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Age: 54
Occupation: International Intellectual Property Paralegal
Bio: I am a hardworking single mother of two. I have worked for Alexandria businesses and taught at Alexandria City Public Schools. We are a proud Alexandria family and members of the community. The past years have shown me the beauty that is Alexandria. Everyone that lives here should be so proud.
Rank the following issues from most to least important:
- Crime/safety
- Taxes and transportation/roads
- Historic preservation
- Affordable housing
- Economy/inflation
- Commercial tax diversity
- Environmental protection
- Ethics
- Equity
- Increasing density
What’s the biggest problem facing Alexandria right now?
Safety on our streets, in our schools and in our homes.
What’s your top policy priority?
We need to give our police the moral and financial support they need to do their job and have a visible presence throughout our community and in our schools.
What qualifies you to be elected?
I am a concerned mother and everyday member of our community. I’ve been an activist with no political ties; I put my family and community first. I believe we need to be able to lay our heads down at the end of the day with a feeling of safety, whether that be simply feeling safe or not wondering whether you are going to lose your home to zoning or taxes.
What’s the city’s biggest long-term challenge?
Transparency, communication and community input. We cannot call this a city if it is run by a Council that does not listen to the needs of our community.
What is Alexandria’s greatest strength and how would you utilize it?
Our community is our greatest strength. If nothing else, these past months have shown me how passionate Alexandrians are – whether they want change, improvement or to hold onto the beauty that is our city. I will not only continue to be engaged in our community, but increase my attendance at community meetings and events to ensure I know what we, as Alexandrians, need.
How should the city work to diversify the commercial tax base?
Alexandria is prime real estate and businesses should be taxed as such. No, we should not overtax businesses, but they have to realize that having a storefront in one of America’s quaintest towns is valuable.
What policies would make Alexandria safer?
We need to give our police the moral and financial support they need to do their job and have a visible presence throughout our city and in our schools. I will consider innovative crime-deterrence programs. I will certainly work with law enforcement in order to understand what is needed and what is hindering our safety. Ultimately, if our community had a feeling of inclusion, I believe they would be more engaged and watch out for their neighbors. A note to the youth: Let’s go back to the days when we respected and listened to our elders.
Do you think Alexandria has too much density, about the right amount, or not enough?
Alexandria has too much density. Our schools and streets are overcrowded! We need to stop, step back and look at what we are doing. Our community deserves the right to prosper. We need to work on that first. It would be a beautiful thing to be able to keep those that have worked hard to grow our community, as well as offer a home to those that were born and raised in our city.
What should go into Potomac Yard now that the arena plan was pulled?
There are so many options from family friendly spaces with cafes and a farmers market to educational space that could include high school space and learning centers for our non-English speaking community; and we must not forget our youth that needs a safe, budget friendly area such as a teen center.
