I am firmly against expanding the Town Center to 4,000 units. The Comprehensive Plan approved in January 2025 already accounts for the affordable housing Sammamish is required to build, based on the original plan of 2,000 units. Doubling the size is not about meeting housing needs, it’s about increasing the developer’s profits, and that profit comes at the direct expense of our quality of life. Expanding to 4,000 units would mean:

1. More traffic on already congested roads. 

2. Overcrowding in schools, forcing kids into longer commutes outside the plateau.

3. A significant loss of our tree canopy and green spaces

We, as residents, should not have to sacrifice our livability and environment just to ensure a developer makes millions more. Sammamish deserves thoughtful and balanced growth. 

I believe taxpayer dollars should be used to benefit residents. My priority is to find creative and responsible ways to fund city needs without raising taxes. Unfortunately, the current council has not demonstrated this responsibility. For example:

1. They effectively gave a $11 million to the Town Center developer. They did this partly by diverting funds away from Parks and towards the Town Center.

2. They imposed a new 6% utility tax on residents, effective January 2026.

3. They imposed “in-lieu” fees on residents for home expansions over 1,500 square feet, despite the Planning Commission’s recommendation not to.

4. They increased fees for youth leagues to use city-owned fields, forcing them off the plateau. 

5. They privatized Inglewood streets and asked residents to maintain the streets themselves while also paying the same property tax as before

6. They want to spend millions on electrifying the city's fleet of vehicles when cheaper and equally sustainable options like using bio-fuel are available.

Sammamish residents deserve better stewardship of their tax dollars. I will work to prioritize spending that supports our neighborhoods, parks, streets, and quality of life, while holding the city accountable for fiscal responsibility. 

Sammamish should be a place where families don’t need to leave the plateau to find connection, learning, and entertainment. While we may not attract big-box retail, we can create something even more meaningful - spaces that serve our community.

I envision Sammamish as a city where:

1. Kids can take lessons and join activities close to home

2. Teens and seniors have safe, welcoming places to gather

3. Performances, cultural events, and community programs thrive right here

We already have spaces, like the CWU campus, that could be reimagined as vibrant community hubs. With creativity and collaboration, we can bring services and opportunities to Sammamish that reflect who we are as a community.

The November 2024 bomb cyclone exposed just how unprepared Sammamish is for a real emergency. Power was out for days (and in some cases, over a week), fallen trees blocked major roads, and traffic was gridlocked with all signals down. Many families had no choice but to seek hotel rooms outside the city.

Meanwhile, the current council claims it would take just five hours to evacuate Sammamish in the event of an emergency,  an unrealistic assumption that ignores:

1. Blocked or impassable roads during storms or earthquakes.

2. Children stranded in schools while parents are at work in Seattle, Bellevue, or Redmond.

3. Seniors and residents with disabilities who require extra assistance.
   
   

I will work with disaster planning experts and advocate for:

1. A realistic evacuation plan that accounts for worst-case scenarios, not just best-case models.

2. Emergency shelters and warming centers within Sammamish so residents aren’t forced off the plateau.

3. Coordination with schools and regional employers to ensure family reunification during emergencies.

4. Investments in infrastructure resilience, such as backup power at traffic signals and clearing emergency routes.

Sammamish families deserve the peace of mind that comes with true preparedness.