Accountability

A government that answers to its constituents.

Accountability starts with taking responsibility for your votes, your decisions, and the consequences that follow. Leadership isn’t about excuses or deflecting blame. It’s about owning your actions and being willing to explain them to the community you represent.

A responsive government listens to constituents, answers questions, and makes information accessible. Transparency isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a basic expectation. When decision-making happens behind closed doors, trust breaks down.

Here in West Michigan, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when transparency is treated as optional. Public confidence suffers, and communities are left in the dark. Freedom of Information laws don’t create problems, they expose them so they can be addressed.

Working hard should provide stability and opportunity, not constant financial stress. Michiganders should be able to afford the basics of life and still have room to save, invest, or enjoy time with family.

Affordability isn’t only about lowering costs. It’s also about wages keeping pace with the real cost of living. Michigan’s minimum wage is currently $13.73 an hour, about $26,000 a year before taxes. Even at $15 an hour, annual income is still under $29,000. Meanwhile, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Holland is roughly $1,400 a month. For many families, rent alone consumes more than half of their income.

Healthcare costs place even more strain on working households. No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and filling a prescription. While much of healthcare policy is decided at the federal level, Michigan has a responsibility to address gaps that leave working families caught in the middle.

Housing is another critical challenge. We need to protect renters from instability while also creating real pathways to homeownership, especially for young families and first-time buyers who want to put down roots here. Owning a home should be an achievable goal, not an impossible one.

Being a representative means more than holding office. It means taking action on behalf of your constituents.

I’m not running to serve a political party. I’m running to serve the neighbors who live and work in this district. That means being responsive, standing up for our community, and tackling the big issues facing Michigan, even when doing so isn’t easy.

Leadership sometimes requires standing alone. It requires the courage to speak up, push back, and defend local priorities. I’m prepared to do that, including standing up to federal overreach when it harms Michigan families or undermines local decision-making.

Action-oriented leadership is about listening carefully, following through, and never losing sight of who you represent.