Why politics can't fix the math of affordability. A look at bridging the gap between rising costs and stagnant incomes through local investment and value-added job creation in Southwest Washington.

Every vote is equal on election day. But in the reality around it, access is not. If you are working hard, carrying responsibility, and doing your part, your voice should not be filtered out of the conversation. Hard work should still mean something. That includes being heard.

When politicians talk about affordability and taxes, many of them sound like they have no clue how the economy actually works. They obsess over slogans, while ignoring the structures that shift cost, suppress wealth creation, and make it harder for working people to get ahead.

This piece sets the record straight about decisions I made years before the political fractures we see today became obvious. I explain why I stepped back from party leadership in 2016, why I voted the way I did in 2018, and why I supported vaccination in 2021 — not out of disloyalty, but out of conservative realism, long-term strategy, and responsibility to the people who depend on me. I also lay out how the Pacific County GOP’s collapse in 2022 and 2023 proved those early calls correct. At its core, this blog shows what my leadership has always been: identifying problems early, choosing battles wisely, and making decisions that strengthen our community and our party for the long haul.

Just wrapped up a rewarding few months volunteering with the local high school shop class. We built a sabot — an 8-foot dinghy — from plywood using the stitch-and-glue method. Watching these students learn hands-on craftsmanship and launch something they built with pride reminded me why I believe in leading by doing.

This isn’t just about boats — it’s about building confidence, community, and a future worth paddling toward.

Frustrated with how government fails small businesses, I decided to do more than complain—I decided to run. In this post, I share why I’m stepping into the race, the values that drive me, and why rebuilding the middle class through small business is at the heart of it all.