FaQ's

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for Mayor because I believe local government should be about neighbors coming together to solve problems and care for one another. As a mom, a small business owner, and Dentonite, I am dedicated to building the city that built me.

Denton has an exciting opportunity for a fresh start in 2026. With a new City Manager on the horizon and fresh voices on the Council, we have a rare chance to hit the reset button. I am not interested in business as usual or leaders who practice pretend listening. I want to build an invitational city, where everyone is actively invited to help shape our future through a government that values real listening and responsive leadership.

My plan to lead Denton focuses on four core pillars:

• Prioritize Affordable, Proportional Growth: We must move away from huge, anonymous apartment complexes that strain our infrastructure. My approach focuses on development that actually serves residents, such as medium-density housing and starter homes that allow our teachers, first responders, young professionals, and creatives  to build roots here.
• Build a Connected City & End Construction Fatigue: We need to manage the basics better. I will advocate for real accountability so that street construction hits deadlines and respects your daily commute. We will build a transit system that is a reliable tool for our families, making it dependable enough to help folks who want to become one-car households to save money and reduce traffic.
• Cultivate a Denton-y Economy: I believe in a “yes, and” economic strategy. Yes, we will continue recruiting the big industrial partners that provide a stable tax base. And, we will use our resources with laser precision to cultivate the creative and university assets that define our soul. With smart, intentional economic development, we can turn our local talents and assets into high-wage jobs.
• Champion Local Business and Cut the Red Tape: We must foster a Shop Denton First culture that treats small businesses and solopreneurs as vital partners. I will work to streamline city processes so that local government moves at the speed of business, not the speed of bureaucracy, ensuring money made in Denton stays in Denton.

We do not have to change who we are just because we are growing. Let’s work together to protect the soul of our city and put community first, always.

What are your qualifications for this office?

My qualifications are a blend of professional expertise, deep community service, and the lived experience of a working Denton parent. With two Master’s degrees (Communication and Education) and 20+ years as an educator, I specialize in the very thing local government needs most: bringing people together through active listening and collaboration to solve problems and  reach shared goals.

I offer a perspective currently missing from the Council. I am the only candidate who is a parent of a young child, and like many neighbors, I navigate the reality of a tight family budget, sharing a home with my parents to make ends meet. I don’t just study the issues of affordability and infrastructure; I live them every day.

My commitment to Denton is proven by my service:

• City & Civic Leadership: 2024 City Charter Review Committee; staffer for Congressman Martin Frost; 2025 AccelerateHER cohort.
• Community Boards: Board Member for Interfaith Ministries and 100 Dentonites Who Give a Damn; Secretary of Denton Noon Rotary.
• Local Advocacy: The Denton Parks Foundation, Friends of the Library, and various church committees.

From Capitol Hill to the classroom, my career has centered on empowering others. I have the professional skills and the lived experience to ensure City Hall is truly citizen-led.

LIST FORMAT

City & Civic Leadership: 2024 City Charter Review Committee; staffer for Congressman Martin Frost; 2025 AccelerateHER cohort through the TWU Center for Women Entrepreneurs.

Community Boards: Board Member for Interfaith Ministries and 100 Dentonites Who Give a Damn; Secretary of Denton Noon Rotary.

Civic-minded employment: Girl Scouts Cross Timbers Council; 20 years teaching grades 9 - 12 and college; civics education programs The Close Up Foundation and Envision, EMI.

Local Advocacy: The Denton Parks Foundation, Friends of the Library, and various church committees.

The Three Main Concerns for Denton

1. The Leadership Gap: Moving Beyond Pretend Listening

My primary concern is the growing disconnect between City Hall and the neighbors it serves. We are seeing a lack of transformative leadership; many neighbors feel that leaders only pretend to listen while the real decisions are made behind closed doors. This has led to a sense of defeatism where citizens are throwing up their hands and giving up on local government.

The Goal: I will lead an Invitational City where we don’t just wait for you to show up at a 6PM meeting—we actively go to you, provide tools for real feedback, and ensure the community’s voice is the primary driver of policy.

2. Unchecked Growth vs. Intentional Development: Denton is at a crossroads: we can either grow into a bigger version of our unique selves or fade into a cookie-cutter suburb. Currently, development is developer-driven rather than citizen-led. While huge apartment complexes dominate our city, we are missing the middle—community-centered multifamily housing and affordable starter homes that allow working families to build roots and equity.

The Goal: We must prioritize Intentional Growth that protects our green spaces and local character while creating diverse housing options that serve our people, not just special interests.

3. A Transit System That Leaves Neighbors Stranded: Our current minimalist transportation system is failing. It isn't just a student issue; it's an equity issue. From disabled neighbors who cannot drive to one-car families and young people without licenses, too many Dentonites are left stranded. Our over-reliance on cars has created a cycle of endless traffic and parking shortages because there simply isn’t a viable alternative to driving everywhere.

The Goal: I will champion a Connected City by replacing failed experiments like GoZone with a reliable bus network and functional trail systems. We must design a city that moves people safely and efficiently, reducing the maintenance trap of endless road expansion.

Top 3 priorities

1. Affordability and Smart Growth Denton must remain a place where the neighbors who built this city can afford to stay. I will address rising costs by prioritizing thoughtful, medium-density in-fill and the development of traditional starter-home neighborhoods. We will move away from developer-driven sprawl and toward growth that serves our people first. This includes reviewing city fees that burden working families and replacing the failed GoZone experiment with a reliable bus network that workers can actually count on.

2. Accountability and Fiscal Stewardship I will ensure transparency by engaging citizens in the city budget process through a Budget Sandbox tool, allowing for real-time resident feedback. Being a good steward means working smarter, like prioritizing proactive street maintenance now to avoid the massive taxpayer cost of full reconstruction later. I will pursue state and federal grants and deepen partnerships with our universities to support infrastructure and social services. Finally, I will lead a comprehensive audit of city staff vacancies and city contracts to eliminate waste and ensure every dollar is working as hard as the neighbors who earned it.

3. Preserving Denton’s Spirit We must grow without losing our soul. I am committed to protecting our green spaces, maintaining our tree canopy, and fostering the unique local culture that makes Denton "Denton." Through an Invitational City model, I will ensure that neighbors always have a seat at the table to shape our future. We don’t have to choose between progress and preservation—we can have both when the community leads the way.

What strategies will you use to ensure open communication between City Hall and residents?

As Mayor, I will be the lead communicator for Denton. I want to build an Invitational City where residents aren't just welcome to show up, but are actively brought to the table. I will use the following strategies:

• Remove Barriers to Participation: I will advocate for varied meeting times and provide childcare during city meetings so parents can participate in our future. I will host six Meet with the Mayor Townhalls per year and develop tech-driven tools to gather citizen ideas. Finally, I will reform our board and committee system to ensure these groups are a bridge to the community.
• A "Budget Sandbox" Tool: I will launch an interactive online "Budget Sandbox" where residents can explore city finances and test different scenarios. This tool provides real-time feedback to the Council on what our community actually prioritizes while making our complex budget transparent and accessible.
• Civic Education Tours: Knowledgeable citizens are engaged citizens. I will start a civic education program—including tours of city facilities—to help residents understand how their city functions so they can offer more informed feedback.
• Meaningful Collaboration: We must end pretend listening. I will build a culture of early engagement, where citizens are invited to help set goals before a vote is ever scheduled.

By getting creative with how we engage, we can ensure City Hall is truly citizen-led.