Background & Experience

 Government Experience: 

I have local government experience in elected office on the Select Board (Vice Chair), Municipal Light Commissioner (Secretary), and Town Meeting. I also served on the Finance Committee (Chair, Vice Chair) and Zoning Advisory Board (Chair). I directly led community outreach on town finance and zoning with brainstorming sessions and presentations to engage diverse constituents. 

Professional Experience: 

My career in finance has focused on operations and change management with large insurance companies and institutional banks. I ran operational teams across multiple cities. I managed strategic programs to define, streamline, and implement systems and process improvements.

Forsyth County Ties: 

I started my career and family in Forsyth County after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. Our careers later took us out of state, and we had the opportunity to live abroad in Hong Kong and Macau. When we returned to the US, we traveled across the country with Cirque du Soleil. We returned to Forsyth County to be close to family. Now we live across the street from the house my husband’s grandparents built, where his nephew is raising his family.  

Why Am I Running: 

It is time for a change in the Forsyth County Commission! The county is working on its strategic vision with Forward 2045 and we have a new County Manager. Our future vision should not be constrained by the past. We need new leadership to define our future direction. As a County Commissioner, I can provide experience and fresh ideas as we plan for the future of Forsyth County. 

Government works best when it has transparent processes, and collaborative leadership that listens to constituents and seeks active community participation. A strong engagement with the entire community and coordination with local county, city, and school leadership is crucial to solicit and support priorities that will drive our future success. 

It is important to have qualified and experienced people on the ballot. My experience and skill sets are perfectly aligned with the County Commissioner role, given the large focus on financial oversight and budgeting. I have the ideal professional experience in both public and private sectors to support Forsyth County. I have a very clear understanding of the role Commissioners play in setting County strategy, and their support of the County Manager’s role to successfully deliver services to our citizens. 

Skills and Experience for the County Commissioner Role: 

I have experience with setting high-level strategic vision and analyzing detailed financial information, both of which are required for County Commissioners. I have experience managing the tensions between financial constraints and the funds needed for community services which require compromise and collaboration. In my community work, I have spearheaded brainstorming sessions and presentations that brought together diverse sectors of the community to collaborate on solutions to zoning, as well as to develop new approaches for generating revenues and reducing expenses. 

I have been actively involved in local politics for a dozen years in another community, filling several roles over the course of that time. I look forward to bringing my experience to serve on the Forsyth County Commission. 

Endorsements: 

• · 📷The Carolina Federation
• · 📷North Carolina State AFL-CIO
• · Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem
• · Piedmont Triad Apartment Association
• · Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors  
• · 📷Forsyth County Democratic Party of North Carolina
• · Forsyth County Democratic Women 

Policy Focus: 

Public education, affordable housing, and public safety are key priorities to encourage economic growth and provide services while minimizing the tax burden.

Strong public education is essential to growing our community. Commissioners play a key role in maintaining our school infrastructure and need to advocate for State public school funding.

Affordable housing is a top issue in the Forward 2024 survey. We must create a strategic plan with City, State, and Federal leadership, and business and non-profits, to identify housing gaps and ways to fill these gaps.

We must have a safe community that protects all residents with resources to support our Sheriff, courts, mental health, and emergency management team.

Essential Characteristics & Qualities for County Commissioner Success: 

Honesty and integrity are the top characteristics voters identified as essential for an elected official during my early voter outreach. People need confidence that their elected leaders will listen to them and act upon the feedback provided. Fiscal transparency and government accountability are essential to ensure that funds are used in alignment with community priorities.  

I have a clear understanding of the role of County Commissioners. I can set high-level strategic vision and analyze detailed financial information, both of which are required for County Commissioners. I have experience managing the tensions between financial constraints and the funds needed for community services which requires compromise and collaboration. My career has involved working across organizations and geographic locations to resolve complex issues. These same skills are needed in local government. 

Core Responsibilities of County Commissioners: 

County Commissioners primarily have financial and strategic oversight for Forsyth County.  They operate like a Board of Directors for the County to set the vision for the future, oversee and manage the financial health of the County, and ensure that county resources are available for services the county provides to their constituents. Commissioners set the local tax rate, establish and oversee the County budget (almost $600 million), determine land use and zoning for the County, and define County policies for the community. 

It is highly beneficial for County commissioners to have prior government experience, particularly in the budgeting and financial oversight process. As a result of my years on the Finance Committee and Select Board, I understand the need to balance an operating budget using recurring revenues, vs single-time revenues, and the use of capital funds for one-time expenses while managing the amount County of debt. I have a clear understanding of the role of County Commissioners and how they interact with other leadership such as the School Superintendent, County Manager, and Board of Education. 

 I have held the following elected offices in Reading MA:

• • Select Board, Vice Chair & Member 2013 – 2015
• • Municipal Light Department (RMLD) Commission, Secretary & Member 2012 – 2013
• • Town Meeting Member, Precinct 4 2007 – 2015

I have also held the following appointed offices:

• • Finance Committee, Chair, Vice Chair & Member 2003 – 2012
• • Zoning Advisory Committee, Chair, 2013 – 2015
• • Commissioner of Trust Funds, Member 2013 – 2015
• • Town Audit Committee, Chair & Member, 2010 – 2015