Rooted in Lincoln County. Committed to public service.
I was born in Newport, and Lincoln County has always been home. My family has lived here for generations.
Today, my wife, our son and I share many of the same everyday concerns as families throughout the county: making a living, caring for one another and helping our community remain a place where people can build a good life.
Before voters elected me county commissioner in 2022, I spent 14 years working in the Lincoln County Commissioners’ Office as the County’s Public Information Officer.
I also supported emergency communications during disasters and other critical events. That experience taught me a great deal about how county government works.
Yet, taking an oath of office has been transformative in ways I never anticipated. With so many years under my belt I may have been a bit too confident. Elected work has tested my resolve and required me to seek growth. It’s vigorous, challenging and rewarding all at once.
Leadership is not optional. It’s a mindset and a muscle. Exercise it and it will get stronger. But we need to exercise it regularly.
I’ve learned to appreciate the silver linings hidden in plain sight. That abundance can be more about perspective than lots of stuff. I am grateful to my family for their enduring support and patience. They’re recognition that public service matters helps me stay inspired.
How I Approach the Job
I approach this position as an independent, nonpartisan public servant.
My job is to listen, study the facts, ask difficult questions, protect essential services and make decisions based on what I believe best serves Lincoln County.
I do not expect everyone to agree with me. I do believe everyone deserves to be heard and treated with respect.
Good government is often almost invisible. Services work. People know where to go. Responsibilities are clear. Problems get solved without creating unnecessary friction for the people government is supposed to serve.
When those systems are not working well, part of my job is to ask why.
Government is About People
There are plenty of policies, procedures, budgets and laws involved in county government. But ultimately the work is about people.
Good public service is not simply transactional. It depends on relationships, trust, consistency and accountability.
I pay attention to where systems create unnecessary friction, where responsibilities are unclear and where people are spending energy navigating government instead of getting something accomplished.
Sometimes improvement begins with something as simple as naming the problem clearly and getting the right people around the same table.
Independent and Nonpartisan
County commissioner is a nonpartisan office, but people sometimes ask where I stand on state and national politics.
I believe in answering reasonable questions honestly. In the 2024 presidential election, I supported Harris-Walz.
That does not change my responsibility locally. I represent people who voted differently from me, people who agree with me, people who disagree with me and people who want nothing to do with politics at all.
I remain concerned about excessive partisanship, the influence of money and lobbying in politics, and the loss of trust that occurs when political identity becomes more important than solving problems.
My own values are straightforward: the safety and welfare of people, stewardship of the place we live, fairness, dignity and opportunity should matter when public decisions are made.
My Commitment
Show up.
Do the homework.
Listen honestly.
Tell people where I stand.
Treat people with respect.
Serve the whole community.
And keep working to make county government more open, responsible and useful to the people it serves.