The City of Carlsbad is a slice of paradise along the San Diego coast – and I want to help keep it that way. I believe that you have to get involved if you want to see positive change and getting involved at the local level can make the biggest impact in our day to day lives. City government plays an important role in what makes Carlsbad so great. When Councilmembers listen to the residents of the community they serve, they improve everyone’s quality of life.
As a member of the City council, I will be committed to putting our interests and needs first: stopping an increase in unnecessary taxes, implementing proven programs that actually help combat the homelessness crisis, advocating for parents and children, ensuring public safety, and supporting our local small businesses.
I don’t mind paying my fair share if my hard-earned money is being well spent, but California has some of the highest taxes in the nation and government keeps pushing for tax increases as solutions for problems stemming from lack of accountability. This election cycle alone could cause individual residents more than an additional $1,000 a year in taxes – even more for families.
SANDAG is trying to push through a “Mileage Tax” that would tax you four-cents for every single mile you drive. The average a Carlsbad commuter will have to pay is $600+ more a year, on top of increasing cost of vehicle ownership and gas. They are also trying to push through another sales tax increase that would increase our rate to 8.25%.
I want to focus our taxpayer dollars on proven programs that are proven to work and will make the biggest impact in our community: improving our roads, decreasing crime, combating the homeless crisis, and protecting our environment. Let’s require public accountability and transparency, with measurable public results, on each of these priorities.
Our First Responders have some of the hardest jobs out there. It's important that we ensure they have the tools they need to keep us safe.
I’ve heard from my neighbors that they are finding it harder to feel safe walking around our beautiful parks or the vibrant Village because of an increase in crime. We have seen an increase in reporting of burglaries and suspicious activity, as well as an increase in smash and grab robberies.
Decriminalizing criminal behavior does NOT help repeat offenders. Proposition 47 and 57 have tied the hands of our wonderful law enforcement officers.
As a former Secret Service agent, I know that we need to implement common-sense policies that improve public safety.
Small businesses are the backbone of our community. They are the majority of our employers and were hit the hardest the last couple years. We need to reduce unnecessary government regulations to promote economic growth and job creation.
Our cost of living has skyrocketed. Gas prices have hit record levels, inflation is out of control and it's getting harder and harder to live where we work. I promise to promote economic development that will help reduce rising costs and ensure that Carlsbad families don't have to leave the only home and community they know.
Homelessness in Carlsbad is on the rise, further exacerbated by failed government policies and the pandemic the last couple years. We know housing alone will not solve this problem and the root cause – mental illness and addiction – needs to be addressed.
Time and time again we see policies implemented that do not combat the crisis we have in our community and waste taxpayer dollars on failed program. Local control is necessary to ensure the unique needs of our homeless population here in Carlsbad has the resources they need. Washington, DC, Sacramento, and downtown San Diego cannot dictate homeless policies in Carlsbad.
We need programs that actually help people break the cycle of homelessness, mental illness, and drug addiction. The continuum of care not only needs to provide for the physical and mental health of this vulnerable population, but also instill independence and self-sufficiency, dignity, and economic mobility.