1. Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a 37 year old, STEM degree holding, IT working, Army combat veteran. I'm a reader, a bass player, a gamer, a community activist, but first and foremost I'm someone that people can depend on. I am working hard to show that to people, because lip service doesn't do anyone any good.
I grew up in Cedar Springs, MI and joined the Army in 2006 to afford college. It gave me the opportunity to study electronic systems and live in various states and countries. After 8 years, I left the Army and started working for various companies working with the Department of Defense.

I was able to move back to Michigan in 2017 and settled in Galesburg. It has re-affirmed my love for this state, its beauty, its people, and its culture. I'm extremely tired of the status quo, business as usual style of politics that grip our system at all levels that has failed our citizens and workers. It's time we get leaders in who want to serve the people they represent, who have a vision for the future that's different from "I'm not my opponent", who stands on their values, who are unafraid to speak like regular people, and who will meet the moment that's asked of us, I know I am that person.

2. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The system has left the working class behind, its time the people have someone who will fight for them. Our workers are being overworked and underpaid, we need a higher minimum wage, a day of rest law, and a maximum allowable hours required to work.

Healthcare is a human right and the state should implement a single-payer system. Residents are being strangled under massive monthly payments that get higher while coverage gets cut. This helps our small businesses with a tax break, keeps more money in your pocket, and keeps rural hospitals open.

Protecting our environment, Michigan is a beautiful state and people travel here to see our lakes, how can anyone in power pass any bill that puts our lakes, forests, and air in jeopardy? I will protect these outdoor third places for our future generations. Having green spaces promotes community safety and mental health care from connecting to nature.

3. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm passionate about removing money from politics. I promise that I am not taking any corporate money in my campaign because you can't say you stand for workers, build up trust, and then show that you're taking corporate money as well.

Politicians need to know this is a selfless service position, that the work being done is important but they are not.

4. Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My mom. Sure it's cliche, but she worked for the state for her whole career and she was the main breadwinner for our house. She pushed me to join the military because of her strong sense of service and now that she's retired she helps out with the local marching band that I was apart of all of high school and she helps make quilts for sick children for a couple different charities. She's warm and welcoming to everything she meets and isn't afraid to speak her mind.

5. What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A vision for the future that goes beyond "I'm not my opponent." People want to rally around something, not be anti-something. Someone who can connect and isn't afraid of their constituents, who can take criticism and not hide behind their office doors.

6. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Improving the lives of the real economic power of the State, workers and consumers.

7. What legacy would you like to leave?

Helping bring the system back to economic justice for the working class. That when people talk about me they say "He was his authentic self, truly cared about us, and never backed down from his core values."

8. What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

9/11 - I was 13 and remember my teacher turning on the TV and that's all we watched all day for school.

9. What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a cook at the KFC/A&W for roughly two years.

10. If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Spider-Man - he was my favorite growing up as an awkward kid I really connected to him even if Michigan isn't exactly efficient for webslinging.

11. What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Mental Health, anxiety and depression are both constant issues in my life that I work through in therapy via the VA from my time in the military. It drives my belief that everyone should have access to healthcare.

12. What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Separate but equal branches of government. Collaborative but not required to go along with each other just because of letters next to names.

13. What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Literacy rates in the state are at 70% which is horrendous for a State within the richest Country in the world. A good education is the foundation for the rest of someone's life. It improves the quality of life and makes good neighbors. Civic issues and brain drain will only increase if our core education issues are not addressed and fixed in the coming years.

14. Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe it can be beneficial but not a requirement by any means. We need people from all backgrounds to get into politics to make sure differing viewpoints are considered in lawmaking.

15. Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely, politicians should all be working towards the same goal, a better Michigan. No one legislator can implement a law by themselves.

16. Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

One woman, a retiree, asked me what one of my policy stances were, I told her about my stances on workers (more pay and more timeoff) and she told me about how her husband recently passed. They both told each other that when they retired they'd see the world together and spend more time with each other. She told me she regrets taking extra shifts and working so much when she could have been with him. Now, there are people entering the workforce that HAVE to work extra jobs and extra hours to just live day-to-day in Michigan. I had to take a second after talking to her to process everything because it hit me so hard. If you're reading this right now, please connect to your loved ones.

17. Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Yes, I believe in true checks and balances in government to make sure one branch isn't abusing the powers they have.

18. What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I really want to introduce a Digital Bill of Rights for Michigan. Our likeness and data is being collected by third parties across the internet, you should have rights to that data and whether it gets disseminated to other organizations. Making Opt-In the default instead of Opt-Out for data collections.

19. What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

When I was in Afghanistan I did overwatch for movement units and when we were in position we never had anyone get hurt. We understood the assignment of attention to detail and quick communications. There was no way to fake our success in that environment.

View my ballotpedia here.