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I'm running for City Council because local government should be rooted in our neighborhoods and support working families. I understand what it takes to work hard, pay bills, and stand up for working people. As the official labor-endorsed candidate (AFSCME Council 5 & MN AFL-CIO), I bring real experience as a public servant and union member.
My Neighborhood-First platform focuses on three essential questions:
How do I provide for my family? (Childcare & co-op grocery)
How do I pay my bills? (Home-repair micro-grants)
How do I get to work safely? (Fix-it-first infrastructure)
I stand firm on transparency: saying NO to secret deals, data centers, and Flock cameras. The working families of North Mankato deserve a seat at City Hall.
My top three priorities, based on my Neighborhood-First platform, are:
Providing for Families: Expanding childcare access and establishing a community co-op grocery.
Paying Bills: Protecting stability through home-repair micro-grants for seniors and workers.
Safe Commutes: Prioritizing fix-it-first infrastructure for sidewalks and well-lit roads.
Why? Working families deserve a City Hall focused on basic daily needs and transparency instead of speculative corporate giveaways.
True representation starts by showing up, listening, and focusing on the everyday realities that unite working families across every neighborhood in North Mankato. My Neighborhood-First platform is built to ensure that our local government serves everyone from all backgrounds. As your City Council member, my job is to be accessible and accountable to all working families in North Mankato.
To ensure transparency and accountability, I will:
Ban Administrative NDAs: Prohibit secret backroom negotiations without open City Council approval.
Mandate Early Public Oversight: Require full disclosure early in the planning process, never as a last-minute surprise.
Reject Corporate Secrecy: Say NO to resource-draining data centers and third-party Flock surveillance networks.
Local government belongs to the residents.
I would be the best candidate running for City Council because I believe that the people of North Mankato deserve to have a voice in community decision-making. Recent decisions from the council regarding the new Public Works facility, the proposed AI data center, and other major projects have made it clear that municipal decision-making must become more open and accessible. As a council member, I will prioritize genuine transparency by ensuring residents are informed early, engaged meaningfully in the decision-making process, and given a real voice on the significant issues that shape our city's future. The citizens of North Mankato need a leader that will champion their values and usher in a new generation of leaders for our community.
My top three priorities as a City Council member are Transparency, Integrity and Community. I want to make the City Council as transparent as possible in its decisions and invite public input where possible so residents can have a say in what directly affects them and the community. I will work to serve the public and make decisions that benefit North Mankato directly. I will also work to support local businesses and continue City events that bring our community together.
I would work to make North Mankato a welcoming community, through supporting and taking care of our immigrant neighbors, providing city resources in multiple languages, promoting the Climate Action Plan and restoration of parks and natural areas, and ensuring affordable housing to attract a diverse group of members to North Mankato. Being fluent in Spanish and having served in the Peace Corps in Peru, I plan to work directly to address the needs of the growing Hispanic community.
I would increase transparency and readiness by one promoting having town halls, where residents can come speak on issues and address members directly instead of solely through Council meetings. I would also work to put certain decisions up for a public vote, regarding tax increases or large projects such as the Public Works Facility. Finally, I would promote any development that benefits the community and not let any personal or business interests interfere with decisions on the Council.
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As a 40-year resident of North Mankato, I have a deep understanding of and commitment to our community. I also have extensive expertise in city government, having been the supervisor for the water and parks departments. The City exists to serve citizens so my departmental goal was to respond to citizens' concerns within 24 hours. On the council I will follow through on the issues that are important to constituents. I believe in Neighbors First as I treat all citizens as my neighbors and I believe in North Mankato Always, meaning I will endeavor to do what is best for our community's future. On the city council I will bring a positive attitude. I will listen to citizens, other council members, staff and experts to reach the best solutions.
1. To provide vision for the community and through dialog with citizens, set priorities. Building a strong vision will allow us to prioritize our resources and control spending.
2. To maintain our infrastructure so that we can attract businesses and provide a broad spectrum of housing to accommodate diverse citizens.
3. Provide strong city governance and oversight. We can have a city government that is respectful, responsive and responsible, while working collaboratively to solve problems.
I have always been approachable and open-minded. I am often the one to listen rather than speak first. Citizens would find it easy to come to me with questions and concerns. I also volunteer with Holy Grounds where I have an opportunity to meet a very diverse population. I have learned so much from people who have a different background than mine. As your council person I would strive to look at issues from multiple perspectives and make decisions for the good of the whole community.
Good governance starts with transparency, responsible oversight, and a willingness to explain how and why decisions are made. All agreements need to be made public whenever legally permitted and non-disclosures should be used sparingly. I take seriously the responsibility to provide oversight by asking questions, reviewing spending and contracts, monitoring city programs, and holding leadership accountable for delivering on its commitments and making information easily accessible to citizens.
