Compelled to Contribute: Free Work

A piece of artwork I shared during my Maplewood City Council campaign in 2022 was originally created years earlier, when I was 17 and serving as Student Council President at Arlington High School. Though it was created long ago, many of the ideas captured in that piece remain deeply connected to the values that guide me today. What began as an early interest in service quietly grew into a lifelong commitment to community.

Across the different professional paths I’ve taken, one constant has remained—a pull toward what my wife often calls “free work.” No matter the role, I’ve always felt a responsibility to contribute to something larger than myself, rooted in care for family, friends, and community. The late Paul Wellstone once said, “we all do better when we all do better.” That belief has shaped my years of public service in Maplewood and continues to guide my leadership, grounded in collaboration, shared progress, and accountability.

My work is guided by a commitment to working alongside people, listening first, and valuing differences in perspective and lived experience. I believe progress comes from finding common ground and staying focused on the core values that guide our decisions and actions.

The work ahead is about partnership—with residents and businesses alike—to ensure Maplewood continues to flourish in the years to come. My goal is a city people choose for its opportunity, its sense of belonging, and its quality of life. My commitment remains clear: putting people before politics and choosing what is right, even when it is not easy.