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12/13/2019 https://www.savmn.com/Admin/FormCenter/Submissions/Print/1562 https://www.savmn.com/Admin/FormCenter/Submissions/Print/1562 2/3 What skills or personal qualities do you possess that would make you valuable as a council member? I have spent my 15+ year professional career as an attorney working in the insurance industry. That experience has given me a unique skill set that would be useful on City Council. Everyday I have clients who are looking at me to help come up with solutions to problems they face. My work has highlighted the importance of attention to detail and how unwise it can be to formulate a position before gathering all the necessary facts. I have learned that sometimes it is more effective to negotiate and compromise than it is to advocate, and how to recognize when those situations present themselves. And being in the insurance industry specifically has given me valuable experience with risk management. My daily practice in that field requires me to anticipate both the immediate and long-term consequences of decisions taken by my clients and their customers. Those skills are easily translatable to City Council, as a body which is tasked with passing ordinances and making other decisions that directly impact St. Anthony's citizens. My perspective will help City Council be better focused on achieving its desired results and minimizing any unintended outcomes. How does your background add value to your role as a council member? A couple of things come to mind for this question. First, I grew up in a small town in Virginia that was about the same size as St. Anthony. When my family was first looking at homes here, I could immediately sense the pride that St. Anthony residents had for their city and the importance of community. I readily identified with this feeling because it was the same as was shared by the citizens of my hometown. In that setting, I was raised to appreciate how important it is to really communicate with your neighbors - both in the way provide your point of view and in the way that you listen to theirs. I learned that it was always critical to treat people with kindness and respect, especially when there were disagreements. Even if you do not see eye-to- eye with someone on one issue, it is likely that you will have common ground with them on several other issues. And even if you do not, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by offering that respect and kindness. I am also an alcoholic in long-term recovery with 11+ years of sobriety. For the past several years, I have been a sponsor, mentor, peer support, and advocate for others who are dealing with substance use and mental health issues. Dealing with my own struggles and helping others has taught me empathy, how to be a good listener, and how to earn and build trust. Each of these traits are important for a City Council member. Just like any other city, St. Anthony has residents who are struggling - with health, money, housing, food, jobs, personal relationships, and a myriad of other issues. And while the Council may not be able to take action to address everyone's struggles, I think it can do a better job of listening, empathizing, and building more trust within our community. What strengths or abilities do you believe you will add to the council? It is my understanding that the current members of the 2020 City Council all have long-time ties to St. Anthony. Without a doubt, the knowledge that comes with that experience is an incredibly important resource for our City's leadership to have. But since moving to St. Anthony in 2015, I have observed a fairly consistent pattern: Retirees and other empty-nesters are either downsizing or moving to different locations, and (with few exceptions) young families are buying those homes and moving in. My family is one of those families, and we have connected and become close friends with several of those other young families who are also new to the City. I believe that I can give a voice to this sizable and growing constituency. I think City Council would benefit by combining the experience of its current members with the perspective of newer residents who may have ideas of how to move the City forward that have not been tried before. Are you able to prepare for and attend meetings including work session and liaison/affiliation meetings? Yes. I took an in-house legal position in 2016 so I could have a more flexible work schedule and have the ability to devote more time both to my family and to those causes about which I am passionate. St. Anthony is one of my passion projects, and the City Council position would take precedence over other activities I'm involved in, none of which are long term commitments.