Why I'm Running
Common-Sense Leadership for
our Mountain Communities.
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"There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it." ~ Amanda Gorman
“Our communities deserve leadership that listens and fights for them.”
I’m running for the North Carolina House because this community raised my family, and I want to help ensure it remains a place where families can stay, serve, and build meaningful lives.
My husband, Gary, and I moved from Avery County to Yancey County more than 23 years ago and have raised our three children in Burnsville. Like so many families across Avery, McDowell, Mitchell, and Yancey counties, we’ve relied on strong local schools, dedicated healthcare providers, and neighbors who show up when it matters most.
Throughout my career, I’ve listened to people during their most difficult moments—when systems fail, when care is hard to access, or when recovery feels out of reach. Both my professional work and my family’s path—through public service, military service, education, and environmental resilience—have reinforced a simple truth: when communities invest in people, people give back.
As a social worker and educator, I’ve supported families through crisis and transition—when mental health care is difficult to access, when schools are under-resourced, and when disaster recovery feels uncertain. As a parent, I understand how deeply these challenges shape decisions about where families live, work, and put down roots.
I’m running because rural communities deserve leadership that understands these challenges firsthand. Families shouldn’t have to leave Western North Carolina to find accessible healthcare and mental health services, affordable housing and childcare, or good-paying jobs. Educators deserve respect and fair pay. Veterans and military families deserve meaningful support. And disaster recovery must focus on long-term resilience—not temporary fixes.
This campaign is about showing up for the communities that have shown up for my family—and making sure District 85 has a strong, committed voice in Raleigh that puts people first.
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