“I was raised by a blue-collar, working class family in Reno, Nevada. We moved around a lot from apartment to apartment, we didn’t have a lot, but my parents made sure I didn’t know it at the time. I was a latch-key kid who grew up seeing my mom and dad work really hard, instilling a strong work ethic in me and teaching me to leave everything I touch better than I found it.

As life goes, you sometimes make choices that take you on a different path than you planned. As a teenage mom, I’ve navigated growing up while trying to raise a daughter. I stressed about collectors calling me at work, my debit card getting declined at the grocery store, and I even filed bankruptcy and had to rebuild from a 457 credit score.

I started in banking in 1996. I chose a bank job because, at the time, it was a job that would hire me without a college degree and because it allowed me to get off in time to pick up my daughter from daycare.

Thankfully, this ended up being the start of what would become my long-term career. I’m so grateful for everything I’ve been able to learn in financial services; I learned how money really works, how credit works, but most importantly, I learned how to work with people from all walks of life.

I learned that every person has a unique story and circumstance and there’s no one size fits all. I have worked hard everyday to not only to build a better future for my family, but also to help others prevent making the financial mistakes I made because I didn’t know what I needed to know beforehand.

Throughout my journey, I thankfully had a few managers see something in me and believe in me, they took a chance on me and showed me how developing my talents and putting in hard work could help me build a path forward and persevere through life’s storms.

I worked my entire career without a college degree and finally was able to have the time during the pandemic to finish what has been a 20+ year pursuit, finishing my bachelors in Psychology last June.

Gaining formal education, along with real work and life experience, has shaped a confidence in me that has crystalized my life’s purpose. I was put on earth to be a strong voice for others and to be a light in people’s lives.

My life’s experiences have been one challenge after another, but I’m grateful for every single one of them. They shaped who I am and they ignited a passion in me to want to make life easier and better for others. I want to bring my lived experiences as a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend, and as a leader to the Auburn City Council.

As a servant leader who leads with empathy and curiosity, I appreciate a wide variety of perspectives. Leaning in with conviction and courage, I advocate for what’s right and address the unpopular topics. I believe that we can find common ground in any situation, if we take the time to listen and understand, and appreciate and respect each other’s views, a positive solution is possible.

Whether you are Republican or Democrat is not my concern. I am your champion and I appreciate both sides.

My concern is how we implement solutions to help every person in Auburn to live a life of financial freedom and good health, is a safe, clean community. We can and we will bring people together in Auburn for a common good, allowing us to overcome obstacles and work together to create tangible solutions.

My husband and I moved to Washington 10 years ago, leaving our daughter to start college in our hometown of Reno, Nevada. Go Wolf Pack! Today, and for the past five years, we live in Auburn. Auburn is now our ‘home town’.

My husband Richard is a community leader at a local credit union and also serves as a volunteer on the Auburn Area Connect Chamber of Commerce, the Auburn Police Advisory Committee, and the Auburn Public Schools Foundation Board.

Post financial services career, I have focused my time on building my consulting business and volunteering with the community organizations near and dear to my heart. I’m an active volunteer with Junior Achievement of Washington, completing a 3-year term as Board Chair in June and currently serving as Past Chair on the board of directors.

It is so special for me and my family to be a part of an organization that’s mission is to empower students in Washington State with financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness tools.

You’ll also find me championing the amazing work happening at the Family First Community Center. One of the most exciting things for me in the year ahead (in addition to being your councilwoman) will be teaching money management and leadership development workshops for youth, families, and seniors at the community center.

I’m a proud Emeritus Board Member for Treehouse, helping to advocate for youth in foster care and even though I am no longer on the board, I am a proud supporter of our awesome Pike Place Market Foundation.

For fun, we love spending time with our friends and family, playing with our two yorkies, Bella Bear and Benny Bear, finding binge worthy series on Netflix, and playing basketball (ok, my husband plays — I just cheer him on and yell at the refs).

Outside of this, we love spending time with our daughter, we are grateful for as much time as we can get with her as she builds her new home with her boyfriend and balances her workload in her PA Graduate School program.

As a blended family, we have 3 different cultures and races in our household. We care deeply about ALL people feeling seen, heard, respected, and appreciated for exactly who they are.

I’ll leave you with this, I am NOT a politician and I DO NOT have ego. I’m driven by heart and pride! I’m running for one reason, to help make our city be the best city in Washington state.

I will be relentless in advocating for the families who live, work and play in Auburn and for the businesses that chose our great city to open their doors in, just as if you were my family or my small business.”