An American Story, Rooted in Monterey
Committed to Service
Like many young people in Monterey, I grew up in a military family. My mom served in the Navy for 20 years, and our family moved around the world. We rarely lived anywhere long enough to put down roots.
When I arrived on the Central Coast, something was different. I found a community where I felt connected, accepted, and at home. Monterey became the place where I built lasting relationships, bought my first home, and ultimately decided that I wanted to dedicate myself to serving the community I love.
I have had the privilege of serving on the Monterey City Council since 2018 and as Mayor since 2022. I am grateful for the trust Monterey residents have placed in me, and I believe public service begins with listening, showing up, and bringing people together to solve difficult problems.
My professional career has also been rooted in public service. I worked at the Naval Postgraduate School from 2010 to 2023, where I was honored with a Civilian Service Achievement Medal for exemplary service. I recently transitioned to the Department of Veterans Affairs, where I specialize in Human Resources with a focus on Labor and Employee Relations.
I earned my bachelor's degree in Human Communication from California State University, Monterey Bay, and my Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School.
My partner Ivan and I chose to make Monterey our home because of everything that makes this community special—from its natural beauty to the people who dedicate their time and energy to making it better. Over the years, those community connections have become part of my family. That is why I remain committed to serving Monterey and helping shape its future.
A Record of Bringing People Together
Throughout my career and community service, I have seen what is possible when people with different experiences and perspectives come together around a common purpose.
As a Deputy Regional Field Director for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, I managed a team of more than 500 staff and volunteers. That experience taught me the value of organization, listening, collaboration, and bringing people together around shared goals.
I have carried those lessons into my service in Monterey.
Since 2022, I have served on the Board of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, including chairing the Community Impact Investment Committee. The Foundation brings together donors, nonprofits, community leaders, and residents to strengthen communities throughout Monterey County.
I also serve as the Chair of Monterey One Water, am the previous Chair of the Monterey County Housing Advisory Committee and previously served on the City's Architectural Review Committee. I co-founded Monterey Peninsula Pride to create a celebration that brings together people and organizations from across our community.
My service also extends beyond Monterey. As a board member of the California League of Cities, I work alongside local elected officials from across California to advocate for cities and protect local decision-making. Local governments understand their communities best, and I believe decisions affecting Monterey should be shaped as close to our residents as possible.
A Record of Getting Difficulty Things Done
Serving as Mayor is not simply about having good ideas. It is about doing the difficult work of turning those ideas into results.
During my time on the Council, I have helped advance Monterey's Housing Element and support new affordable housing, including the 100% affordable Madison-Van Buren project on City-owned property. I championed the creation of a rental assistance program to help Monterey households facing housing instability and supported policies designed to bring greater transparency and stability to our rental market.
I have continued pushing for solutions to our region's water challenges, including the expansion of Pure Water Monterey, which will provide additional water for our community and create greater opportunities for housing.
We have also made significant investments in the fundamentals of our city. During my current term, the City has allocated more than $21.7 million toward roads, sidewalks, parks, public facilities, sewer infrastructure, public safety, and other community improvements.
At the same time, I recognize that we cannot simply continue doing things the way we always have. Monterey faces a significant structural budget challenge, and addressing it will require difficult decisions, responsible stewardship, and meaningful community involvement.
That is why I am working with the City Manager on The Roadmap to Resilience—an effort to bring residents, businesses, neighborhood organizations, nonprofits, and other community stakeholders together to evaluate how we deliver services, identify opportunities for greater efficiency, and explore sustainable ways to strengthen our City's finances.
Moving Monterey Forward
I believe Monterey's future is bright, but getting there requires both optimism and hard work.
We need to get back to the basics: maintaining the infrastructure our residents rely on, providing reliable City services, protecting our financial stability, and making it easier for people to participate in their local government.
We also need to keep moving forward on the issues that will shape Monterey for generations—from housing and water to economic development, climate resilience, and a strong and diverse local economy.
I don't believe any one person can solve these challenges alone. The best solutions come from listening, working together, and respecting the different experiences and perspectives that make Monterey what it is.
My commitment is simple: to continue serving with integrity, bringing people together, and doing the hard work necessary to move Monterey forward.
Together, we can build on what makes Monterey special while preparing our community for what comes next.
Moving Monterey Forward. Together.