I am a fourth-generation Californian, born in San Francisco and adopted and raised by my parents in the Sierra foothills. I spent my early years exploring the world, cultivating meaningful relationships, and gathering skills that prepared me for the adventure of a lifetime. In 1994, I crossed Alaska, alone. It would be during this isolated winter solo trek, which I filmed for National Geographic, that I would come to understand, of all things, the power of community. Ultimately, lessons learned along the trail would become the catalyst for my community work later in life.

Today, I have served as a 2-time mayor and city council member of a small Northern California community, Nevada City, and for nearly 20 years I have been highly engaged in rebuilding our community to be more resilient.

I have been at the forefront of calling out corruption, while through risk assessment, public outreach, and a daily hands-on/hard work ethic, I have been engaging local/regional residents and business owners to prepare for a more challenging and unpredictable future.

In light of the challenges we are facing today, I have come to realize it’s high-time I focus on the entire state’s resiliency, and survival: Restructuring our state’s economy based upon healing and restoration. Specifically, rebuilding our topsoil and pollinator populations, expanding regenerative farming, investing in mom and pop businesses, ensuring intelligent water allocation, ending houselessness, reducing crime, ensuring bodily autonomy, reforming the education system, expanding Indigenous land stewardship, and building a movement that engages all ages, to name a few. 

I am not about empty platitudes, I am about solutions and action, and I have a track record to prove it.

I am here to advocate for you and the next seven generations of California.