I’ve spent my career working to make government more equitable, transparent, and accountable because I believe public servants should actually serve the public. As a public school teacher, I saw firsthand how policy decisions made far from the classroom shape the lives of kids and families. As Senior Policy Advisor for Mayor Lori Lightfoot, I led efforts to expand housing, strengthen worker protections, and rewrite Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance to protect immigrant families. 

I’m running for State Representative of the 12th District because the fights that matter most, the ones that determine whether Illinois families are safe and thriving, are happening at the state level. While the federal government attacks our rights and freedoms, Illinois has the power to push back: to protect and expand LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, defend immigrants, and ensure our state is a place for opportunity and safety for everyone. 

We can’t wait for Washington D.C. to fix what’s broken, and we can’t accept the status quo. I know we can do better. We need to build an Illinois that works for everyone, with an affordable cost of living, great schools, and a government that earns the public’s trust. That’s the kind of leadership I will bring to Springfield. 

Cost of Living

Housing in Illinois has never been less affordable. Families are being priced out of their neighborhoods or stuck in homes that no longer meet their needs.  This is a crisis, and the General Assembly must treat it like one. I will support policies that:

• Streamline housing approvals to cut red tape and reduce transit costs

• Expand affordable housing near transit, making it easier for working families to live where they work

• Fast-track affordable workplace housing developments that meet state standards

High Quality Public Schools

Public education is one of Illinois’ great responsibilities, but too often, it’s disrupted by political infighting and short-term thinking. I believe in putting students first by supporting teachers who shape their futures. I will support policies that:

• Cut bloated administrative costs, moving excess overhead costs out of the back office and into the classroom

• Enact a statewide ban on cell phones during school hours

• Secure funding to implement the statewide literacy plan adopted in 2023 and support efforts to promote research-supported literacy instruction

Community Safety

Every community deserves to feel safe. That means addressing the root causes of crime while ensuring law enforcement has tools, training, and resources to serve equitably and effectively. I will support policies that:

• Invest in community safety programs that support families and youth to prevent crime before it happens

• Expand mental health and substance use treatment to reduce repeat offenses and support recovery

• Strengthen gun enforcement by giving the Illinois State Police the resources needed to keep firearms out of the wrong hands

Rights and Freedoms

Illinois must be a state where everyone can live freely and safely, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or how they identify. I will support policies that:

• Ensure that immigrant families can assert their rights in the face of politicized immigration enforcement by establishing state-funded legal defense for immigrants facing deportation proceedings

• Protect and expand reproductive and LGBTQ rights,  standing up to federal overreach that would threaten our freedoms

Trust in Government

Illinois can only move forward if people trust the government again. I'm committed to restoring integrity, transparency, and fairness in Springfield. I will support policies that:

• Empower the Inspector General to hold elected officials accountable and fully investigate misconduct

• Enact public financing of campaigns so candidates can answer to voters, not special interests

• Ensure transparency at every level of government so the public can see how decisions are made and money is spent

Public Finances

Illinois must manage taxpayer dollars responsibly, balancing commitments to workers and retirees while investing in education, infrastructure, and the future. I will support policies that:

• Thoughtfully steward Illinois’ finances to solid ground through responsible pension consolidation and shifting to smarter investments

• Build long-term sustainability by bringing together labor, government, and taxpayers to find a sustainable path forward