QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What professional, community, or personal experiences have best prepared you to serve in this office?

For nearly two decades, I have served the four corners of Johnson City through faith, nonprofit service, business, and government. As the Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministries, I work with families in need through education, mentoring and social services while leading community partnerships. As Senior Pastor of Thankful Baptist Church, I have learned that leadership begins with listening, compassion, integrity, and service. As a small business owner, I understand the challenges local businesses face. As a former City Commissioner and Vice Mayor, I have firsthand experience in municipal government, budgeting, policy, infrastructure, public safety, and constituent services. My faith and hard work has prepared me to lead in serving Johnson City with humility, wisdom, accountability, and a servant’s heart. 

 

 

Why are you running for this position? What do you hope to accomplish?

I am running because I believe God has called me to serve people. Public service is one way I can live out that calling. I love the people of Johnson City and want to help build a city that puts God first and works for the people. My goal is to provide trusted, transparent, and accountable leadership; protect our residents, neighborhoods, tax dollars and resources and quality of life; and prepare our community for responsible growth for future generations. I want Johnson City to be affordable, safe, welcoming to families, supportive of small businesses, and a place where people can put down roots and thrive. Most importantly, I will seek wisdom, put in the hard work, listen to the people, and lead with a servant’s heart.

 

 

What do you believe are the two or three most pressing issues facing your community, and what specific actions would you take in this office to address them?

The three issues I hear most; affordability, public safety/privacy, and responsible growth. I would prioritize needs over wants, review spending before asking taxpayers for more, seek efficiencies, and invest in neighborhoods with the greatest needs. I support our police, fire and EMS, but oppose the current Flock program and would reevaluate its $8.06 million, 10-year commitment while pursuing public-safety solutions that protect privacy. I support economic development, but oppose data centers within city limits when they could strain water, power, infrastructure, neighborhoods or quality of life. I would require careful planning, community input and responsible growth that protects residents and taxpayers. 

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What is your approach to addressing community issues?

My approach to each of issues is simple: listen to the people, study the facts, ask difficult questions, and make decisions based on what best serves Johnson City now and for future generations. I believe leadership is stewardship, and as a Commissioner, I would work to provide trusted and transparent leadership, protect our residents, tax dollars and resources and prepare our city for future generations.

 

 

What is your understanding of the city's current budget, and what do you recommend as spending priorities or reductions in spending?

Johnson City’s budget should first protect the essential services residents rely on every day such as: police, fire, EMS and life-safety services, infrastructure, utilities, and core municipal operations. I also believe attention should be given to areas of the city with the greatest infrastructure and service needs. Before considering additional taxes or revenues, the City should carefully review nonessential and discretionary spending, administrative expenses, outside contracts, and lower-priority projects for potential savings. Any reductions should be evaluated carefully so they do not compromise public safety or essential services. Budget decisions should be transparent, fiscally responsible, and focused on responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and the long-term needs of our community.

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What is your position on the city's use of flock cameras and what is the impact on the city's budget?

I support our police officers and providing them with the resources needed to keep Johnson City safe. However, I oppose the City’s current Flock camera program. Public safety should not require sacrificing privacy, accountability or responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The City entered into a 10-year agreement totaling approximately $8.06 million. I believe we should reevaluate this agreement and pursue public safety solutions that protect both our residents and their privacy. I would rather prioritize resources toward our police officers, firefighters, EMS, infrastructure, and other essential services that directly serve our community.

 

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What is your position on the presence of data centers within city limits?

I oppose locating data centers within Johnson City’s city limits. While I understand the growing need for technology infrastructure, we must carefully consider the impact these facilities can have on our neighborhoods, utilities, infrastructure, environment, and quality of life. Economic development should benefit the people who already call Johnson City home and should not come at the expense of our residents or place unnecessary strain on essential resources. I support responsible growth that protects our neighborhoods, preserves our community, and ensures that development serves the long-term interests of our residents.

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What is the role/responsibility of a City Commissioner?

The role of a City Commissioner is to serve the people by providing responsible legislative and policy leadership for the city. Commissioners adopt ordinances and resolutions, approve the city budget, establish policies, make certain appointments, and hire and oversee the City Manager who manages the city’s day-to-day operations. A Commissioner also has a responsibility to listen to residents, carefully consider how decisions affect its citizens, neighborhoods, businesses, and future generations, and faithfully steward taxpayer resources. Commissioners should operate within the authority granted by the city charter and law. For me, public office is a position of public trust and I believe those entrusted with leadership should serve with integrity, accountability, transparency, and respect for every resident.

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Johnson City is anticipating significant population growth of 13% to 14% over the next 10 years. What is one specific priority you would advocate for as a commissioner to make sure the city is prepared for that growth and that it improves, rather than diminishes, quality of life? Why? 

My #1 priority would be ensuring that our infrastructure keeps pace with growth. That means having a comprehensive plan that includes the capacities of our road, water and sewer systems, utilities, and public safety services before committing to major developments. Growth can bring jobs, housing, and economic opportunities, but without proper planning, it can also create traffic congestion, strain essential resources, increase costs, and negatively impact our neighborhoods. I would advocate for proactive infrastructure planning,  meaningful community input, and creative funding partnerships that reduce the burden on taxpayers. I believe progress and preservation can work together. We must prioritize needs over wants, find efficiencies, and make responsible decisions. Growth should strengthen our community, not compromise the quality of life of the people who already call Johnson City home.

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Johnson City recently increased its property tax rate by 28 cents while facing significant needs for infrastructure, public safety, reserves and services. What should be the city’s top two budget priorities over the next four years, and what tradeoffs would you be willing to consider to fund them and how? 

After a 28-cent property tax increase, our residents deserve responsible stewardship of every tax dollar. My 1st priority would be public safety, ensuring our police, fire, and emergency services have the personnel, equipment, and resources necessary to protect our community. My 2nd priority would be essential infrastructure roads, water, sewer, and utilities, while maintaining responsible financial reserves. To fund these priorities, I believe we must prioritize needs over wants, review expenses, find efficiencies, reduce unnecessary costs, and being willing to revisit lower-priority projects. I would also pursue creative funding strategies, grants, public - private partnerships, and alternative funding sources before placing additional burdens on taxpayers. As a former Commissioner and Vice Mayor, I understand that budgeting requires difficult decisions. We must protect essential services, respect taxpayers, protect tax dollars, and prepare for Johnson City's future without pricing residents out of the community they love.

 

 

How should your community plan for its future while balancing economic opportunity, housing and infrastructure needs, and quality of life?

Johnson City should welcome economic opportunity while protecting affordability, neighborhoods, infrastructure, and quality of life. Growth should not be measured only by what we build, but by what we preserve, who benefits, and whether our community can support it. We should support local businesses, good jobs, and diverse housing opportunities while ensuring roads, utilities, public safety, and other services keep pace with development. Growth should never price people out of the community they love and helped build. Residents must also have a meaningful voice in major decisions. I believe progress and preservation can work together through responsible planning that strengthens Johnson City without losing what makes it home.