BUDGET - Ashland citizens, small businesses, public and non profits all maintain a budget that doesn’t exceed their spending and keeps a reserve fund for rainy days. The Ashland School Board, of which I was elected and currently serve, requires an 8-10% reserve fund for rainy days and yet at the city we have spent all of our reserve fund; we have no more rainy day funds. It's ok to ask the stewards of taxpayer dollars to do the same as Ashland citizens, live within our means. It's not fair to the 50+% of Ashland that can’t afford monthly bills to lack creativity in finding ways to reduce our spending and increase our revenue.

CHANGE - Ashland must adjust to the changes brought about by the COVID pandemic and the economic reality of the 21st Century - to take advantage of the new economy in remote work, outdoor tourism, clean energy and our changing cultural institutions, including, our culinary and viniculture industries.  We can build new economies alongside our existing ones while addressing the risks of climate change. I pledge to work side-by-side with others, both in government and the private sector, as we build a better Ashland. 
 
COMMUNITY - I chose to live in Ashland with my husband and raise my two boys here because I am passionate about the importance of community. In a vibrant town like Ashland, we take responsibility for every citizen's ability to flourish and thrive.  I've worked cooperatively with Ashland businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, and students of OIT as a speaker and panelist at the Ashland Innovators Conference hosted by the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, and most recently as a member of the School Board ensuring that bond money for capital improvements is wisely spent.  I pledge to bring these values and hopes for the future of Ashland to the City Council when you vote for me on Nov. 8th.

COLLABORATION - As a city councilor, I will to listen carefully to the views of my colleagues and treat them respectfully before making independent judgement on the issues before us. This is the Ashland way.  It's how I function as a member of the School Board and how I strive to succeed as a mother of two young boys.

AFFORDABILITY - Bringing our budget into balance while providing essential services is a challenge for our city.  A bigger challenge is to meet the needs of those in our community who are being priced out of Ashland. I pledge to work tirelessly to form partnerships with public, private, and non-profit institutions to create well-paying jobs, build housing that is affordable for current Ashlanders, and to attract others to move to Ashland so we can build an inclusive, thriving community.

ACCOUNTABILITY - I supported changing the city charter to provide for a strong manager for the day to day operations of the Ashland City Government.  Policy decisions, however, remain in the hands of our elected Mayor and Council.  Citizen voices must be respected and I pledge to be open to the views of everyone, not to be a part of any faction and not to give special interests an open door.