Local Issues

Protecting Families

As a mom of seven, my family is my first priority. 


As your councilwoman, I believe that we need to put your families first, too.


That’s why I believe the county must:


Invest in public safety to keep our communities safe.


Invest in our roads so that we can make sure we can get our families to the places they need to go.


Invest in parks and greenspace so that we can spend quality time with our families in nature. 


Encourage responsible economic development so that we have work and business opportunities for our families now -- and future jobs for our kids, too.


Since I’ve been in office, I’ve also worked to protect families by: 


  • Ending Covid policies that negatively impacted our families


  • Standing with parents when our local library displayed obscene materials in the children’s section


  • Working to remove abortion politics from our local health department


  • Stopping discriminatory DEI policies in county government


  • Expanding the Lydick Bog preservation, creating a new county park in Granger, and rehabbing the amphitheater in St. Pat’s Park

Protecting Communities

On the County Council, I represent the people of Clay Township. However, I also represent all the people of St. Joseph County, as I take votes that affect all parts of the county. Often, voters feel unheard by their representatives. I listen to citizens and work to understand their frustrations when they come to me on issues that affect their lives. Whether through my day-to-day engagement through phone calls and emails from constituents or on those big projects that come before the council, I listen and respond.

 

Since I’ve been in office, I’ve worked to protect communities by:

 

  • Stopping data center overgrowth in bedroom communities


  • Creating restrictions to curtail industrial solar developments on farmland


  • Standing with parents who opposed Clay High School’s closing after passing an expensive referendum to keep it open and holding South Bend schools accountable


  • Blocking a financial cell tower project that threatened residents’ property values in Clay Township



  • Keeping a no-sobriety homeless center out of a residential neighborhood that included a school and daycare

Protecting Taxpayers

As a property taxpayer too, I understand the frustration with increasing taxes. Like you, I’ve seen my own property taxes increase 40 percent over the past five years. Since I’ve been elected, it’s been one of my top priorities to do what I can to help with resident tax bills. While the council does not have control over property taxes, sometimes the state legislature gives us certain cut-outs that allow us to help. That’s where I’ve put my focus. 


Since I’ve been in office, I’ve worked to protect taxpayers by:


  • Passing a 55 and older tax cut, which does not allow property taxes to increase more than 2 percent over the previous year. (You can apply HERE.) 


  • Advancing an affordability agenda to:


  • Allow a multi-year tax break for first-time home buyers
  • Allow a property tax deferment program for seniors on limited income until they sell their homes
  • Allow us to extend the 55 and older tax break past its three year limit.
  • Support an online system to pay property taxes monthly, rather than yearly or twice a year
  • Allow just compensation for county employees


  • Working to pass balanced budgets and said no to budgets that overspent.


  • Saying no to corporate welfare when the AWS (Amazon) data center asked for county tax breaks.