What would guide my voting?
My focus would be on responsible stewardship of the special place we call home.
To that end, I commit to learning from the work of those who make City Council decisions possible if elected—including city staff, the Park Commission, the Planning Commission, and other advisory bodies.
I would also listen carefully to residents at meetings and aim to make thoughtful decisions that serve the long-term interests of the community while considering individual needs and the expressed community's desired collective direction.
I believe that means honoring the Community Management Plan, particularly its Land Use Goals, e.g., "To reinforce Orono’s environmental protection commitment, with special emphasis on the protection of Lake Minnetonka and Orono’s other lakes."
What do I think the City Council will have to consider in the next few years?
I believe there will be many topics that fall into two major themes.
The first will be the identity of Orono. This will continue to come up in weekly Council meetings and in initiatives such as the Orono Comprehensive Plan 2050. I believe Orono needs to carefully consider change while responding to its evolving profile and needs— but at the same time, we need to maintain and protect the special environment that we are gifted to have.
The second theme will be how technology shapes and influences those discussions. Various technologies— from ALPR (automatic license plate readers) and data centers to cybersecurity threats— will increasingly affect our community, directly or indirectly. These issues will require careful planning, thoughtful consideration of privacy and security, and an understanding of both the opportunities and risks technology brings.
While I enjoy Orono's natural environment and activities like riding my bike after work, my professional experience has prepared me to engage such conversations. I believe that this combination will allow me to contribute a thoughtful and balanced perspective to these issues.
Thank you to the League of Women Voters and the City of Orono for hosting September 22, 2026 Q&A forum (for Orono City Council Candidates).
To be honest, it was a bit nerve-wracking, but it gave me the chance to talk about what I would bring to the City Council—a combination of:
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An interest in nature and an appreciation for the ecology we have.
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A professional knowledge of how technology (particularly cyber security) could affect that same environment.