I didn’t come to this work through theory or politics—I came to it through lived experience.

Earlier in my life, as a college student, I was convicted of two felony drug-related offenses. I was held accountable, and I’ve taken responsibility for those actions. Navigating the criminal legal system firsthand exposed me to systems that were often confusing, unforgiving, and disconnected from the real lives of the people inside them. I know what it feels like when decisions are made about you instead of with you. Those experiences shaped how I see leadership, accountability, and responsibility—not as abstract ideas, but as things that have real consequences for families and young people.

As I grew older, I made a choice: to take what I learned navigating those systems and use it to support other youth and families who deserve guidance, opportunity, and fairness—not punishment for the sake of punishment. That commitment led me into public service working as the Planning Manager for Ramsey Office of Safety and Justice, national consultant with the Annie E Casey Foundation, and founding Project Restore MN focused on prevention, safety, and healing. I’ve spent years working alongside young people, parents, community leaders, and system partners to build solutions that are collaborative, practical, and rooted in dignity.

I believe the best outcomes happen when we stop working in silos and start working together. Real safety comes from trust. Real accountability comes from relationships. And real change happens when the government listens to the people most impacted and brings them to the table.

Becoming a father deepened that belief.

I chose Saint Anthony intentionally as the place to raise my son because I believe children deserve to grow up in neighborhoods where safety, fairness, and love for community are not just talked about, but practiced. Where people look out for one another. Where differences are respected. And where responsibility—to each other and to the next generation—matters.

That same belief is what drives my decision to run for office.

I’m not interested in politics as performance. I’m interested in service that shows up, listens, and delivers. I believe leadership is earned through honesty, consistency, and care for the whole community—especially those who are too often overlooked.

This campaign is about building a future where families feel supported, communities feel safe, and young people are given real chances to succeed. It’s about doing the work together—and doing it right.