Act, private schools are being funded while public schools suffer, our water is polluted and full of nitrates, cancer rates are rising, we’re facing almost a billion-dollar budget shortfall, and we’re in the top ten in “brain drain”.
When I graduated from law school, I joined the State Public Defender’s Office, where I continue to work to this day. So, I know firsthand that the same Legislature has politicized the judiciary and has refused to update our archaic drug laws that don’t just hurt small businesses, they hurt people.
It’s time for a change. We need bold, progressive, Democratic ideas to make Iowa a welcoming place for everyone, not just those in power. We should not compromise our ideals in the name of civility. I hope you’ll join me in this fight to make Iowa once again a place to grow.
