I want to hear your dreams.
Here are some of mine.
Values
Faith
My outlook on life is shaped by my formation in the Catholic Christian tradition. As such, I look to this tradition when it comes to upholding the dignity of all life, be that life in the womb or life at the border. I strive to consider all things from a consistent ethic of life. This said, it’s incredibly important to me that all people are heard, be they members of a religious tradition or not. I will never use my faith as a weapon.
Family
My family, as for so many of us, motivates me every day. Through my work in the legislature, I hope to support all families—whether they look like mine or not. The single mom working two jobs, the single dad getting his kids ready and off to school, the child caring for an aging parent—whatever your life situation, you deserve to be heard.
Deep Listening
We suffer when we don’t listen to each other. We suffer when our politics is focused just on “winning”, instead of building up the trust necessary for diverse communities to thrive. In my career as a pastoral minister, my work is centered on listening, on helping others encounter their deepest desires behind the noise of life. I will put this listening ear in service of all who call District 18 home.
Priorities
Community Building
There abound many exciting and innovative ways communities can be strengthened at the city/community level, from things like micro-loan programs and community supported agriculture, from resourcing local businesses and aiding local non-profits. State government can support these initiatives and help facilitate the exchange of ideas among communities. State government can support the voices and ideas of those whose talent and energies often go untapped.
Serving the Underserved
The measure of a community is how well it serves those who are forgotten and left behind, cast into the shadows of our social conscience. State government can help create the conditions—whether by supporting greater access to things like affordable healthcare and education, by aiding the previously incarcerated to find meaningful employment, by opening opportunities for affordable housing to those experiencing homelessness, etc—whereby those on the margins are brought to the center of our civic conversations.
Sustainability
South Dakotans, from the state’s native communities to the state’s countless farming families, have been living close to the land for centuries. The state and, indeed, the entire globe is facing down the challenge of climate change. While being a challenge, our current circumstance is also an immense opportunity to tap the knowledge of our state’s people, to explore ways to grow food and generate power that align with the workings of the land. I believe state government can support efforts to help our communities live on the land in a way that will be sustainable for generations to come.