Mesquite is one of the most diverse cities in the State of Texas, we are a constantly growing community with a large population of young adults and working families. Our city deserves leadership that is willing to do the work required to make progress on issues that have been long-neglected. 

I believe you shouldn’t have to fight to be heard or feel like the only way to get answers is by attending a city council meeting. I want to create real, consistent ways to connect with voters, whether it be online, in person, or by holding district-wide town halls. I am willing to do the work so that concerns are heard and addressed directly. Everyone should have the chance to be part of the process, without having to jump through hoops or be left wondering if anyone is listening.

When something the community wants isn’t getting done, it’s the city’s responsibility to explain why. Not with excuses, but with real transparency and a plan for action. I’m committed to providing honest, clear information about what’s possible, what’s getting in the way, and what would need to change to make real progress. 

The condition of our roads, public buildings, and utilities is a direct reflection of how much we value our community. The people of Mesquite are ready for the city to start making real, visible improvements to our residential streets and sidewalks. With a budget focused on the needs of our residents, long-term planning, and responsible financing, we can invest in the streets, sidewalks, and public facilities that help build a stronger and more connected community.

At the same time, we need to recognize that continued corporate expansion, especially large warehouse and industrial facilities, undermines these efforts. More heavy trucks on the roads will create further damage when repairing our failing infrastructure is already one of residents' top priorities. Beyond the damage that these trucks will do, they also create additional noise and air pollution that puts the health of nearby families and entire communities at risk. Beyond that, the neighborhoods in proximity of these buildings will usually take a property value hit, making it harder for the residents to move away while also lowering the quality of life in the place that they call home.

Other cities in the metroplex have shown that it’s possible to address long-neglected infrastructure, invest in essential services, and continue to be an attractive location for business, all without raising taxes on residents. I plan to work directly with the leaders of these cities who have been successful in achieving similar goals and bring those proven strategies to Mesquite.

Parks create a more connected community, improve health outcomes, and expand the opportunities for people to participate in sports and outdoor activities. I want to improve our green spaces, create safe bike lanes and crosswalks that connect our neighborhoods to parks, schools, and local business hubs. High-quality parks and recreation facilities attract people from other cities, which could create more traffic for small businesses in the area. We can better utilize that asset by connecting our parks to these locations. 

People looking to buy their first or next home don't want to live next to industrial warehouses, they want to move to clean cities where they can see themselves raising a family. In fact, studies have shown that proximity to quality parks can increase nearby property values and parks are consistently ranked among the top priorities for families deciding where to live.

The City of Mesquite is named after one of Texas' native trees and is one of the longest running "Tree City USA" communities in the state. We should take pride in the amount of green space we have and do what we can to protect it from further development before we fully utilize the commercial spaces we have. We don’t need to clear more land when so many existing commercial properties sit vacant, we need to rethink how we invest in the space we already have. Our green spaces are part of Mesquite’s identity, and preserving them is key to building a city where people want to live and work.

To combat the need for industrial and commercial growth, I believe we should reinvest in our existing residential areas, many of which have buildings with vacant locations that small businesses could occupy. I'm a small business owner myself and without the support of the Small Business Administration, I don't know if my company would have been able to succeed. 

The City of Mesquite is full of people who want to run their own businesses and the city should take the initiative to invest in the people who have the most to gain from improving the area. The evidence is clear to me, if you look at the ratings and public sentiment towards chain restaurants and businesses and compare them to many of our locally owned establishments, people prefer to support small and local businesses.

District 4 has several locations that are hotspots for locally-owned small businesses like coffee shops, restaurants, game stores, barber shops and many more. We should be proud that we have so many enthusiastic and hard working people who want to start their own businesses and continue to build the Mesquite economy while creating their own success.

The City of Mesquite has led a successful pilot program in the Historic Downtown district that helped local businesses improve their exterior facade with the support of grants from the city. I plan expand on that success by pushing for a program of tenant-improvement grants that would help new small business owners renovate and occupy some of our many vacant spaces.