Why Treasurer? Why Grand Rapids Township (Local)?

I graduated from Grand Valley in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science, Liberal Studies, Psychological and Social Development — a curated mix of Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, and World Studies. I also grew up in a tech heavy home — my mom was a small business owner — the first female owned .com company in Grand Rapids, and also a very successful Real Estate Broker, ran her businesses out of our home. I got to dig my hands into budgets, taxes, revenues and expenses young — she was successful because she spent time building out those skills through hard work. And I learned from that and ran with it.

From 2010 to 2019 I worked for the Department of Health and Human Services — starting at the front lines as an Assistance Payments Worker, and eventually taking a job in our Central Office location where I was introduced to the software development side of the complex budgeting software I had been using — to help test, which lead to my current career in Government Software Development. I have the resume to do this job. I know what it means to be a Public Servant. And I know that local is where I can make the most impactful difference for my home community — the place where I am raising my own young child.

Why Now?

I was a City of Grand Rapids home owner from 2012-2019 — and the sense of community we had there was really incredible, and organic. The walkability of the area made it thrive with life — meeting new neighbors everyday, cycling safely to work, being able to take my dog to the dog park — and Saturday mornings at the farmers market.

We moved to Grand Rapids Township in 2019 — with the promise of a bike path to be finished 2020 in the current master plan, and trees to be planted next to our home by the developer. We haven’t had any progress on either — so I started talking to neighbors — and it turns out I wasn’t alone. We want to be involved in our community — but none of us have a way to since the Townships board meetings currently contain almost no open discussion and I have been told that it’s “Comments not questions” when asking if they would respond. (The township meetings are often only 7-15 minutes long)

These are supposed to be our public servants? They are supposed to be serving and protecting us.

I realized I was able to do a better job because of my extensive experience in Government Operations — so I wanted to give the citizens of our Grand Rapids Township Community a better option. So I’m running. And since announcing my candidacy I’ve actually been to more of the board meetings than the current Treasurer has been in attendance at.

Lets Talk Debt?

I don’t believe we should go into debt — nor do I have any reason to believe we will have to. I am a fiscal conservative — and using my extensive technology background I have already identified several line items that can be eliminated or reduced to save our township money — and spend it where it actually makes sense.

The Other Important Issues

1. I want to expand our Fire Department Resources — they need additional resources that I absolutely believe we not only can, but should provide.

2. We need accessible meetings — I want to bring the conversations ONLINE. It’s important citizens have access to the decisions being made about where they live. I don’t want to limit the conversations at the table to the 7 board members. I want our community to be able to be engaged.

3. I believe in not just fair — but living wages. I stand with unions.

4. I support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives — and participate as a leader, presenter, and a research contributor for a DEI group with an international audience.

5. I support Access to Reproductive Healthcare for All — which includes the absolute Right to Choose.

6. I support Educators, and Public Schools