Priorities

New Hope's "Scattered-Site Housing Program:"

I am not directly opposed to the city's current housing-beautification measures (specifically by way of the: "Scattered-Site Housing Program"), however I do believe that our scarce taxpayer dollars should first address our many deteriorating commercial and retail properties, which affect the broader community at large, and our city's current tax base. 

In fact, the city even acknowledges that the Scattered-Site Housing Program can lose money on individual scattered-site projects, because acquisition and demolition costs can often exceed what the finished vacant lot is actually worth.

I believe the City of New Hope should reconsider its priorities when it comes to the use of these taxpayer dollars. Rather than directing public funds toward the Scattered-Site Housing Program, city officials should focus on revitalizing the aging and deteriorating retail and commercial spaces throughout our community. Improving these neglected spaces would benefit all New Hope residents by strengthening our neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, increasing our property values, improving the appearance of our community, and helping maintain a healthy commercial tax base.

This is not an argument against affordable housing or against helping residents who need assistance. It is an argument about the appropriate role and priorities of our city government, particularly when taxpayer resources are limited. Public dollars should be invested in projects that provide broad, measurable benefits for the entire community, not just a select few. 

Moreover, expanding our commercial tax base relieves the heavy tax burden placed on single-family homeowners. 

New Hope has commercial corridors and retail properties that need attention. Vacant, outdated, or poorly maintained commercial spaces can discourage outside investment and diminish the overall vitality of the city. Addressing these issues should be the top priority. 

Instead of using taxpayer money to acquire scattered residential properties, the city should explore ways to encourage redevelopment, rehabilitation, and private investment in our existing commercial areas. The goal should be to create a stronger business environment, attract new businesses, improve existing retail properties, and expand the city's tax base —without placing additional burdens on taxpayers. 

Our city government should focus on investments that benefit the greatest number of residents. Revitalizing New Hope's retail and commercial spaces is an investment in the entire community. 

As your next City Council member, I will urge other city leaders to reconsider the current Scattered-Site Housing Program, and redirect their attention toward revitalizing the commercial properties and business districts that benefit all of us. 

We can strengthen our neighborhoods without losing sight of our responsibility to New Hope taxpayers.

Flock camera program: 

My current volunteer work as a New Hope City Commissioner has strengthened my commitment to community service and prepared me to work collaboratively, and transparently, with all New Hope residents. 

I value government accountability, and fiscal responsibility with every dollar spent of taxpayer money. 

I staunchly oppose both Flock's mass surveillance of residents, and ICE's use of surveillance technologies that undermine privacy, civil liberties, and due process. Our police department added more Flock cameras in 2025, and I will always vote against expanding this system. 

New Hope residents deserve safety without being subjected to pervasive tracking, monitoring, or enforcement systems that threaten the civil rights of everyone.

Safety for all residents is of upmost importance to me, and it will be the guiding force of my work on the city council. However, this does NOT mean having Flock camera surveillance.

Biographical information:

I am a native Minnesotan, born and raised here in New Hope, with my family, since 1980. I attended our public schools, from Sonnesyn to Armstrong, and I am committed to building a stronger, safer, more vibrant New Hope community. I've been listening to your feedback about our rising property taxes, public safety, and transparency in city-spending, and I am the candidate who will take action to remedy these concerns. 

My current volunteer work as a New Hope City Commissioner has strengthened my commitment to community service and has prepared me to work collaboratively, and transparently, with all New Hope residents. 

What are your top budget priorities? In what areas, if any, could the city scale back?

The budgeting issues I will be most focused on include: prioritizing our neighborhood safety; keeping our property taxes affordable; maintaining our parks and local roads; and attracting new businesses to our vacant storefronts. 

I firmly believe the best run city councils are not even noticed. We should be able to improve the lives of everyone in our community without interfering, and without raising taxes. Therefore, my top priority on city council will be fiscal responsibility and housing affordability. These issues affect all residents, and are key to keeping New Hope a welcoming and livable community. 

Additionally, neighborhood safety for all residents is of upmost importance to me, and it will be the guiding force of my work on city council. However, this does NOT mean at the exorbitant taxpayer expense of having Flock camera surveillance of our residents. I believe taxpayers deserve to know if the city is being a good steward with their money. 

What separates you from the other candidates? 

New Hope residents deserve responsible spending with taxpayer dollars. As such, I believe that locally-elected politicians should not collect a salary from taxpayers. I will donate my entire city council yearly salary back to the community, –specifically to areas that improve the lives of all our residents. 

As your next city council member, my decisions will place priority on enhancing the quality of life for all our residents. I believe that city government works best when residents are heard, and taxpayer dollars are managed responsibly and transparently. 

My primary focus on council will be to listen to you, the residents, and to make decisions that keep New Hope a strong and well-managed city for our future generations. 

Inflation and property taxes are rising, increasing costs for individuals especially in areas like New Hope where the majority tax-base consists of single-family homes. How do you plan to address affordability, and what revenue-generating avenues will you explore if elected?

As a current New Hope homeowner, I can relate to the frustration with our continually rising property taxes. City Hall needs to reduce its reliance on us, the residents, as a means to grow the tax-base. 

I believe affordability must always be a priority when making decisions for our city. We should distinguish between expenses that are necessary, and programs that can be reduced or eliminated. 

For example, rather than directing taxpayer funds toward City Hall's "Scattered-Site Housing Program," city officials should focus on revitalizing the aging retail and commercial spaces throughout our city. 

Improving these neglected spaces would benefit all New Hope residents, by bringing in new businesses, increasing our home values, improving the appearance of our community, and helping maintain a strong New Hope tax-base. Public dollars should be invested in programs that provide measurable benefits for the entire community, not just a select few.