I am running for commissioner as a continuation of a life lived in service.

Grand County has changed a lot since I moved here in 1994.

To quote Anthony Bourdain, “You can always tell when a person has worked in a restaurant. There’s an empathy that can only be cultivated by those who’ve stood between a hungry mouth and a $28 pork chop.” I have worked in restaurants in every position; I have cleaned grease traps and bathrooms and served countless meals and drinks.

I have also worked in ski rental shops putting endless tourists into ski boots while looking out on a powder day.

I understand the working people of Grand County because I am one. I will work to make sure the opportunities available in 1994 are available to young people who want to move or stay in Grand County. As a business and property owner in Grand County I will work to keep this a good place to be invested in.

Peter Drucker said, “Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things.” I have served on the East Grand School District Board of Education since I was appointed in 2016, and served as board president since 2019. Successes along the road include securing $1 million annually for teacher’s pay (teachers are still underpaid).

Students were graduating and saying there were no jobs, employers couldn’t find employees. In response, at East Grand School District created the Career Technical Education program to bridge that gap and send workforce ready students into the job force, while allowing the knowledge of our business community to be shared with young minds.

The new Granby Elementary School opened its doors this year. Navigating supply chain issues and the monumental construction cost increases, this project was completed on budget, a feat we should all be proud of.

With a small committee, I helped form what is now the Fraser River Valley Housing Partnership, what should become a self-sustaining business model to help meet housing needs. As commissioner, I will support the partnership’s work and the work of all the towns and private businesses that want to create local housing. I will also work to form public-private partnerships to encourage developers to help meet the needs of the community.

If elected as county commissioner, I plan on working to keep our community a strong and vital place to live.