Hello neighbor!
Over a decade ago, I walked into Rollingwood’s City Hall for a City Council meeting for the first time, ready to share my thoughts on a local issue. As I entered, I saw a few familiar faces—with a few neighbors I knew sitting at desks, which I later learned was called the dais. A person at the door directed me to sign in if I wished to speak. As I listened, I noticed that each speaker began by introducing themselves with their name and address—a tradition in Rollingwood’s Council meetings. That evening, there were at least ten of us speaking on the same topic, and each of us had a three-minute limit. There was some banter between some of the speakers and the Council members. When my turn came, I stepped up, stated my name and address, and voiced my concern.
Since that day, I've attended and participated in hundreds of discussions at Rollingwood City Hall. One thing still stands out to me from this first experience: speaking up at a public meeting can feel daunting.
For me, the uncertainty stemmed from not knowing much at the time about how Rollingwood's City government operated and from concerns about how decisions made that night might affect my home. I remember watching the Council members—some attentively listening with a friendly posture, but others less so—and wondering why I thought my words would make a difference. But I found my voice, spoke from the heart, and shared my perspective. Fortunately, two Council members responded during the meeting, offering their support to help me navigate the issue. My concerns mattered.
That experience ignited a passion in me to engage and help others engage in our local government. Whether I’m sitting on the dais, in the audience, or answering questions over the phone, I’m committed to helping my neighbors understand and navigate Rollingwood’s civic process. During my previous service on the Council and Parks Commission, I made it a priority to listen closely to every neighbor who took the time to speak, valuing their concerns and their willingness to participate.
At the heart of it, I believe that fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment in our community space is key to finding solutions that work for all of us. Our community thrives when a diversity of viewpoints is encouraged and respected.
If elected to the Rollingwood City Council, you can expect a friendly face, ready to listen, whenever you choose to make your voice heard. Let's work together to foster a city government where we all feel welcomed to participate, learn from each other, and find solutions that advance our quality of life.