I am running for re-election to finish the job we started together, because my philosophy has always been to govern for generations—not for the next election. Over the last four years, we shifted Lakeland from passive growth to intentional governance. Together, we completed our top-ranked K–12 school system, cleared out gateway crime hotspots, and delivered landmark investments like a Shelby County Sherriff's Office and our new YMCA Community Center. We achieved all of this while maintaining the lowest property tax rate in Shelby County. Now, I am asking for your vote to protect our community's stability and finish these vital projects. Let's complete our aggressive Road Paving goals, give Shelby County Fire Department Station No. 2 to help keep us safe, keep our rainy-day reserves strong, get these started project to the finish line with support not obstruction and find a permanent pride inducing solution for Stonebridge areas Lakeland Golf Club. Let’s keep Lakeland moving forward on purpose.
I believe safe neighborhoods are the foundation for everything else—our home values, our local business success, and our families' peace of mind. That is why I have focused on proactive public safety. We made the tough call to condemn and demolish the blighted, high-crime motels along I-40 and Canada Road that were constantly draining our emergency resources. We established a dedicated Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and look forward to welcoming the new Tennessee Highway Patrol District 4 Headquarters to Lakeland at zero local municipal tax cost. This secures a permanent, highly visible law enforcement footprint across all our neighborhoods and retail corridors, keeping our community safe and thriving.
In Lakeland, completing and maintaining a top-ranked K–12 municipal school system is the single greatest driver of family attraction, community pride, and our residential property values. As Vice Mayor, I helped push our high school build through, and as Mayor, I passed municipal budgets that fully funded our Level 5 Lakeland School System. I directed vital funds directly into our classrooms, teacher support, and student athletic facilities. Today, I am proud to have the unanimous support of all our current Lakeland School Board members. As student enrollment grows, my priority remains keeping the partnership between our city and our schools rock-solid to ensure our children always have the real educational support they deserve.
I believe in managing your hard-earned tax dollars like a disciplined business—protecting your household budget from inflation while building real, multi-generational wealth. That is why I am proud that we maintained Shelby County's lowest property tax rate at a $0.94 clean equalized rate, with a 0% tax hike post-reappraisal. At the same time, we held $6.95 million in audited unassigned reserves, which is nearly double our city's strict policy requirement. Furthermore, by paying down our school bond balance to $58 million against a replacement asset value of over $100 million, we created more than $42 million in pure net taxpayer equity for our local homeowners. I will always stand up for disciplined, responsible management of your money.
Safe, smooth roads are about more than just avoiding expensive vehicle damage—they are about keeping our neighborhoods connected and staying ahead of our growth. That is why I am committed to proactive infrastructure. In Lakeland, we reinvest four times more per resident into paving—between $136 and $180 every year—than peer cities in Shelby County. We have systematically resurfaced subdivisions like Herons Ridge, Woodland Park, Fairway Meadows, and Stonebridge. Furthermore, for major projects like New Canada Road Phase One and South Canada Road, we secured 80% federal and state STBG grant funding. This allows us to fix traffic bottlenecks and keep our community moving without burdening our residents with long-term debt. I will continue to fight for smart, grant-funded infrastructure that keeps our hometown safe and connected.
I believe growth should always enhance Lakeland's small-town, scenic character—not destroy it with uncontrolled commercial sprawl or strip malls. I have worked hard to protect our community while delivering the amenities we deserve. I helped transform a former crime motel site into a $30 million YMCA Community and Outdoor Aquatic Center, leveraging a $6.3 million state childcare grant with matching YMCA Funds creating instant EQUITY, and secured a $963,000 state grant for our six-court pickleball complex. To keep our town affordable, I codified a 65% commercial tax offset policy so business growth directly lowers your residential burden. By enforcing strict Highway 70 design standards and holding the line on zoning, I am committed to protecting our neighborhood green spaces, charming character, and family traditions.
Our community’s central green space defines our character. Leaving vital recreational amenities vulnerable to neglect or high-density sprawl threatens the property values and quality of life of every neighboring homeowner. We’ve shown what we can do before—just as we eliminated the blighted motels to create our new Community Center, I will apply that same decisive leadership to Stonebridge. Furthermore, I will actively explore public-private partnerships, conservancy easements, and recreational master-planning to ensure the Lakeland Golf Club remains a pristine, vibrant community asset for generations to come.
Have questions or suggestions? I would love to hear from you!
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916 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274