New York

"I support VPI and the Final 5 campaign because the current system doesn’t represent the people. No matter the issue, the solution begins with having our voices heard and represented by those we elect, but in areas where districts consistently elect from the same political party, the real election occurs in the primaries. The problem is that the current closed-primary election system disenfranchises citizens who don’t align with a major political party. Rather than appealing to all their constituents, politicians are fighting for votes within their own party. This gives us more and more extreme candidates moving on to the general elections, and the rest of us get stuck choosing between the lesser of two evils. VPI is working to change that, to give us all a voice in choosing officials who actually represent us, and that is the America I fought for."

"In 2020, I began my political journey as a trustee on my village's board. I was re-elected in 2022 and, this year, was approached by the Democratic Committee to run for the higher office of town council. What's intriguing is that despite being a Republican, they value candidates based on their commitment to responsible governance rather than party affiliation. I am proud to have secured both the Republican and Democratic nominations for the November 2023 town council election. My goal is to encourage people to look past party stereotypes and elect responsible leaders."