Education has always been one of the most important pathways to opportunity. My children graduated from Osseo High School, and I have seen firsthand how much families in this community value education and work hard to give their children a better future.

I have met many parents in District 38 who juggle long hours but still make time to support their children’s learning. I have also met dedicated teachers who show up every day because they believe in their students and the potential they see in them. These educators do more than teach—they mentor, guide, and inspire the next generation.

But I have also heard from families and educators about the challenges our schools face. Many classrooms are overcrowded, resources are stretched thin, and rising housing costs make it difficult for teachers to live in the communities where they work. When teachers cannot live near their students, it becomes harder to build the strong relationships that help schools thrive.

That is why, as State Senator, I will work closely with parents, teachers, students, and community members to strengthen our public education system. The best solutions come from listening to the people who are directly connected to our schools every day.

Teachers are the backbone of our education system. I will work with educators and school leaders to advocate for policies that increase teacher salaries and improve working conditions so we can retain talented teachers in our schools.

I will also work with local communities, school districts, housing partners, and educators to develop innovative solutions that help teachers live where they teach. One of these solutions is creating a Teacher First-Time Homebuyer Program, which would provide 25–30% down payment assistance to help educators purchase homes in the districts where they work.

In addition, I want to work with cities, developers, and community stakeholders to explore the creation of Teacher Housing Communities. These communities would provide affordable housing options designed specifically for teachers and school staff so they can build stable lives near the schools they serve.

When teachers are able to live in the communities where they work, schools become stronger and relationships between educators, families, and students grow.

Education must also focus on preparing our young people for the future. I will work with educators, parents, and community organizations to expand opportunities such as career and technical education, mentorship programs, and access to mental health resources so students are prepared not only for college, but for careers and life.

District 38 is one of the most diverse communities in Minnesota, and our schools reflect that diversity. I will continue working with families from all backgrounds to ensure our schools remain welcoming, inclusive environments where every student feels valued and supported.

Education is not just about classrooms and textbooks—it is about opportunity, community, and the future of our children.

Invest in Early Childhood Education

Education starts long before kindergarten.

I support:

• Expanding affordable preschool and early childhood programs.

• Increasing funding for childcare providers.

• Supporting early learning programs in underserved communities.

• Strengthening partnerships between schools and families.

Early education is one of the best investments we can make in our children’s future.

Together, by working with families, educators, and community members, we can build schools that support our teachers, empower our students, and strengthen our communities.

Public Safety is Personal to Me

As a teenager, I used to come to District 38 and spend time in this community. Back then, I remember feeling safe walking the streets, visiting friends, and spending time in the neighborhoods that many families still call home today.

But over the years, I have also seen the pain that violence can bring to our communities.

My wife was killed by gun violence and buried right here in District 38. That loss changed my life forever.

I have also seen what violence does to the people we care about. As a teenager, one of my close friends was shot and left paralyzed in District 38. Moments like these stay with you. They remind you how fragile life can be and how important it is to build safer communities for everyone.

These experiences shaped not only my personal life but also my professional path. They inspired me to build a career in homeland security and emergency management, violence intervention, and nonprofit violence prevention advocacy. I wanted to be part of the solution and help create safer, stronger communities for future generations.

Today, I work right here in this district supporting programs focused on mentorship, prevention, and helping young people find a different path. Through my work, I have seen firsthand that real public safety requires more than just reacting to crime. It requires investing in our communities, supporting our young people, and creating opportunities that keep individuals away from violence in the first place.

I want to see a community where children can go to the park and come home safely to their families. I want to see neighborhoods where senior citizens can walk their streets without fear and continue to live with dignity in the communities they helped build.

As State Senator, I will work with law enforcement, community organizations, educators, and residents to strengthen public safety in District 38. This includes supporting violence prevention programs, expanding youth mentorship and job opportunities, strengthening emergency preparedness efforts, and investing in community-based solutions that address the root causes of violence.

Public safety is not just a policy issue—it is about protecting the lives of the people we love and the communities we call home.

Together, we can build a future where every family in District 38 feels safe, supported, and hopeful about the future.

I have knocked on doors, helped residents deal with water leaking from the apartment above them, and talked to seniors shivering in buildings without heat during the winter. I know the struggles of families in District 38 because I live them too—my family and friends are in these very same apartments. This should not be the story of our district, yet too many buildings are aging, some 40–50 years old, leaving families in unsafe and unhealthy conditions.

Everyone deserves safe, stable, and affordable housing. As State Senator, I will work closely with residents, families, and community organizations to ensure that housing in our district meets the needs of the people who live here.

Expand First-Time Homeownership

Homeownership is one of the strongest paths to building generational wealth. I support:

• Down payment assistance programs for first-time homebuyers

• Expanded access to affordable mortgages

• Programs that help working families transition from renting to owning

Improve Housing Conditions

Families should never have to live in unsafe or poorly maintained housing. I will work to:

• Strengthen tenant protections

• Hold negligent landlords accountable

• Improve housing inspections and code enforcement

Increase Affordable Housing Development

District 38 needs more affordable housing options. I support:

• Workforce housing for teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees

• Incentives for developers to build affordable housing

• Partnerships between cities, nonprofits, and the state to increase housing supply

Safe and stable housing strengthens families, schools, and entire communities. By working directly with residents and advocating for stronger protections, I will fight to make sure every family in District 38 can live in a safe, dignified, and affordable home.

District 38 deserves an economic opportunity. Too many residents leave the district to work, shop, or seek safer communities. We need to revitalize our local economy to bring jobs, services, and commerce back to our neighborhoods.

I will work to:

• Support local small businesses with grants, low-interest loans, and technical assistance

• Expand workforce training and apprenticeship programs for youth and adults

• Invest in neighborhoods, infrastructure, and public spaces to create vibrant, safe areas where families want to live and work

Our goal is to make District 38 a place where people can work, shop, and thrive without leaving home, restoring the community feel that made this district so special.

Violence prevention is not just a policy issue for me—it is personal. I have seen what violence does to families and communities. That is why I chose to dedicate my time to working with young people through mentorship and violence prevention programs here in District 38.

Through this work, I have met many young people who simply need guidance, opportunity, and someone who believes in them. Too often, our youth are left without safe places to go after school, without mentors to guide them, and without opportunities to build a future. When that happens, it becomes easier for young people to fall into the wrong path.

I believe that if we truly want safer communities, we must invest in our young people. Prevention must start early by giving youth the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.

As State Senator, I will work with schools, community organizations, and local leaders to expand mentorship programs, after-school activities, and job training opportunities for young people. I will also advocate for youth employment programs so teenagers can gain real work experience and build confidence in their future.

I want to see a District 38 where our young people feel supported, where they have positive role models, and where they have clear pathways to education, careers, and leadership in their communities.

When we invest in our youth, we invest in safer neighborhoods and a stronger future for everyone.

Caring for seniors has always been personal to me. Growing up, I worked in nursing homes right here in our communities, including facilities in Brooklyn Center and Osseo. I started working as a dietary aide and later as a nursing assistant, spending many hours serving and caring for elderly residents.

Through that experience, I had the opportunity to interact with seniors every day—helping them with meals, assisting with their daily needs, and listening to the stories they shared about their lives. Those experiences stayed with me and taught me the importance of respecting and caring for the generation that helped build our communities.

Our seniors worked hard, raised families, and helped shape neighborhoods like Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, and Osseo. They deserve to live their later years with dignity, safety, and stability.

Through my work in the community today, I continue to hear the concerns of seniors. I have spoken with many residents in the West District who told me their building did not have heat during the winter. No one should have to live in those conditions—especially the people who spent their lives contributing to our communities.

As State Senator, I will work with residents, housing advocates, and local leaders to strengthen protections for seniors living in rental housing. This means making sure buildings are properly maintained, heating systems work during the winter, and landlords are held accountable when they fail to provide safe living conditions.

I also want to make sure seniors can continue living in the communities they helped build. That means improving access to transportation, safe neighborhoods, and services that support their health and well-being.

A community that respects and protects its seniors is a community that values its past while building a stronger future.

I will continue working with families, community organizations, and local leaders to ensure that seniors in District 38 can live safely, comfortably, and with the dignity they deserve.

My experience as a foster parent has shaped how I see the child welfare system. I have held babies in the middle of the night while they cried for their mothers. In those moments, you understand how deeply children need their families.

Through this experience, I have also seen how complicated and overwhelming the system can be for parents who are trying to reunite with their children. Many of these families are not bad parents—they are families struggling with poverty, housing instability, mental health challenges, or lack of support.

Too often, the system steps in only after families are already in crisis.

I believe we must take a Family First approach to child welfare. That means doing everything possible to support families at home before removing a child from their parents.

As State Senator, I will advocate for policies that ensure families receive the help they need before separation becomes the only option. This includes expanding access to services such as parenting support, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, and economic support for struggling families.

Children should only be removed from their homes when there is a clear and serious threat to their safety. Adoption and long-term separation should be a last resort, used only in extreme situations where reunification is not possible.

Our goal should always be to keep families together whenever it is safe to do so, while making sure every child is protected and supported.

When we strengthen families, we strengthen communities. By providing support early and focusing on prevention, we can reduce the number of children entering foster care and help more families stay together.

As someone who has cared for children in foster care, I carry those experiences with me. They remind me that behind every case is a child who needs love, stability, and the chance to grow up surrounded by family.