ALL About Me

Thank you again for visiting ABLE.VOTE! You may want to learn a little more about me and wonder why, after 20 years with the MPSD, I am now seeking to be your Mayor.

I love living here along the shore of Lake Michigan- so much so that I've convinced two of my sisters and my brother-in-law to move here too! I am actively working on my last sister (and family) and, of course, my sweet and saintly mother as well. I also have nephews and nieces I know would be happiest living here. As I ask anyone who'll listen, "Why not live where you love to retire? Manitowoc has the friendliest folks and is one of the most scenic places you'll find. I would match our quality of life with anyone's."

If you are wondering how I came to be here, committed to serving our community, and making Manitowoc's future better, read on.

Childhood and Education

I grew up in the Chicagoland area. My dad, an auto mechanic, and my mom, a very harried stay-at-home mom, raised me, my three brothers, and my three sisters in a three bedroom home. We kids got to "help" add a dormer and second floor when sibling # 7 came along. I attended Wesley Elementary, Indian Trail Jr. High, and Army Trail High School. I worked for a small, local chain called Belfast Auto Parts after high school. Then I went back to school at my community college (they are a great bargain), College of DuPage, I went on to graduate with honors from The University of Illinois. More than a decade later, I received my teaching certification from UWGB. Most recently, I completed the Municipal Clerks and Treasurers program from the UWGB Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute.

Work History

After U of I, I worked as a clerk for a family owned, multi-generation hardware store. Then I worked for almost a decade for Sony Corporation in Customer Service and Customer Relations. When Sony moved all Customer Relations work to a mega-center in Ft. Myers, Florida, I helped design and implement the training program for the new call center. I had no interest in living in Florida, so my job moved there without me. I was hired to do hiring, training, and managing the late-shift for Hebenstreit Communications, an emergent internet-based information service for Cellular One in the Chicagoland area.

Thanks to the generosity of family, I then was able to move up to Manitowoc, go to school in Green Bay, and become certified to teach elementary school. I volunteered extensively at Jefferson, won an internship at Jackson, and was hired at Madison School 21 years ago. During my 20 years with the MPSD, I served as a teacher, coach, union president, and more. I see my teaching career as a real high point of years of working in public and private service.

Public Service

I was also lucky enough to serve the families of my neighborhood school as Alderman of District 3 for 5 terms from 2007 to 2017. I have been serving on numerous boards, committees, and commissions since that time and prepare diligently to provide thoughtful, well-reasoned votes. I am proud to have been Chair or Vice-Chair on a number of Standing Committees as well as as President of the Library Board of Trustees. When the Alders selected me as the City's Chief Negotiator, I was able to use my knowledge of the bargaining process to serve the City with all represented groups. I am proud of the honest, respectful, and productive way those bargains were conducted and resolved.

Teaching was a Great High Point, but (I Hope) not the End of the Climb

Now I am asking for your support to be Mayor. My experience and education have prepared me well to serve all of Manitowoc. I will always be grateful for the faith and support of the many friends and families that have helped me. I will be mindful of the many different kinds of families and the different challenges they face as I help our City run better. I believe profoundly in this City and the Strong Council-Weak Mayor structure it was chartered under. Manitowoc needs a Mayor who believes in its intended form of government and in providing outstanding, open, and reasonable service to everyone.