I’m an experienced voice on Berkley City Council, known for asking insightful questions, pushing for transparency, and helping residents navigate City Hall. I was first elected in November 2017, and I’m now running for re-election.
About Me
After graduate school, I lived and worked in Worthington, Ohio — a small town surrounded by Columbus that reminds me a lot of Berkley.
I met my wife, Jennifer, on eHarmony. I was hoping for a match nearby, but they kept suggesting someone three hours away in metro Detroit. She looked great — just too far, I thought. Eventually, I gave it a shot. We hit it off and got married in 2010.
We first lived in an apartment in Southfield, but in 2011 we went looking for our forever home. We chose Berkley for its walkability, great schools, and strong community spirit.
In our free time, we enjoy walking and biking through town, gardening, and tackling DIY projects — especially home automation and my growing fleet of robot helpers.
About the Cats
Jennifer and I also enjoy spending time with our two cats, Nicolette and Cosette.
My first cat, Miette, a traditional Siamese, passed away at age 19 in 2021. Hoping to find a similar companion, we joined several breeder waitlists and were quickly matched with two Burmese kittens (long-haired Siamese).
We drove to Manhattan that November to pick them up. Unfortunately, Cosette had lost an eye due to an untreated injury, and Nicolette had early health issues.
Thankfully, both are now happy and healthy. Nicolette is shy but affectionate, and Cosette is fearless and playful — missing an eye hasn’t slowed her down one bit.
My Political Career
I’ve always been civic-minded and focused on helping others.
In Ohio, I sued junk-faxers to stop their scams and secured a favorable opinion from the state attorney general, making it easier for others to take action too.
When Ohio State University tried to expand its small training airport into a regional jet hub, I joined a grassroots effort to stop it. Though I wouldn’t have been directly affected, I soon became president of the group. We successfully slowed the expansion and protected nearby neighborhoods.
After moving to Berkley, I saw problems in how the city handled communication, planning, and code enforcement. I joined a reform group and took on a mission to educate the public — which led to my 2017 run for City Council.
Since then, I’ve worked to make city government more transparent, responsive, and accountable — especially in planning, code enforcement, communications, and finance.
Why I'm Running
I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but there’s still work ahead. I’m running for re-election because I believe in public service done right: show up prepared, be honest with people, and work every day to make life a little better for Berkley residents. That’s what I’ve done — and what I’ll keep doing.
Leadership & Regional Involvement
- Trustee, Michigan Municipal League (MML)
- President, MML's Elected Official Academy
- Berkley’s delegate to Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)
- Council Liaison to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Tree Board
Awards & Credentials
- Recipient of MML’s Ambassador Award for my exemplary service for Berkley
- Completed Master Citizen Planner, Michigan State University
- BS in Math and Computer Science and an MS in Computer Science
Professional & Civic Life
- Senior Software Engineer in bank fraud prevention
- Active member, volunteer, and leader at church
- A supporter of the Friends of the Berkley Public Library, the Friends of Berkley Parks and Recreation, Berkley/Huntington Woods Youth Assistance, Tri-Community Coalition, and the Berkley Education Foundation, among others
