I’m a small business owner and understand the challenges our business community faces when trying to open or expand. Colorado Springs is becoming increasingly attractive to large companies. This is a good thing as these companies typically bring good paying jobs with them. However, we must ensure we are maintaining a level playing field for our home grown small businesses to compete. I will work to make sure that the regulatory climate and incentive programs the City offers for business development also ensure we are incentivizing our local businesses to grow and succeed. Our small businesses and entrepreneurs are what give our communities their unique charm. Let’s make sure they have a fair shot at competing as our city grows. Talk to Nancy about our local economy and jobs

We are a community that cares about the outdoors. Our proximity to nature is a key reason Colorado Springs is a great place to live and raise our families. A decent park is a sign of a healthy neighborhood. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to live within a 15-minute walk of a well-maintained park. Our city has a 20-year backlog of promised parks that haven’t been built. I will work to honor that promise to our neighborhoods and to make sure that our investment in our parks, trails, and open spaces is efficiently managed and aligned with a community of our size. Talk to Nancy about our parks and open spaces

Colorado Springs is fortunate to have a wide variety of neighborhoods that cater to all kinds of tastes and lifestyles. This is one of our city’s finest traits. As our city grows, it's important that our neighborhoods maintain their character even as we strengthen them in various ways. The “8 and 80” rule is a good rule of thumb. Our neighborhoods should be safe and accessible for an 8-year-old kid who wants to play at a friend’s house down the block and for the 80-year old woman who needs to get across town for a doctor’s appointment. Another feature of a community with strong neighborhoods is attainable housing. Whether they are essential workers or young professionals, people just entering the market and families with young children contribute to the vibrancy of a neighborhood. The dream of home ownership should be attainable to those who work hard for it. I will advocate for the distinctive character of our neighborhoods and help ensure that, even as our city grows, our neighborhoods remain safe and accessible. Talk to Nancy about keeping our neighborhoods strong

As Colorado Springs continues to grow it’s more important than ever that your City Council is a good steward of your tax dollars. Consider all your taxes do: They maintain our roads, provide for public safety, and take care of the public spaces we all enjoy, and much more. A top priority for me on Council will be ensuring our tax dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. And I will stay in touch with you and your concerns, every step of the way. As your City Councilor, you’ll always know that what you care about deeply impacts my decisions and actions on Council. Talk to Nancy our city's finances and budget

What I am hearing from my District 5 neighbors is their concern for how fast Colorado Springs is growing and changing. People are excited that our city is becoming a place where their children want to stay after they grow up (or move back to!). And, they are concerned about the impact on transportation, housing, water, and open space.

The City has built out programs to collect community input on many of these important issues. A good example of partnering among citizens, city staff, and elected officials was PlanCOS, which resulted in the creation of a shared vision for vibrant neighborhoods, unique places, a thriving economy, strong connections, renowned culture, and majestic landscapes. However, there’s always room to improve. Today’s fast-moving world offers many new communication tools we should use and better publicize. At the same time, there’s no substitute for getting out physically into our neighborhoods and hearing from our citizens directly, a top priority for me!  

For Colorado Springs to be successful, we need to prioritize the smart re-development of empty and dilapidated lots, ensure our roads and transit infrastructure can drive us into the future, and manage our utilities such that we have the capacity to expand while maintaining affordability. These are challenges our city is capable of meeting if we work together. Talk to Nancy about how we grow responsibly.