All residents should be safe in their communities, with safe roads and bridges.  Public safety hinges on timely police and fire services promptly responding.  Meeting expectations and securing adequate funding for essential services is crucial for the well-being and prosperity of our communities.

First Responders – I believe we should support and strengthen our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and Emergency Medical Technicians to safeguard our neighborhoods. Well-trained, properly funded public safety teams are necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect all of us. Our First Responders continue to create a safe city for all Andover citizens. I  will work with them to ensure that they are appreciated for the work they do for all of us.

Clean and Safe Water – Our water supply and sewer system need to be secure and properly maintained. We need to prioritize adequate funding to maintain our infrastructure at the lowest cost to our taxpayers.

Roads and Bridges –  Well maintained Roads and Infrastructure are the backbone of our community. By investing in the maintenance of our roads, we can improve safety, reduce congestion, and attract great people and businesses to Andover.

School Safety – Revitalizing academic excellence by empowering teachers to teach while ensuring School Resource Officers are supported to focus on the safety of our most precious assets, our children.

Andover City Council needs to focus on the actual needs of our community, instead of the wants.  Just as inflation impacts all of our household budgets, it also impacts the city budget, and there is less money to spend on things that are “nice to have”.  For now, our city government needs to focus on the requirements, such as upkeep of our roads and infrastructure.  The spending of the last few years has drained the city’s budget, and the next city council will have to tackle those shortfalls responsibly and fairly.   When times get better in the future, perhaps then we can invest in more of the “nice to have” things, although with appropriate oversight and approvals.  I will problem solve to keep expenses down and minimize taxes. I support lowering residents’ tax burden by first exercising spending restraint. I firmly believe that being fiscally responsible for Andover’s taxpayers’ money is a primary responsibility of the council, and the council must be responsible to all of Andover’s residents. In that vein, I will support referendums for the entire city to vote for major capital expenditures, such as the expanded community center.

Government –  Operations of City Hall, paid for by taxpayers, should always have open dialogue and oversight by citizens of all aspects of what is being done.  This includes access to accounting/finance concerns as well as official meetings.  I advocate for residents to have the opportunity to vote through referendum whenever significant capital improvements are proposed.  This ensures transparency and prevents undue influence from special interest groups that could otherwise sway decision makers.

ACC – The Andover Community Center second addition was  constructed without proper and appropriate input from all the citizens. We need to ensure that type of decision making doesn’t happen again. Decisions of this importance require transparency and a referendum.  Despite these irregularities of the past, we need to focus on making the best of the situation.  The center provides numerous opportunities for its residents, but many are unaware of them.  I want to see all Andover residents benefiting from the expansion. 

Elections – Voter confidence in election results is predicated on checks and balances, transparency, and common-sense reform.  Establishing and maintaining trust in election results requires we safeguard this process before, during, and after voting. This confidence and trust ensure our elections are free and fair.  

 I will work to ensure appropriate funding for existing maintenance requirements and other infrastructure needs such as roads. I will ensure the council scrupulously reviews new requests and if they meet the definition of a significant Capital Improvement Project, put them to a referendum so citizens can decide if it makes sense to move forward with the proposal. I will oppose and resist any efforts by the unelected bureaucrats at the Metropolitan Council to force Andover to build unnecessary High-Density Housing, while working to find our own solutions to affordable housing. I do not believe the Met Council should have any input in how the city of Andover is managed.

Business and economic development are critical to our city. Our businesses not only provide our community with valuable services and goods, but most importantly – jobs. I have an extensive business background and know the struggles to be successful.  I intend to work with local businesses to ensure they know they are valued in our city. Let’s support them in their endeavors. I will also explore economic prospects to entice new businesses to our city.

Natural Resource Conservation:  Parks, Trails, and Recreation build strong families and communities, attract economic development and growth, and preserve and protect our natural resources in their environments. Our residents enjoy our parks, trails, and natural areas. Protecting our environment is crucial for the health and prosperity of our city. I will work with the council and city leaders to encourage strong conservation practices that focus on environmental sustainability.