Why are you running for office?
It’s simple. We need a new generation of leadership that is not afraid to call out corruption and fight for working families and seniors alike. People who get it. People who are prepared to fix the many broken systems failing us all.
What is your top priority on day 1?
The cost of living. Currently, many in our community are working harder than ever but still can’t afford gas and groceries, and are struggling to stay in their homes. The cost of insurance has skyrocketed, and the system has made a legitimate payout near impossible when it’s actually needed, while politicians in Tallahassee are doing favors for their donors in the industry. It’s wrong. I’m running to bring practical solutions to lower the cost of living, hold insurance companies accountable, and give Pinellas County families the brighter future they have earned.
Other than your day 1 priority, what keeps you up at night?
The lack of access to comprehensive, affordable healthcare, so that no one wonders whether they can visit their primary care doctor and receive the care they need or whether they can pay their utility bill. I also want to increase transparency when it comes to the price of healthcare, so people know what they’re paying for and why it costs what it does. There is too much uncertainty when it comes to accessing care right now, whether you have insurance or not.
What’s something you’ve heard from residents that really stuck with you?
Nothing works for us—not public services, not private services, none of it. Public schools are suffering, insurance systems are broken, healthcare is inaccessible, and everything is unaffordable. Too many politicians in power have engaged in distraction tactics, and I know that Floridians, myself included, just want their elected officials to work on common-sense solutions. So many in our community work hard to make ends meet, and we deserve a representative who respects that.
For the seat you’re seeking, what is something you wish government did more of?
We need leaders who listen to their community. It seems like too often, when politicians go to Tallahassee they only hear what special interests and their lobbyists are whispering in their ear. I’m running to be the voice of the people in Pinellas County who are counting on us to solve the real issues they’re facing and I will always listen to them first.
For the seat you’re seeking, what is something you wish government did less of?
Putting special interest priorities ahead of serving the people they were elected to represent. People can tell when their needs are not being met and we’re all tired of seeing big corporate interests win while our costs continue to skyrocket. People are asking for a government that works for them and I intend to give it to them.
How will you measure your success?
Success is the people of this district not having to worry about whether one surprise bill is a life-changing situation. For example, if a young family can afford to stay in our community, if a teacher has the resources they need in their classroom, if a senior can afford their prescription medications, or if we can make it easier for a small business to grow—that’s success. People work hard, they play by the rules, and they have earned the right to a better life for themselves and their families. It will be my goal every day in office to work as hard as we all are to make sure that every hardworking Floridian can afford a new backpack for their kid when they need it, that going to the doctor isn’t a choice between paying for the appointment or the electric bill, and that they can go to sleep every night with the security of knowing that their housing costs, and the dream of homeownership, won’t be out of reach. I want voters to be able to look back after a few years and say, “things actually got better because our representative was fighting for us.” That’s the standard I’ll hold myself to.
How do you recharge when you're not campaigning or working?
A good book on the couch with my husband and three dogs snuggled around me. Staying active also helps me recharge—whether it’s a round at one of our local boxing gyms, a swim at the pool, or a quick exercise session at the YMCA.