Issues

Provide a welcoming and safe environment for young families.

Today, nearly one in four Des Moines residents is under 18. Yet, families with young children are underrepresented in city leadership. As a parent raising two young kids here, I understand firsthand what families need to feel connected and supported.

I will advocate for more parks, more playgrounds, more sports fields, and expanded after-school programs, including STEM and social activities.

Children deserve safe, fun, and enriching places to grow, and parents deserve a city that invests in their futures.

Stabilizing Our Finances and Growing Our Revenues

Des Moines is facing significant financial challenges. In the past two years, our city’s reserve funds have been cut in half — dropping from 4 months to just 2 months of expenditures — while regional economic conditions remained strong. Now, with federal COVID relief funds gone and uncertainty ahead, we must act decisively to rebuild our reserves and strengthen our financial position.

Raising taxes isn’t the answer — voters made that clear when they rejected Prop 1 twice last year. Nor should we simply cut essential services that make Des Moines a great place to live, like Parks and Recreation. Instead, we need to grow our economy strategically.

Des Moines has incredible assets:

Our waterfront is unique in the region — the only water access between Seattle and Dash Point. By beautifying and revitalizing our Marina District, attracting small businesses like cafés, bookstores, breweries, and creating inviting public spaces, we can make Des Moines a true destination.
Our proximity to Sea-Tac Airport gives us access to one of the largest economic engines in the state. We should be working harder to capture more of that activity by attracting hotels, restaurants, logistics companies, and businesses that serve travelers and airlines.

With thoughtful leadership, we can grow our revenue base, create jobs, and make Des Moines a city where businesses and residents thrive.

Protecting our unique environment

Des Moines is home to six miles of Puget Sound coastline - a natural treasure that supports an extraordinary range of wildlife. For both the health of our environment and the well-being of our residents, we must protect this precious resource.

The first step is to gather better data. I will push for comprehensive monitoring of air, water, and noise pollution so that we fully understand the challenges our community faces. Only with this information can we take targeted action to improve environmental health.

Looking ahead, Des Moines should commit to an ambitious goal: becoming carbon neutral by 2050. In the short term, we should also improve everyday sustainability by adding recycling and compost bins in all city parks and public spaces.

At the same time, we must prepare for the realities of climate change. Rising sea levels threaten our shoreline, hotter summers will put vulnerable residents at risk, and wildfire smoke is becoming a regular hazard.

Protecting our unique environment is not just about conservation. It’s about ensuring a safe, healthy, and resilient future for our residents, while preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity that make Des Moines such a remarkable place to live.