Working-Class Voice For A Working-Class District
BACKGROUND
I graduated from Kingsford High School in 1997 and enlisted in the United States Army the following year. I continued my service in the Michigan National Guard, completing tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq. When my son was young, I made the decision to leave the Army and return home to the U.P. to raise him as a single parent.
After returning home, I was proud to continue serving veterans as an employee at the Iron Mountain VA Medical Center. I also worked to strengthen and protect federal workplaces, serving as Local President of AFGE Local 2280 and later as a National Representative for the union. In that role, I represented federal employees across multiple agencies and worked closely with members of Congress and Agency Leadership to develop workplace solutions that help federal workers deliver the best possible service to the American people.
COMMITMENT TO SERVICE
Service isn’t just my story — it’s my family’s tradition. After my mother passed away in 1994, my Aunt and Uncle opened their home to my brother and I and finished raising us. They instilled in us the values of service, integrity, and hard work — principles that continue to guide every decision I make.
My wife serves Upper Peninsula Veterans at the Iron Mountain VA, and my son is proudly building his own future at Systems Control in Iron Mountain. My Uncle who raised me, dedicated his career to public safety as a Kingsford Public Safety Officer and Dickinson County D.A.R.E. Officer and continues that commitment today as a member of the Kingsford City Council. My Aunt who raised me, retired from the Dickinson County Health System and remains an active community volunteer. My Cousin who I was raised with, is a public-school teacher in Marquette, and my brother has answered the call to serve through his own military service.
I’m running to be your next State Senator because the working families of the Upper Peninsula deserve a fighter who knows their struggles firsthand. I’ve walked the picket lines. I’ve served this country in uniform. I’ve raised my son right here in the U.P. And like so many of my neighbors, I’ve worked hard just to make ends meet. I know what it feels like when the cost of living rises, wages don’t, and politicians downstate forget about us.
Mapping Our Future
The path forward is ours to shape. Together, we can make the U.P. not just a place to be from — but a place to stay, thrive, and lead.