My Platform

Housing & Land Use

Sand City is a growing place that is pro-development, and I want to keep it that way. We need to continue our transition from a heavily industrial and commercial footprint into a place where people both live and work — specifically attracting artists and inventors that can build the future in the great traditions of California. The South of Tioga project is an exciting opportunity for our community, and I want to see it done right. More live/work spaces, more mixed-use, more housing of all types: market rate and affordable.

Mixed use is a key thing in Sand City and I want more of it. While we need to work within California's pretty restrictive coastal land-use rules, helping owners make the best use of their property is what local government should be encouraging — not obstructing. I believe property owners should have the primary say, and that planning should provide guidance to improve rather than enforcement and red tape.

I am a strong supporter of accessory dwelling units and lot splitting. I split my own home into an ADU and operate it as a short-term rental — that decision is what has allowed me to continue living in Sand City. I know firsthand how these tools work in practice, and how the permitting process can either support or undermine a homeowner's best efforts.

On private property rights: If you own a property and your use of it is not harming or disturbing those around you, you should be able to use it how you see fit. Local government's role is to provide guardrails, not gatekeeping.

Short-Term Rentals & Small Business

I own the Ocean View BNB, and it has allowed me to live in Sand City. My guests have been fantastic and I love running my place. When Sand City needed to develop an STR permitting policy, I organized the 15 other short-term rental businesses in the city to work together on a permitting process that has become one of the better and most business-friendly STR policies in the area. Since that ordinance passed in 2022, short-term rentals have generated nearly $250,000 in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) for Sand City — real money that supports city services for everyone.

In general I would like to see less government regulation on the rental market. But when regulation is needed, it needs to balance the interests of landlords and tenants fairly. Sand City's housing stock is small enough that issues like rent control, a rental registry, or vacancy taxes simply don't apply here the way they do in larger cities — we shouldn't import problems we don't have.

I also support the West End as a cultural and economic anchor. As a former West End vendor and author of the Mia Kingtide book series, I understand what makes it valuable: it's one of Sand City's real differentiators, and it needs continued investment and support from the council to thrive.

Water & Infrastructure

Cal Am is not a benefit for the Monterey County community. I believe our residents would be better served by a public water utility. Cal Am is responsible for the cease-and-desist order that has hurt development on the peninsula and made our water more expensive than it needs to be. Sand City took matters into its own hands and built its own desalination plant precisely because of Cal Am's failures. We are missing thousands of housing and business units due to Cal Am's poor water management, and I support the public buyout.

The recycled water project can provide for our needs while reducing demand on the Carmel River. Moving our water supply to public control is what is best for our community long term. Sand City is a rare place on the coast with real water resources and the ability to grow — I want to make sure those resources are managed responsibly and kept in public hands.

On transportation and infrastructure, I support the MST Surf! transit line from Sand City to Marina — a real opportunity to reduce car dependence and connect our community to the broader region. I also support undergrounding power lines and improving our stormwater infrastructure. These are long-term investments in quality of life and resilience that a well-run small city like Sand City can lead on.

Parks & Public Space

For the past three years, the park near my home was under construction. The result was less engaging for families and children than what was there before. That's not good enough, and it's the kind of outcome that happens when a project doesn't have a council member pushing for a second phase that actually serves the community. I want a phase two for this park that makes it more engaging for the kids and worth the years of disruption residents endured.

Public space is one of the few things a small city can genuinely do well. Sand City's parks and gathering places should reflect our Creative Town identity — welcoming to families, accessible to all residents, and thoughtfully designed. I'll push for higher standards on park projects and hold contractors and planning staff accountable for outcomes, not just process.

Working Families & Equity

My daughter Mia is the most important person in my life. I want to demonstrate to her that women and men working together can achieve more together than alone or at odds with each other.

I support equality and personal autonomy. No government should interfere in anyone's decisions about their body. I support living wages and lower-cost childcare to allow equal standing in the workforce for all. These aren't abstract values for me — they're the conditions under which families in Sand City actually thrive or struggle, and they belong in every conversation about what this city can offer its residents.

A city that makes it easier for working families to live here, afford childcare, and build stable lives isn't just more equitable — it's a more resilient community. Sand City's future as a Creative Town depends on making room for the people who build, teach, create, and serve.

Fiscal Responsibility & City Services

Sand City has a relatively strong tax base. That is a real advantage — one that has to be managed carefully and not taken for granted. I bring hands-on leadership, budgeting discipline, and clear communication from 15+ years of managing teams and delivering projects in the real economy. That matters on council, especially as we keep pushing forward on land use transition, development standards, and the practical work of running a small city with big regional responsibilities.

I want to make sure we're making smart decisions about in-house versus contracted city services. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but the decision framework should be clear: what delivers better service at the best value for Sand City residents, long term? I'll push for transparency in how those decisions are made and hold vendors to the same standards I'd apply to any business I run.

Preparation, collegial deliberation, respect for staff expertise, and a focus on decisions that protect Sand City's finances, quality of life, and long-term vision — that's what I'll bring to every council meeting. I'm not looking to make points. I'm looking to do the work.