Every Knox County family deserves to feel safe – at home, at work, and out in their community. Comprehensive and cohesive emergency service provision is essential. I will work to ensure that our law enforcement professionals, service men and women, first responders, and emergency personnel have the resources, training, and tools necessary to ensure the well-being and safety of all citizens.

• Support Our Officers, First Responders, and Agencies, and Service Men & Women: Ensure competitive pay, access to training, and state of the art equipment and tools.
• Strong interagency partnerships and collaboration: I will work with all agencies and communities to ensure that Knox County provides comprehensive emergency response services and that interagency and community cooperation is effective and efficient.
• Community Engagement: I will encourage more interaction among our emergency agencies, public safety officers and our communities to increase awareness of service provision and build trust.

Creating and promoting an economic culture and local quality of life supports existing businesses, welcomes new businesses, offers diverse career paths, and generates a variety of opportunities for families.

I will champion policies that strengthen small businesses, attract quality jobs and talent, and keep Knox County a place where families and employers can thrive.

• Support The Business Community: Streamline county processes that impede business start up and growth, encourage local investment, and promote a competitive, business-friendly climate that rewards hard work and fiscal responsibility. I will encourage pursuit of public-private partnerships and small business access to capital to help finance small and large public-sector projects, spread risk and make the economy prosperous by considering investment opportunities, launching employment opportunities, supporting local businesses, and increasing the standard of living for all citizens.
• Attract Quality Jobs: Knox County’s location, workforce, and quality of life make it an ideal place to live and do business. Continuing to improve infrastructure and ensuring new commercial and residential projects align with our community character will further enhance our county’s attractiveness to private investors.
• Preparing Our Workforce: Creating a local talent pipeline is critical. Knox County is doing now more than ever to partner with schools, technical programs, and employers to expand student’s post-secondary opportunities and create a skilled and ready workforce.

Education is the foundation of opportunity – and the key to Knox County’s long-term success. Education decisions should support our school system, our educators, and our families, ensuring that every child’s needs are met. I will work hand in hand with educators, parents, and local employers to strengthen education at every level and expand real career pathways that prepare students for success – whether they choose college, the trades, military service, or the workforce.

• Support for Teachers: Ensure educators have the academic, financial, and professional resources needed to provide our students with a strong public education.
• Safe, Well-Maintained Schools: Support investments in school safety, facilities, and technology to support learning environments that are modern and secure.
• Parental Involvement: Uphold parents’ rights to be informed and engaged partners in their children’s education.
• Expand Post Secondary Pathways: The future is different for every student. I will support efforts that connect education with opportunity, helping young people discover their passion and strengths to build meaningful careers right here in Knox County. I will continue to support vocational and technical training partnerships, apprenticeships and internships, and workforce readiness programs.
• Lifelong Learning: Education doesn’t stop at graduation. I will encourage lifelong learning opportunities that help residents adapt, grow, and thrive throughout their careers.

A strong community starts with strong families – and healthy families build a stronger Knox County. I will lead with compassion and collaboration to support the mental, physical, and social well-being of every resident. I will focus on partnerships and prevention – meeting needs early, connecting resources, and strengthening the community networks that help people thrive.

I believe that addressing the mental health of our citizens has never been more important than it is today, and is a root cause contributing to substance misuse, homelessness, job loss, and criminal activity. I will continue supporting the findings of the State’s study that recognized the need for a regional inpatient mental health facility in Knox County.

• Supporting Mental Health and Recovery: Mental health affects every family, every school, and every workplace. I will work to expand access to services through partnerships with hospitals, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations and recovery programs; strengthen collaboration between law enforcement, EMS, and mental health professionals to ensure safe and effective crisis intervention; and promote family-centered recovery programs that restore lives, rebuild families, and renew hope.
• Promote Physical Health and Community Wellness: Good health is more than healthcare – it’s about community design, prevention, and opportunity. I will work to make Knox County a healthier place to live, learn and raise a family through investments in accessible and safe outdoor recreation, raising awareness of preventative health programs in our schools and county health department, and supporting outreach programs that connect Seniors, Veterans, and residents with local resources.
• Strengthening Families and Community Connections: Strong families and caring communities are the foundation of a healthy society. I will champion initiatives that keep families supported, safe, and engaged in civic life.
• Combating Homelessness With Compassion: Homelessness is a complex challenge that requires a balanced approach – one rooted in compassion for individuals and accountability for results. Every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and a path toward independence. I will work to promote housing stability, address root causes, and encourage community collaboration.

Knox County families work hard for every dollar they earn – and government should be held to the same standard. As Mayor, I will be a careful steward of your taxpayer dollars, ensuring that county government operates efficiently, transparently, and always in the best interest of the people and communities it serves.

• Priorities, Not Politics: County spending should focus on what matters most to citizens. I will work to align budgeting and spending with the needs of our communities, focusing on public safety, infrastructure, and services that directly improve residents’ quality of life. I will work to ensure fair and equitable compensation to those who work and serve our county. I will implement budgeting that prepares for future needs instead of short-term fixes.
• Transparent and Ethical Leadership: Citizens deserve to know how their money is spent – and that their government is working for them. I will ensure that budget information and spending is easy to find and understand for citizens and that decision makers are held to the highest standards.
• Efficiency Through Innovation and Collaboration: Efficiency is achieved through modernization, innovation, and teamwork. I will work with county departments to assess internal and external policies and partnerships to leverage expertise, improve processes, avoid duplication, and ensure adequate public service delivery.