In 1-2 sentences, explain why you are running for District 1 and what motivated you to seek this position.
I am running for 1st District City Council because I know City Hall desperately needs experienced leadership at the helm and I feel very strongly that I am the best candidate to do just that. Being an effective public servant and longtime community leader, I feel as though I am uniquely qualified to serve as an effective City Councilmember starting on my first day in office, ready to tackle complicated problems that impact the lives of all Baltimoreans.
In 1-2 sentences, describe how your background and/or previous experience has prepared you to serve as Councilman?
With over a decade of experience working for Baltimore City, I have served in numerous constituent service, legislative and policy roles within our local government including: City Council President’s Office Community Liaison (Districts 1, 2, 3, and 11) Chief Clerk of the City Council, Council President’s Office Legislative Assistant, and Legislative Affairs Manager of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation. I have also served in a volunteer capacity as Reading Partners Tutor (2012 - 2018), John Ruhrah Youth Baseball Coach (2015 - 2016), MTA Citizens Advisory Committee Chair (2017 - 2019), President of Greektown Neighborhood Association (2016 -2020), and Live Baltimore Board Member (2019 - Present).
 What are your top 3 priorities or key goals if elected as (insert district # and office)?
First and foremost, I intend to vote "yes" every budget cycle to ensure Baltimore City is fully meeting funding requirements to Baltimore City Public Schools established by Blueprint for Maryland's Future. There is no gray area and there is no wiggle room. We must fully fund City Schools so that our students have the great teachers who are compensated adequately, our teachers have ample support staff and our school facilities are excellent environments that encourage learning. Longer term, I would like to work with Live Baltimore to make former Baltimore City Public School students eligible for $10,000 towards down payment and closing cost assistance so that our existing City residents can purchase a home in Baltimore City. This policy would help stabilize the City's population while also helping to combat increasing pressure of displacement resulting from gentrification.
I also intend to have a major focus on capital improvements that provide several notable benefits. We can invest in upgrading our recreation and parks facilities to truly create places where our families and youth want to go during their free time. We can leverage our municipal conduit system to implement and expand fast, affordable and reliable public broadband across Baltimore City. We can make sure City DOT prioritizes working with DPW and the Office of Sustainability to ensure our roadway projects remove impervious surfaces, promote walkability and improve pedestrian safety. And while we accomplish all of these great things, we can do them via executing project labor agreements, to ensure Baltimoreans are hired to fill positions that pay livable wages with great benefits.
Lastly, I would like to work with the City's Department of Human Resources, Baltimore City Public Schools and the City's Finance Department to prioritize filling vacant positions within City Government. This can be accomplished in several ways, including improving benefits and compensation packages. The big goal though would be to establish a "School to Public Service Pipeline" where we align the curriculum, our public school system, our local trade schools, and our colleges to train the next generation of City workers. We would provide City residents to work for their own City, filling vacancies while earning solid wages with great benefits. In that scenario, everyone wins. Our citizens have opportunities for employment while also receiving better, more consistent municipal services.
What do you see as the most pressing issue facing District 1 residents right now?
I honestly think the biggest issue facing District 1 voters, and really most City voters is inadequate and inconsistent municipal services. I want to be clear that this issue is not the result of any one administration, nor is it an issue that recently developed. Instead, it’s the culmination of years and years of both population loss and economic decline that has contributed to the long term hollowing out of City services.
Now that Baltimore City is beginning to turn the corner economically, we must start strategically and thoughtfully rebuilding City Government to ensure Baltimore’s recovery is one that truly benefits all Baltimoreans and leaves no one behind. We have an opportunity to make a vibrant, just, safe, and equitable Baltimore where families want to stay and businesses want to come to open up shop. It starts with fixing City Government, getting the basics right, and then focusing our efforts on establishing larger visionary goals. Let’s make sure the street lights are working, the trash & recycling gets picked up on time, the water bills are accurate, and the roads and sidewalks are repaired.
With each problem we solve, we’ll build momentum, and before we know it, Baltimore will become the biggest success story this nation has seen in a generation.
What else would you like voters to know? Feel free to share any other perspectives or details about your background, priorities and vision.
On a personal note, I am originally a resident of Northeast Baltimore City, where I attended Glenmount Elementary / Middle School PS 235 and played baseball off of Moyer Avenue at Hamilton Little League. I eventually went on to attend Loch Raven Academy and graduated from Calvert Hall College High School and Towson University, earning a degree in Metropolitan Studies. Both of my parents were employed by the City of Baltimore and I was taught from a very young age the importance of public service and voting in each election. Occasionally, I’ll even stop talking policy and dabble in some fun. I always cheer on our beloved Orioles and Ravens in Camden Yards or at home with my bird-loving cat, Jebbi. When I’m not running for public office, I often play league softball with friends from local and state government. In order to avoid unnecessary controversy, my official karaoke playlist will be revealed on the eve of the May 14th Democratic Primary election. For information about my background, I encourage you to view my official campaign video, available here.
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