Safer Neighborhoods

  • Safety – Topekans need to feel safe in the community they call home. According to the 2023 Crime Index (the latest published report), crime is trending upward in our community. While Topeka Police reports show some improvement in 2024, the crime rate is still well above where I and many citizens feel it should be.  Addressing crime will be one of my top priorities.
  • Safe, Affordable Housing – Affordable housing in Topeka is in short supply and what is available is often not in great condition. Growing our community is one of my top priorities and we must have enough safe, affordable housing to attract individuals and families to move to Topeka

Clear and Consistent Decision Making

  • Objective, Fact-Based Decisions – During my first term on the Topeka City Council, I promised to make objective decisions based on the facts at hand. I will do my best to cast my vote for what is right for the city of Topeka and our community based on the best information available and the feedback I get from the folks I represent. I work for you, not any special interest committee.
  • Two-Way Communication – A two-way line of communication is critical to the future of the city. I am always willing to listen to the thoughts, concerns, and ideas of Topekans and take that feedback into consideration when making decisions about our community. I’m happy to explain what I know and which way I might vote on any issue. Please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime here.

Sustainable Growth for the Future

  • Urban Core & Downtown Redevelopment – I believe that Topeka needs a strong urban core and downtown in order grow our community. A lot of work has already been done to revitalize Downtown, but that has stalled recently and Downtown is starting to regress. Continuing to revitalize Downtown and our City’s historic urban core is critical to our future growth and one of my top priorities.
  • Lower Taxes & Community Growth – Taxes in our community are rapidly becoming unaffordable for many Topekans. There are a number of reasons why our taxes are disproportionately high, but there is only one real way to solve it for the long term. Our population MUST grow. The more residents we have contributing to the tax base, the less each individual or family’s contribution needs to be. However, while the math may be simple, achieving growth is not. Topeka’s population has been stagnant if not in decline much of the last 50 years leaving fewer taxpayers to fund the increased cost to maintain our infrastructure and other City services. Growing the community needs to be our top priority as it funds everything from public safety to infrastructure like roads and water lines to quality-of-life improvements like better parks and entertainment.

What are your goals, thoughts, and ideas? Knowing what constituents want and need is very important to me. Please share them with me here.