05/25/2026
Twenty years ago on Memorial Day, I began the transition home from Iraq.
My assignment was to guard the remains of Marines and Soldiers with dignity from Iraq, to Dover, to Arlington.
I have never stopped carrying them with me.
When I think about this day, I think about names, faces, conversations, and futures that never had the chance to unfold.
Young men and women who never got to grow old, raise children, spend more holidays with family, or continue becoming who they were meant to be.
Their sacrifices shaped how I see service, leadership, community, and conflict itself.
One thing I have learned is that many of the most peaceful people are those who understand the true cost of war. They know what division can become, so they choose humility, restraint, and perspective.
That wisdom has stayed with me long after my military service ended.
It shapes how I raise my children. How I approach my work. And how I approach public service.
Leadership should not feed outrage or deepen division. It should listen well, solve problems responsibly, and remember that people are human beings first.
Deschutes County deserves calm. Leadership that can disagree without dehumanizing. Leadership grounded in responsibility and service.
Today I remember the people we lost, the lives they never got to fully live, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to continue serving in the life I was fortunate enough to keep living.
I want to continue to earn your confidence through my actions and service to the people of Deschutes County.
One Deschutes. Local Solutions.
