Issues
-
Property taxes
It is important to rise to the occasion and lower property taxes in Wright County.
-
County budget surplus
Let’s put your hard-earned money back in your pockets, not in County coffers.
-
Public safety
We must ensure our Sheriff’s Office has the resources it needs to keep our communities safe.
-
Accountable governance
Transparency in local government is more important than ever.
Unbearable increases
Property taxes
For many residents in Wright County, the large increases in property taxes have become unbearable.
While serving Otsego, I promised to reduce property taxes. I kept that promise and delivered the first property tax reduction in our city’s history.
Now is not the time to be raising taxes on our citizens. Many families have had to make tough decisions about their finances, accept increases at the gas pump, and some of our neighbors are buying groceries with credit cards or living hand to mouth. Now is the time to reduce the tax burden on our citizens and do the hard work of cutting property taxes!
In the past, the County has raised taxes even when property values declined as they did from 2009 - 2013. Studies have shown that a $50/mo increase in property taxes lead to a 9% increase in mortgage delinquency rates. At a time when the County has an annual budget surplus we should not be increasing taxes and putting our neighbors at risk of being taxed out of their homes.
It's your money
Every year, the County has maintained a significant surplus and overtaxed residents.
This year, our County Board of Commissioners took a budget surplus of over $18 million dollars while continuing to raise taxes. This money doesn’t belong to them. It belongs to the taxpayers.
Furthermore, these surpluses are often obscured from the public, hidden behind lengthy financial statements and couched in ambiguous language. Our County Board of Commissioners won’t use terms like “surplus” - instead opting for phrases like “tax rate stabilization” which avoids the root cause.
The most recent tax statement sent out to all residents claims that “The key to avoiding a huge spike in the [tax] levy is to keep a consistent tax rate.” This is incredibly misleading and it’s used to imply that property tax increases are driven by inflated property values.
But that’s not true. Property tax increases are driven by unchecked spending. And it’s time to be honest about cutting taxes and ending the multi-million dollar surpluses. That is what I did as an Otsego City Council Member, and I’m able to do it again.
County budget surplus
Support the Sheriff's Office
Public safety first
Public safety is one of the County’s most important responsibilities. Families across Wright County deserve dependable emergency response, strong law enforcement coverage, and leadership that fully supports the professionals serving our communities.
Many cities within Wright County rely on the Sheriff’s Office for protection and police services. As an elected official directly accountable to the public, the Sheriff should be able to focus on public safety and not be constrained by unnecessary political conflict or uncertainty from the County Board. I support stable funding, strong recruitment and retention efforts, and a collaborative working relationship with the Sheriff’s Office.
I have also seen firsthand the consequences of prioritizing appearances over preparedness. That is why I support building a more coordinated regional fire service system that strengthens cooperation between communities while maintaining local input and accountability. By improving relationships, sharing resources, and planning for long-term needs, we can increase emergency response and strengthen resilience during major incidents while also reducing the long-term costs to taxpayers.
Transparency matters
Transparency and communication
Residents expect elected officials who are engaged, informed, and willing to do the work.
During my time representing Otsego residents, I attended every single Council meeting, Commission meeting, and Subcommittee meeting without fail. I showed up when others didn’t because I believe in being informed, doing the research, and answering tough questions. It is my duty to explain my decisions, my reasoning, and listen to alternatives.
Transparency is not just about making information available, it is also about making government understandable and accessible to the people affected by its decisions. That is why I have published a free weekly newsletter and will continue to do so. Through more than 175 editions, I have worked to give residents clear, consistent information about how decisions are being made and how tax dollars are being spent.
As a County Commissioner, I will continue providing regular public updates, clearly explaining my positions and votes, and encouraging greater public engagement in county government.
