In the last decade, we have seen unprecedented progress and innovation in the tech sector, but also with that- growing levels of privatized, unregulated surveillance on the American population.

That means we need policy. At the local level. Now. To protect everyone as development of these emerging technologies continues, but also (and more importantly) to ensure that we are not prioritizing profit-motivated innovation over the basic needs and survival of our communities. 

On AI:

AI is everywhere and while arguments can be made for its benefits, pitfalls and dangers abound. The City of Mount Pleasant needs to implement policies that preserve public trust in our communications, protect the privacy of residents and their personal information, and maintain human oversight and quality control.

I will advocate for policies which prioritize anonymity and protect the personal data of city residents from use in the training of Generative AI models and collection by their parent companies.

To protect public trust, I will advance policies that limit and bar the use of Generative AI in the creation of public facing City Communications and focus on Human to Human Connection. 

I will update the City’s purchasing policy to require the disclosure and evaluation of how contracted companies utilize AI when handling city controlled sensitive data.

On Data Centers:

The proliferation of Hyperscale Data Centers is an unchecked threat to the health and well-being of communities everywhere. Their vast consumption of resources and detrimental impacts to the health and well being of the communities in which they build needs to be checked. While I am supportive of an outright ban of this type of development, I recognize that may not legally be possible. To that end, I will take steps to ensure public input, trust, and control over the process of any potential development.

I will push for a 12 month moratorium of development applications to allow for zoning and ordinance updates that can properly check and protect the people of Mount Pleasant, and help set a standard for other communities directly neighboring Mount Pleasant and throughout Mid-Michigan.

Many local leaders around the country have been offered an inside look at Hyperscale Data Center proposals and developments after signing Non-Disclosure Agreements with the developer.

I promise to never sign an NDA related in any way to a Data Center Development.

I will help promote and support any state or federal legislation that treats Data Centers as a public utility, and which emphasizes the health, safety, and general welfare of local communities.

On autonomous devices:

From autonomous vehicles; to delivery drones; to robot dogs, unmanned and autonomous devices are both here and on the horizon. 

I will support the advancement of appropriate regulation that addresses public safety and preserves enjoyment of public spaces.

I am committed to ensuring proper oversight and direction from the City Commission as your elected officials.

When I became Mayor in 2025, one of my first actions was to carry out the annual employee review for the City Manager which the previous administration had failed to conduct. I then worked alongside the rest of the commission to conduct a workplace climate survey to give an unbiased picture of work conditions and morale within the City organization.  

I am committed to performing a follow-up survey in late 2027 or early 2028 to receive further feedback on the changes we have implemented based on the 2025 workplace climate survey.

Its not enough for the commission to believe things are going well- we need to be able to demonstrate that with regular reporting and accountability.

I believe members of the public should have regular access to their elected officials. To that end, I will continue hosting my monthly office hours on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 6-7pm as I have done for the past four years.

I will always work to ensure that public outreach and education are a cornerstone of any City lead endeavor.

Our City Charter states that the city’s purpose is to “provide for the public health, safety, and well being of persons of property within the City”. This core language in our charter fails to account for the fact that over half our population are not persons of property, but instead rent their housing.

In my second term I will continue to support the creation of a permanent committee within City government that is focused on the lived experiences of people who rent in the City of Mount Pleasant and which can make recommendations and reports to the City Commission.

I will also advocate for a charter amendment to ensure our core governing documents are inclusive of everyone who calls Mount Pleasant home.

Young people in this community need to know that this is a community worth their time to invest their love, labor, and effort into. We can show them that by investing the same into them.

Since the beginning of my time on the City Commission I have continually advocated for the creation of opportunities for Gratiot-Isabella Technical Education Students to find positions within the City organization. Local students need to know that there are local jobs waiting for them here and now. We have already created several opportunities within our public safety division, and during my second term I would like to challenge each City department to create a roll available to a GI-TEC student.

In my second term, I will also continue to affirm support for Partners Empowering All Kids, or PEAK, programming as one of the most affordable child care resources in the area and a cornerstone of the Mount Pleasant Parks and Recreation programming.

I also intend to pursue the creation of a Youth Advisory Commission made up of high school aged community members that can give input and guidance on city development for the future. Programs like this already exist within the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and in East Lansing. We need to start incorporating the voices of young people into our decision making, and we need to start preparing the youth of our community with the tools they need to lead.

Our World is in the midst of a climate crisis and every year the impacts become more apparent. Local communities like the City of Mount Pleasant need to continue acting with their means to insulate themselves from the worst effects.

During my time in office I advocated for the creation of a Climate Change Preparedness Plan, and the on-boarding of a Sustainability Coordinator to City staff. Recent action from this was the opportunity to incrementally and reliably switch the energy consumption of city facilities to solar energy. 

After receiving resident input and feedback in 2023, I helped advocate for and craft an updated natural landscaping ordinance. I was also proud to help launch our first community garden and orchard in Horizon park, giving interested residents access to garden space throughout the growing season.

Over the next four years I want to continue working to preserve our natural environment, pursue more strategies to reduce our energy consumption, and ensure we are taking action to protect our community against extreme weather events in whatever form they may take.