Portland has been my home for 25 years. It’s where I built a life, raised a family, and spent my entire career in public service. If you ask what guides me, it’s this simple idea: progress shows up as steady, discerning action and a commitment to stay grounded in relationship with my community.

My upbringing shaped that belief. My father, a Mexican American veteran, devoted his life to service—as a teacher, small business owner, and community member who believed in expanding opportunity for others. My mother spent nearly twenty years working in a grocery-store meat department, often as the only woman in the room, quietly breaking barriers with determination and grace.

Both of my parents were union workers who also managed the apartment complex where we lived. Their home was their job, and our neighbors were their responsibility. Those years taught me that leadership is about tending to the everyday needs of people—one conversation, one problem solved, one neighbor helped at a time.

Today, I hear my neighbors talking about utility bills, home repairs, and the everyday concerns that shape family budgets and quality of life. Those conversations keep me grounded in what matters most: reliable services, fair costs, safe neighborhoods, and a city that works for everyone.

For me, public service did not happen by accident. I built a future as a single parent, working, going to school, and raising children while believing service could be a pathway to meaningful, lasting change. For nearly two decades, I have served the City of Portland, bringing expertise in public-private partnerships, community engagement, and cross-jurisdictional collaboration. Along the way, I have been trusted to navigate complex challenges and help leverage millions of dollars in investments for projects and programs that benefit Portlanders.

Those experiences taught me how to balance competing priorities, build coalitions, and deliver durable outcomes that outlast any one administration or crisis.

In difficult moments, I step up to turn conflict into progress. As Chief of Staff in City Hall from 2020 to 2024, I worked to bridge polarized voices and translate high-stakes disagreements into practical policy. I know when to advocate forcefully, when to stand firm, and when to broker consensus that moves the city forward. Behind the scenes, I have spent my career listening, connecting neighbors and organizations, and turning complex issues into solutions people can feel in their daily lives.

I value relationships and the quiet work of turning real needs into tangible action. I approach problems by asking the right questions, drawing on diverse perspectives, and following through.

I bring that same perspective to my own family. My two adult children are navigating many of the same challenges facing families across Portland: rising costs, housing affordability, healthcare, and student debt. Their experiences keep me focused on what meaningful progress sounds, feels, and looks like for everyday people.

I also believe a thriving city should be joyful. Families deserve affordable opportunities to gather, play, and connect. Children should have access to sports, arts, swimming pools, summer programs, and safe parks close to home. Neighbors deserve vibrant public spaces that bring people together and strengthen community.

Throughout my career as a teacher, nonprofit leader, chief of staff, and now as External Affairs & Partnerships Manager for Portland Parks & Recreation, I have worked to build partnerships that leverage resources, expand access, and improve quality of life for Portlanders. I believe strong communities are built not only through infrastructure and quality services, but through the shared experiences that create belonging and make people proud to call Portland home.

As a City Councilor representing District 3, I will champion practical solutions, strong partnerships, and investments that ensure family-friendly recreation, arts and culture, and joyful public spaces are accessible in every part of Portland.

Portland deserves a city that serves all people: families, small businesses, and the neighbors who make up our blocks and storefronts. I am committed to a stronger, more connected Portland, where everyday conversations shape big decisions, where accountability guides action, and where progress is measured not by promises, but by results.