We need to break down the barriers that divide us as a community and work towards unifying the people of Tacoma.

In a world where politics is dividing us, wider than ever before, the last thing that we need is for our local government to do the same.

The City Of Tacoma’s Government should work for every citizen living in Tacoma. Regardless of whether someone is a Democrat or a Republican, Left or Right, Liberal or Conservative. As a matter of fact, the positions of Mayor, City Council Member and City Manager are all nonpartisan positions. By design, they are supposed to Serve in that manner.

When I ran for Mayor in 2021, I did so in the spirit of unity. In fact, my campaign tagline was simply “Unify Tacoma”. In everything I did, my intention was to do just that. To bring us together and break down the barriers that continue to force us apart. Of all the things that divide us, you would think that politics should bring us together. We are all Americans, striving to build a stronger union. Being Americans should be a bond that tightens us. Furthermore, being Tacomans (that’s neither male nor female nor anything in between, just that we all live here) should be our bond with one another.

I look at my neighbors as my friends. I look at people in the grocery store as my friends. I look at people sharing the same sidewalk as my friends.

No matter the color of your skin, the religion in your heart, your socioeconomic make-up, housed or homeless, we have all chosen Tacoma as the place where we want to live our lives. And for that reason alone, we should share the same desire to lift up one another in unity.

Now, to some that may seem like a lofty goal. Like pie in the sky, puppy dogs and ice cream… unrealistic expectations. But, hey… I can dream.

This will always be my goal, whether I am elected Mayor or not. I will always try to better my relationship with the people of Tacoma. Should I be elected Mayor, that will be my goal on a daily basis. You will know this with every interaction, every deed and every action. I will do so with unification in my heart and in my soul.

Personally, I believe that we can all treat each other better than we have been. It’s going to take a concerted effort on all our parts and as Mayor, I plan to lead the way.