My Top Priorities
I will continue working to make Kirkland a city where residents feel heard, valued, and represented. My focus for the next term will continue to be on the following priorities:
Enhancing our Community Safety Services
Public safety is our number one priority as a local government, and I have worked hard to improve emergency response times and expand crisis response services in Kirkland. As a former member of the Fire Strategic Plan Committee and now as a Councilmember, I played a key role in planning the construction of new and refurbished fire stations to improve coverage and resiliency across the city and establishment of mental health professionals to respond to people in crisis.
I will continue to focus on: ✅ Prioritizing funding for public safety—ensuring Kirkland has the officers and first responders needed to keep community members and businesses safe. ✅ Expanding mental health and crisis response teams so law enforcement can focus on crime prevention while experts handle mental health-related emergencies. ✅ Ensuring fire and emergency services keep pace with Kirkland’s growing population. ✅ Strengthening community policing initiatives that build upon a mutual feeling of trust between residents and officers.
By maintaining a well-supported and responsive public safety system, we can ensure Kirkland remains a safe and welcoming city for all.
Create More Housing Opportunities
Housing affordability remains one of Kirkland’s biggest challenges. I have worked to support policies that expand housing options while ensuring affordability efforts are truly effective.
I will continue to advocate for: ✅ Encouraging a variety of housing types that fit into existing neighborhoods to allow existing residents to age in place or offering more housing options at different price points for future residents. ✅ Streamlining the approval process for affordable housing projects without cutting corners on community input. ✅ Making sure affordability remains meaningful—ensuring incentives benefit residents and developers as well so as to provide more housing opportunities. ✅ Aligning growth with services and infrastructure capacity—ensuring streets, schools, and utilities can handle new development.
We need balanced, community-led solutions to ensure Kirkland remains an inclusive and accessible place for all.
Building a Transportation System That Works for Everyone
Kirkland’s transportation system must evolve to keep up with growth while maintaining safety, accessibility, and reliability. Over the years, I have successfully championed key transportation policies including the Transportation Strategic Plan, the Safer Routes to School Action Plan, and the Neighborhood Safety Program.
I will continue to advocate for: ✅ Investments in key transportation infrastructure to ease congestion and support multimodal options. ✅ Smart transit expansion—improving public transit that provides opportunities for people to live without a vehicle. ✅ A data-driven approach to ensure transportation spending aligns with community needs. ✅ Balanced multimodal solutions—supporting more sidewalks and bicycle facilities while also recognizing that vehicles remain an essential form of transportation for many residents.
I represent Kirkland on the Washington State Active Transportation Safety Council and the State Transportation Improvement Board to advocate and bring forward innovative solutions and investments that improve safety and mobility in Kirkland.
Protecting Our Parks and Open Spaces
As Kirkland grows, we must preserve and enhance our parks and open spaces. My commitment to conservation began 15 years ago with my work on the Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance, where I helped secure funding to expand Juanita Heights Park and protect forested areas around Big Finn Hill Park. Since then I’ve championed the City’s first all-season field at 132nd Square Park and new restrooms, picnic shelters, and playground at Juanita Beach Park.
I will continue to prioritize: ✅ A balanced approach to tree preservation, ensuring we protect our urban canopy while making room for needed housing. ✅ More investment in parks and trails to maintain Kirkland’s quality of life and encourage outdoor recreation. ✅ Public-private partnerships to secure additional funding for parks without overburdening taxpayers. ✅ Enhancing the Green Kirkland Partnership to help maintain parks and open spaces while building a community service mindset.
I believe in sustainable park and tree policies that balance environmental conservation with community growth.
Growth That Works for Kirkland
Growth is inevitable in a desirable community like Kirkland, but it must be managed responsibly. As a former Planning Commissioner and now as a Councilmember, I have worked to shape Kirkland’s Comprehensive Plan in a way that balances community needs with development demands.
I support: ✅ Prioritizing infrastructure to support increases in density—ensuring streets, schools, and public services keep pace with growth. ✅ Expanding affordable housing options that enable the creation of below market rate housing in areas that have the services and amenities necessary to create livable and walkable communities. ✅ Balancing community input with long-term planning—ensuring all residents have a voice in key policy decisions. ✅ Smart regional collaboration—partnering with neighboring cities to share best practices and develop workable housing solutions.
Kirkland must grow to support current and future residents without overburdening infrastructure or drastically altering the special qualities we all love about our community.
A Strong, Sustainable Local Economy
As a small business owner in Kirkland, I understand the challenges local businesses face. I have actively worked to develop policies, regulations, and infrastructure strategies to create a thriving business environment in Totem Lake and beyond.
My priorities include: ✅ Keeping Kirkland business-friendly, supporting small businesses, startups, and local entrepreneurs. ✅ Securing outside funding—pursuing state and federal grants to invest in Kirkland without overburdening local taxpayers. ✅ Smart, responsible budgeting that ensures city dollars are spent wisely and avoids excessive tax hikes. ✅ Balancing economic growth with quality of life—ensuring new businesses and development enhance, rather than disrupt, neighborhoods.
A thriving economy means good jobs, a strong tax base, and a sustainable future for Kirkland.
With your support, I will continue to champion policies that enhance our quality of life, protect what makes Kirkland special, and keep our city moving forward in a balanced, responsible way. Let’s build a Kirkland that works for everyone!
