Priorities

Capitola's budget is more than a spreadsheet — it's a statement of what we value. I'll bring careful, transparent decision-making to City Hall, with a clear eye on the long-term health of the town. That means asking hard questions before approving new spending, protecting reserves for storms and emergencies, and being honest with residents about trade-offs.

After more than 40 years in the legal field, I know that preparation matters. I'll come to every budget conversation having read the materials, talked to staff and residents, and considered how today's choices will land five and ten years from now.

Capitola Village, our beaches, our mobile-home communities, and our quiet residential streets are what make this town feel like home. As we plan for what comes next, I'll make sure new development is reviewed carefully — at a scale that fits its neighborhood, respects the people already living there, and preserves the small-town feel that draws families here in the first place.

Protecting character also means listening to the residents and longtime neighbors who know Capitola best. Their voices belong at the table when decisions are made.

Our small businesses are the heart of Capitola. As Vice President of Think Local First, I've spent years working alongside the people who own and run shops, restaurants, and services across Santa Cruz County. I know what they're up against — rising costs, staffing challenges, and policies written without their input in mind.

On council, I'll bring that experience directly into local policy: streamlining where we can, listening before we regulate, and making sure city decisions help — not hinder — the small businesses that keep Capitola welcoming and vibrant.

Housing, redevelopment, and infrastructure decisions are some of the hardest a city council faces — and the most consequential. I'll approach them with the steady judgment my legal career has taught me: read everything, weigh the evidence, ask the questions others might not, and decide based on what's actually best for Capitola.

Practical planning means honest conversations about housing affordability, sensible responses to state mandates, and infrastructure investments that hold up. No silver bullets — just careful work, done well.