Past SUCCESSes

I have served the Lancaster County Board since my election in 2018, including serving as Chair of the Board twice. My record speaks for itself, during my time on the board I have successfully:

• Lowered the county property tax levy four times in the last five years—to an all-time historic low.
• Secured nearly $200,000,000 in federal funds for a second water source in our community.
• Constructed a county-wide rural broadband system to bring high speed internet to Lancaster County.
• Oversaw a historic increase in infrastructure funding for county highways and bridges, which reopened 38 of 40 closed bridges since 2019.
• Increased funding for family programs,  including afterschool programs, emergency assistance during the pandemic, and family violence prevention. 
• Created a universal voluntary newborn home visiting program that provides a home visit by a Registered Nurse to ensure healthy mothers and babies.
• Led efforts to make our county welcoming to wind and solar energy development. 
• Safeguarded our community’s clean air and water from polluting industrial farming operations.

Third TERM PRIORITIES

I know there is more still to do. This campaign is about building on past success and ensuring that our families, our local economy and our county have an even brighter tomorrow.

My priorities include: 

• Fighting for economic development through green energy expansion, major tourism investments, and supporting small businesses in our community.
• Promoting public safety through the creation of a Youth and Family Crisis Center to serve at-risk youth and families struggling with behavioral health issues. 
• Providing support for families through child care assistance programs, home visitation programs and quality services for seniors and veterans.

Position Statements

Health & Aging Services

Ensuring that the citizens in the heart of our county receive their fair share of health services is vital – everything from access to to environmental health and animal control services to support for new families and seniors all help keep our community safe and healthy. Having cared for a disabled mother for nearly two decades, I believe that it’s crucial that we care for those who built our community. I will fight to protect and grow health and aging services for our friends and neighbors. In particular, I’m committed to fighting for additional public health and community support for new mothers and families adapting to life changes.

Energy and Environment

Nebraska is one of only a handful of states to see an increased reliance on fossil fuels in recent decades. With the threat of climate chaos looming, increasing fossil fuel production dirties our air and endangers our future. Here in our county we have an abundance of potential clean energy through wind and solar energy production. I’m proud to say I have successfully fought to make our county welcoming to renewable energy development. This is good for our environment and better for our economy. As your County Commissioner, I will continue to fight to protect our clean air and water.

Mental Health Services

Our community mental health and behavioral health services require a fundamental overhaul. A community health profile survey of Lancaster County found that the lack of mental  health services was the number one health concern of county residents. As your County Commissioner, I’ve worked to substantially increase support and funding for these services and will continue to increase access to mental health therapy and substance abuse treatment to meet the needs of people in crisis and to ease pressure on our jails and courts. In particular, I’m working to build a Youth and Family Crisis Center to serve at-risk youth and families struggling with behavioral health issues. I will continue to fight on the state level for a mental health problem solving court for Lancaster County in addition to increased support for our mental health diversion programming.

Libraries, Parks & Rec, After-School Services

I grew up in the parks, libraries and after school programs provided by our community. It’s essential to me that these city and county services remain available to our citizens and continue to serve as centers of learning, recreation and community engagement.

Public Safety and Law Enforcement

Many neighborhoods in the heart of our county live with a crime rate significantly higher than the national average. Our community should prevent crime through more after school programs, community policing, and mental health services. I have increased the number of Sheriff’s Deputies patrolling Lancaster County and will continue to make sure that law enforcement has the resources needed to keep our community safe. At the same time, promoting public safety by combating and reforming the school-to-prison pipeline and finding alternatives to incarceration for Lancaster County’s nonviolent at-risk youth is necessary for our community to make real inroads against the crime rates faced in the heart of our county.

Roads & Bridges

The heart of our county deserves its fair share of road improvement projects as well to make our streets safer and less congested. I will work hard to ensure central Lincoln roads remain a priority while supporting our community’s continued expansion with the South Beltway project and working to build towards future development through the East Beltway.

Taxes

Property taxes are too much of a burden for homeowners and those costs are passed down to renters. Services can be provided more efficiently and cost effectively by making technology improvements and centralizing local government infrastructure. Keeping more money in the pockets of working people is my aim and I consider that every time I vote on tax or spending issues. I’m proud to say that I have lowered the county property tax levy four times in five years and the levy currently sits at an all-time historic low.

Veterans’ Services

Our veterans and their families have sacrificed for our community, the least we can do is ensure they have the services and treatment they need in a timely manner. As your County Commissioner, I will work fiercely for our veteran’s services and fair treatment for veterans in crisis.