My Virginian Story
Early Life
Professional Life
My Story
I was born in Fairfax hospital, and spent my early years in Harmony Place Trailer Park on Rt. 1. Though my mother worked incredibly hard, it was never enough to make the leap from poverty to middle class. Like many of us, our family struggled to make ends meet. We lived on food stamps, housing vouchers, and the charity of strangers. I endured an unplanned pregnancy at 17 and became mother to a 23-week preemie. Our new family of two was immediately in need of Section 8 housing, food stamps, WIC, utilities and phone service, and transportation.
More than likely, you know that I am a former stripper. It’s not something I am ashamed of. Far from it. I am grateful for that experience, the strong bonds I formed with other workers, and for the lessons I learned. Because of my past, I understand the hardships our community faces. I’ve struggled with food and housing insecurity, inaccessible healthcare, financial instability, abuse…you name it, I’ve been there. I understand and serve my community from a place of empathy because of those experiences, and I am a better, more dedicated elected official because of them.
Despite the challenges I faced, I continued to push forward and ultimately found solace in Jesus. My faith guided me to live a life of intention, service and purpose. I married my husband, a USMC veteran and former police officer, and we set out to raise 7 children in the years that followed. Two of our children are now adults serving in the Army and USMC. Continuing to be of service wherever possible, I served in various ministries and community organizations, also earning my degree in Theology and now working to complete my Masters of Divinity.
My days were full, but I made time to invest more deeply in the community when I saw such deep pain during the unrest after George Floyd was killed. I began regularly attending county board meetings and working with members to improve decisions, organizing with activist and faith groups, and building lasting connections with my neighbors on a daily basis. The more I became involved, the more it crushed me to see my neighbors suffer with no help coming from the leaders they elected.
Let's find a better way together
I was born in Fairfax hospital, and spent my early years in Harmony Place Trailer Park on Rt. 1. Though my mother worked incredibly hard, it was never enough to make the leap from poverty to middle class. Like many of us, our family struggled to make ends meet. We lived on food stamps, housing vouchers, and the charity of strangers. I endured an unplanned pregnancy at 17 and became mother to a 23-week preemie. Our new family of two was immediately in need of Section 8 housing, food stamps, WIC, utilities and phone service, and transportation.
More than likely, you know that I am a former stripper. It’s not something I am ashamed of. Far from it. I am grateful for that experience, the strong bonds I formed with other workers, and for the lessons I learned. Because of my past, I understand the hardships our community faces. I’ve struggled with food and housing insecurity, inaccessible healthcare, financial instability, abuse…you name it, I’ve been there. I understand and serve my community from a place of empathy because of those experiences, and I am a better, more dedicated elected official because of them.
Despite the challenges I faced, I continued to push forward and ultimately found solace in Jesus. My faith guided me to live a life of intention, service and purpose. I married my husband, a USMC veteran and former police officer, and we set out to raise 7 children in the years that followed. Two of our children are now adults serving in the Army and USMC. Continuing to be of service wherever possible, I served in various ministries and community organizations, also earning my degree in Theology and now working to complete my Masters of Divinity.
My days were full, but I made time to invest more deeply in the community when I saw such deep pain during the unrest after George Floyd was killed. I began regularly attending county board meetings and working with members to improve decisions, organizing with activist and faith groups, and building lasting connections with my neighbors on a daily basis. The more I became involved, the more it crushed me to see my neighbors suffer with no help coming from the leaders they elected.
Professional Career
Within a year on the Stafford Board of Supervisors, I fought for and secured:
- Prioritized Brooke Road repairs and worked with VDOT to ensure the safety of residents until the permanent fix can be completed
- 15% pay increase for Law Enforcement (1st Sergeant and below)
- Funding to implement LE body cameras which I also lobbied for as a citizen
- Record $23M pay increase for our educators in Stafford County schools
- The addition of 59 acres of conservation to Crow’s Nest Preserve
- A joint staff position with the Northern Virginia conservation Trust to help identify and preserve lands throughout the County
- Funds to help the Langley Flight Foundation build a model of the first mechanical flight “aerodrome” that was developed and tested in Stafford
- Additional school funding with residential development that covered an excess of the by right per pupil expenditures and created a HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) to attract much needed commercial development.
- Policy change to ensure appropriate presence of elected officials at the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) during emergencies.
- Rezoning for the second largest private economic development investment of $260M
There is a Better Way
Your contribution helps us pave a way to victory. Your information will never be sold or given to another campaign.
My Virginian Story
I was born in Fairfax hospital, and spent my early years in Harmony Place Trailer Park on Rt. 1. Though my mother worked incredibly hard, it was never enough to make the leap from poverty to middle class. Like many of us, our family struggled to make ends meet. We lived on food stamps, housing vouchers, and the charity of strangers. I endured an unplanned pregnancy at 17 and became mother to a 23-week preemie. Our new family of two was immediately in need of Section 8 housing, food stamps, WIC, utilities and phone service, and transportation.
More than likely, you know that I am a former stripper. It’s not something I am ashamed of. Far from it. I am grateful for that experience, the strong bonds I formed with other workers, and for the lessons I learned. Because of my past, I understand the hardships our community faces. I’ve struggled with food and housing insecurity, inaccessible healthcare, financial instability, abuse…you name it, I’ve been there. I understand and serve my community from a place of empathy because of those experiences, and I am a better, more dedicated elected official because of them.
Despite the challenges I faced, I continued to push forward and ultimately found solace in Jesus. My faith guided me to live a life of intention, service and purpose. I married my husband, a USMC veteran and former police officer, and we set out to raise 7 children in the years that followed. Two of our children are now adults serving in the Army and USMC. Continuing to be of service wherever possible, I served in various ministries and community organizations, also earning my degree in Theology and now working to complete my Masters of Divinity.
My days were full, but I made time to invest more deeply in the community when I saw such deep pain during the unrest after George Floyd was killed. I began regularly attending county board meetings and working with members to improve decisions, organizing with activist and faith groups, and building lasting connections with my neighbors on a daily basis. The more I became involved, the more it crushed me to see my neighbors suffer with no help coming from the leaders they elected.
We need public servants who understand the challenges we face, and who will do the hard work without bias. We’ve waited too long for politicians to answer our call for help. Our pleas are ignored, or worse, used to further divide us for their political gain.
My story unfortunately isn’t unique, but it should be. Throughout my life I have seen so many in my community suffer needlessly and have listened to politicians make promises which they never intended to keep. We have the ability to guarantee everyone in our state is able to live with dignity, and I will continue to fight every day to make that a reality. Ask around, I keep my promises.
Professional Career
Within a year on the Stafford Board of Supervisors, I fought for and secured:
- Prioritized Brooke Road repairs and worked with VDOT to ensure the safety of residents until the permanent fix can be completed
- 15% pay increase for Law Enforcement (1st Sergeant and below)
- Funding to implement LE body cameras which I also lobbied for as a citizen
- Record $23M pay increase for our educators in Stafford County schools
- The addition of 59 acres of conservation to Crow’s Nest Preserve
- A joint staff position with the Northern Virginia conservation Trust to help identify and preserve lands throughout the County
- Funds to help the Langley Flight Foundation build a model of the first mechanical flight “aerodrome” that was developed and tested in Stafford
- Additional school funding with residential development that covered an excess of the by right per pupil expenditures and created a HUBZone (historically underutilized business zone) to attract much needed commercial development.
- Policy change to ensure appropriate presence of elected officials at the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) during emergencies.
- Rezoning for the second largest private economic development investment of $260M
Let's find a better way together
Your contribution helps us pave a way to victory. Your information will never be sold or given to another campaign.