Biography: I have been a resident of Poquoson since 2009 (the weekend of the Nor’Ida storm, to be exact).  My husband, Brian, and I are both Aerospace Engineers at NASA Langley Research Center. We have two daughters who are currently attending Poquoson Elementary and Poquoson Middle School.

In 2016, I was appointed to Poquoson’s Comprehensive Plan Update Committee (later known as the Community Participation Team), which was tasked with collecting citizen input for a Comprehensive Plan update.  I spent many hours soliciting citizens’ views of hopes, opportunities, threats, and concerns about the City.  The team used that information to develop a survey that was mailed to every Poquoson residence.  The results of that survey were tabulated and used to inform the 2018-2038 Comprehensive Plan, which is used to this day.

Because I had the opportunity to dive deep into the Comprehensive Plan and hear our community’s thoughts about the direction of our city, I wanted to serve Poquoson by submitting an application to the Poquoson Planning Commission.  I was appointed to the Commission in December 2016, and was elected Chair in 2020.

In June 2023, I was appointed to fill a vacancy on City Council.  I was officially elected in a Special Election later that year, and I’m running for my first full term this November.

I have been an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Poquoson since 2016, and served as President of the club from 2022 to 2023.

Why are you running for this office?

I am passionate about municipal government and the relationship that our city and its staff has with its residents. I want to ensure that citizens feel a connection to their local government and are encouraged to become involved.

What is your view on growth management in your community?

While collecting feedback for the Comprehensive Plan update, I heard an overwhelming desire to maintain the “small town atmosphere” of the City. I applaud the recent creation of Two Tree Park, which designated green space near the Western District in alignment with the Comprehensive Plan Citizen Survey. Also based on citizen responses, I believe that future zoning verbiage should secure a vibrant Wythe Creek commercial corridor.

To help diversify our tax base, I will advocate for the creation of retail space in the Legacy of Poquoson development in accordance with their Master Plan.

What is your view on taking money from individuals who will likely have business before the municipality?

I will neither accept nor solicit campaign contributions. I have strong personal ethics about what is right and wrong, and I’m sensitive to any city-related business where a perceived financial conflict of interest may arise. These situations should be disclosed immediately and addressed appropriately.

How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree with?

One of the advantages to living in a small city is that there is an overarching sense of community and camaraderie. I have always felt welcome to talk things through and shake hands afterward. In fact, I have no doubt that I would be invited into someone’s home to chat, even if we disagree on a topic.