My Platform

Cochise County has over 18,000 Veterans in it's population and about 8,000 of those Veterans are right here in Sierra Vista. Many of our small business owners, first responders and educators are Veterans. Being a Veteran myself, I understand the significance Veterans have on our community and how important it is that we always take care of our Veterans and honor them. Due to our location in rural Arizona, we lack many services that are offered in the larger cities around the state.  We must support our local Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) who continually strive to ensure that our Veterans get the support they need by providing or connecting them with those services.

Being a former EMT/Volunteer Firefighter with Whetstone Fire myself, and the grandson of a firefighter, I am a huge proponent for public safety. The men and women of our local law enforcement agencies, fire departments and local federal agencies put their life on the line for our community every day. I feel it is important that they have a seat at the table because they have a better understanding of what their training and equipment needs are and can advocate for community needs they encounter as well. I always try my best to stop by all the local fire stations and to approach police officers out on the streets to see how things are going on their end and what we can do as a city to better support them.

Small businesses and non-profits are so important to our local enconomy, and I will always help them succeed however I can. Ribbon-cuttings are exciting for new businesses, but sometimes along the way, unexpected issues arise and I'm always willing to help out where I can or point business owners in the right direction to get the assistance they may need. I have been trying to do everything I can to remove the stigma that our city is not pro-business and that we would prefer to be a sleepy little retirement town. I feel that it's imperative that we support local. We also need to do a better job of protecting local business owners from absentee landlords who along with their shady business practices, have caused many small businesses to fail.

Non-profits have long filled the gap where state and local government support/funding has fallen short. They are responsible for some much-needed services for community members, as well as popular events that also generate revenue for the city.

I am a huge proponent of our local youth and truly feel that they are our future, so any investments we make in them are priceless.  I love the opportunity to support any youth organization or event in the community. I am extremely proud to be the Council Liaison to the Sierra Vista Youth Council and am extremely proud of all of their accomplishments as well. I believe that youth of all abilities should feel included and supported by our community so I am very thankful for organizations such as the Avengers Inclusion Organization that promotes inclusion for all members of the community with special needs. I'm also thankful for the Sierra Vista Boys and Girls Club who continues to ensure that every youth in our community has a safe place to go where mentors can help them reach their full potential and have a bright future. 

Being the son of an educator, the husband of an educator and a father, I understand how important, yet how underappreciated and underpaid our educators are. Although the Sierra Vista School District does not fall under the purview of the city, it is important that try and support them any way we can.

Fort Huachuca has been the lifeblood of our community for decades and it is crucial that we always do everything possible to support the fort and maintain a good partnership with them. As a Soldier and now as a contractor who works on the fort, I know the impact military installations have not only on national security, but on the communities that support them.  I will always take any opportunity to advocate for our Military Community that we proudly call home.  

Fort Huachuca is also the true home of the Buffalo Soldiers.  It is crucial that we ensure the legacy and history of those brave Buffalo Soldiers is never forgotten.  Current federal policies are threatening local organizations such as the Fort Huachuca Museum and the historic B Troop.  We must fight as a community to protect our local history so that it can be passed down for generations to come.

Much like our local youth that are involved in many activities, our local senior citizen population is just as active in their own way.  They are invaluable volunteers and are large parts of many non-profits and service organizations in our community. Many who start off as "snow birds" end up being permanent residents over time for various reasons.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to speak with many of them on a monthly basis when our Smoke Detector Check crew makes our rounds serving those who can no longer get on a ladder.  We are also very fortunate to have great organizations in our community such as Seniors Helping Seniors, Synergy Home Care, Haven Health, Valor Hospice and many other organizations and senior living facilities within our community. Seniors are a vulnerable population, and we must ensure they are educated on home safety and how not to fall victim to online scams etc. I'm looking forward to working with local organizations who want to put together a "Senior Symposium" in the very near future where many resources and information will be available in one place.