Where are you based?
I currently reside in Southwest, MI in Berrien County. I am at the bottom of the mit, and have been told that I am more very much a Hoosier/Michigander. I was raised in Gary, Indiana, spent much of my life in Indiana, so this does make sense to me.
What is your position/what position are you running for?
I am running for Berrien County Clerk.
How would you briefly summarize your platform?
I truly just want to meet people where they are by advocating for the changes that they want to see in the clerk’s office. Some of those changes are raises for the clerks, who haven’t seen an increase in some time, and do not even make enough to support their families. The work of these clerks is vital to our community and the very least we can do is to compensate them for that, and thus keep them in our community.
I stand firm on ensuring that the access to vote is not blocked by misinformation, too few polling locations, or due to a lack of resources. There is a need for more poll workers, truly everywhere you go, so building that up through outreach is essential. Once we have volunteers it is then so very important to train them adequately, and compassionately. This means hearing what we are not doing correctly and using a lean approach to correct those issues.
Lastly so many people do not even understand what the clerk does for them, and I want to meet this head on. I would plan on partnering with local libraries to spotlight what a clerk does, a commissioner, and even a major because in this way what we are doing is two fold. We are educating the public on what elected officials do for them, and also creating future leaders who will then step into those roles in the future.
What inspired you to run?
I was inspired to run when Indiana SB480 which is a ban on gender affirming care for any state resident under the age of 18 and is punishable by up to a felony. There is also a cause for aiding and abetting, by medical professionals, over state lines. I am a mental health therapist who sees clients who just so happen to be exploring their gender identity. Sometimes I am the last stop before they give up entirely, and I am entrusted to provide a safe space for them. Gender confirming care is not just HRT, or surgery which it rarely is for a minor, but also conversations about binders, and life saving resources to local LGBTQ Centers. So basically the government in Indiana is once again using fear tactics to create a deadly environment for a group of people. Trans humans just want to exist without being told they are evil, grooming someone, or that something is inherently wrong with them. I wanted to create a safe place that goes with me, wherever I find myself, to remind LGTBQ folks that I see them, and will stand in front of them. I also wanted to advocate on their behalf outside of the therapy office and take a stand against the trans genocide that is being perpetrated across our country.
