Vision & Agenda for District 1
County Budget & Tax Policy
A responsible budgeting is one of the most important duties of a County Commissioner because it directly affects the affordability and stability of everyday life for residents. With increasing uncertainty around federal and state funding, Mecklenburg County must approach its budget decisions with discipline, transparency, and a clear focus on protecting essential services that residents rely on—including health and human services, public safety, education support, and infrastructure. Budget choices should be guided by measurable outcomes and long-term planning, not short-term pressures.
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I believe the County can be a better steward of taxpayer dollars by strengthening oversight, improving coordination across departments, and prioritizing investments that prevent higher costs down the line. That means carefully evaluating programs for effectiveness, reducing inefficiencies, and ensuring public funds are used where they deliver the greatest benefit. Just as importantly, I am committed to pursuing fiscal strategies that support individuals, families, and community organizations without shifting additional burdens onto property taxpayers, many of whom are already facing rising housing costs, insurance rates, and everyday expenses. Sound budgeting and thoughtful tax policy should promote stability, protect affordability, and reflect the County’s responsibility to use every dollar wisely.
Affordability & Housing
Housing affordability is one of the most urgent and complex challenges facing Mecklenburg County, affecting working families, seniors, young professionals, and longtime residents alike. As housing costs continue to rise, the County must focus on solutions that produce real, measurable affordability—not just plans or projections. I support a results-driven approach that expands access to housing across income levels while prioritizing stability for residents who are most at risk of displacement. Public policy should help people remain in their communities, not force them out as growth accelerates.
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Equally important is accountability. When the County uses public dollars, incentives, or publicly owned land to support private development, those investments must come with enforceable affordability and community-benefit commitments. Developers and major partners must be held accountable for delivering what they promise, on the timelines they promise, and at the affordability levels residents actually need. Responsible growth requires coordination with infrastructure, transit, and environmental planning so that new development does not strain existing neighborhoods or shift costs onto residents through higher taxes, insurance premiums, or avoidable property damage. As County Commissioner, my goal is to ensure housing policy strengthens communities, protects affordability, and reflects the County’s responsibility to serve the public interest first.
Voice for Established Communities
Mecklenburg County’s growth presents both opportunity and responsibility, and established communities deserve a strong voice as decisions are made about land use, infrastructure, and development. I have been encouraged by residents across District 1 who are concerned that rapid growth is occurring without sufficient attention to its long-term impacts on neighborhood character, environmental health, and quality of life. Growth should be intentional, balanced, and informed by the people who already live in our communities.
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My legal background and deep community ties equip me to carefully evaluate development proposals and ensure that growth does not outpace critical infrastructure such as stormwater systems, roads, utilities, and public services. When infrastructure lags behind development, the consequences are predictable: flooding, congestion, increased insurance costs, and higher taxes that ultimately fall on existing residents. As County Commissioner, I will advocate for responsible planning that requires growth to pay for itself and protects residents from bearing the financial and environmental costs of poorly planned development. Preserving greenspace, neighborhood stability, and affordability is not anti-growth, it is essential to sustaining the character and livability that define District 1.
Health & Human Services
A strong health and human services system is essential to the stability, safety, and dignity of our community. My commitment to this work is rooted in years of legal advocacy for North Carolinians whose access to behavioral health care and Medicaid-funded services was threatened by funding decisions that had nothing to do with medical necessity. Through that work, I have seen how gaps in mental health and supportive services do not disappear—they are simply shifted to emergency rooms, law enforcement, schools, and families who are left to manage crises without adequate support.
As a County Commissioner, I will prioritize protecting continuity of care and strengthening community-based services that intervene early and reduce long-term costs and harm. This includes supporting a well-coordinated system that addresses mental health, substance use, housing stability, and access to care as interconnected issues. Given the uncertainty of federal and state funding, the County must be prepared to respond responsibly when higher-level decisions place residents at risk, ensuring that critical services remain accessible and that our local systems are resilient, efficient, and focused on measurable outcomes for the people they serve.
