I’ve been a teacher for more than 25 years, and I’ve taught right here in St. Cloud for the last 17 of them. I’m also a community volunteer, a proud dad, and an unbelievably lucky husband.

We all know that good teachers lead us to discover and pursue new opportunities. They help us make our tomorrows brighter than our yesterdays, because they can see beyond every student’s challenges to their potential. It’s time that we had representatives with that same vision. Our community deserves a State Senator who works for all of us.

Too often our politicians take us for granted, focusing on themselves and their party’s agenda rather than the people who elected them. Most of us want better lives for our friends, neighbors, and families, but our elected officials are often obstacles to progress rather than true representatives of our values.

In a time like this, when politics disconnects us from our neighbors and frustrates the necessary functions of our government, we must realize that citizen is not just a noun — it’s a verb.

To citizen is to participate in our community, know our neighbors, and work together to build the future we want to live in. It means holding our government accountable and enacting meaningful change. It means taking responsibility for our politics and for each other.

With your help, that’s the work I’ll do as your State Senator. Come citizen with us.

We hold events regularly to get to know each other and to discuss and take action on the issues that matter most to us. Join us!