Whether you’re driving to work, walking your child to school, riding a bike, or crossing the street in your own neighborhood, you should be able to get around Lake Forest safely.

Neighbors have raised concerns with me about speeding, cut-through traffic, dangerous driving, and increasingly powerful e-bikes and electric motorcycles being ridden in places where they can put riders and others at risk.

There isn’t one solution to all of these problems. We need a practical combination of education, thoughtful street design, clear rules, and appropriate enforcement.

I support continued e-bike education for young riders and parents, clearer communication about what is and is not legal, and sensible enforcement when dangerous behavior puts others at risk. I also want the city to pay close attention to recurring traffic and speeding concerns, especially near schools, parks, and residential streets, and work with residents on solutions that make sense for their neighborhoods.

Safe streets should be about preventing tragedies, not simply responding after someone gets hurt.

Maintaining the infrastructure we already have is one of the most basic responsibilities of city government.

I’ve heard from residents who want to know when their street will finally be repaved, why some roads seem to deteriorate faster than others, and how the city decides what gets repaired and when.

We won’t be able to repave every street at once. But residents should be able to expect a clear plan, responsible maintenance schedules, and honest communication about when work is coming.

I’ll support steady investment in our roads and other core infrastructure, attention to traffic signal timing and recurring problem areas, and long-term planning that addresses maintenance before small problems become more expensive ones.

Sometimes good government really is about doing the basics well — and making sure residents know what to expect.

The trees, parks, landscaping, trails, slopes, and open spaces throughout Lake Forest are a big part of what makes this community feel like home.

And lately, I’ve heard a lot about trees.

Our eucalyptus trees in particular are part of Lake Forest’s identity, but they also raise complicated questions about age, disease, safety, maintenance, replacement, water use, and the impact they can have on nearby homes.

I don’t think the answer is to pretend every tree can or should remain forever. Nor is it to remove trees without a thoughtful plan for what comes next.

The city should use sound information to maintain healthy trees, address genuine safety risks, communicate clearly with affected residents, and make sure that when trees must be removed, replacement and long-term stewardship are part of the conversation.

The same principle applies throughout our neighborhoods. Parks, medians, landscaping, trails, and public spaces should be safe, attractive, and well maintained, with responsible water use and clear accountability when something needs attention.

When a resident reports a problem, they shouldn’t feel like their concern disappeared into a black hole. Listen, respond, and follow through.

Lake Forest has great businesses and shopping centers, but we also have storefronts and commercial areas that have sat vacant or underused for too long.

Residents regularly tell me the restaurants, shops, and services they would love to see closer to home. The city can’t pick which business goes into every storefront, but it can create an environment where good businesses want to open, grow, and stay here.

I want Lake Forest to be an active partner in attracting businesses our community wants, supporting the businesses already here, and looking for practical ways to strengthen commercial areas that are struggling.

A healthy local economy also supports the services residents rely on. Thoughtful economic development can strengthen our tax base while keeping our neighborhoods and quality of life in mind.

Lake Forest will continue to change. The question is whether we manage that change thoughtfully.

California requires cities to plan for additional housing, and Lake Forest has obligations we must meet. But meeting those requirements does not mean ignoring traffic, roads, parking, public safety, water, schools, or the other infrastructure that supports a growing community.

I believe those conversations belong together.

Where appropriate, we should also be willing to look creatively at aging or underused commercial properties, including opportunities for mixed-use development, rather than assuming every future housing need must put additional pressure on established neighborhoods.

Good planning isn’t about saying yes to everything or no to everything. It’s about understanding the facts, asking the right questions, considering long-term impacts, and making decisions that work for the community as a whole.

Residents also deserve to understand what is being proposed, how it may affect their neighborhood, and when they have a meaningful opportunity to weigh in.

Public safety is about more than what happens after an emergency begins. It’s also about what we do beforehand.

Wildfire, earthquakes, extreme weather, and other emergencies are realities in Southern California. As a CERT-trained resident, I know preparedness works best when residents, first responders, and local government understand their roles before a crisis happens.

I support strong emergency planning, coordination with our public safety partners, clear and timely communication with residents, and programs that help households and neighborhoods prepare.

I also believe public safety resources should be used thoughtfully, with an emphasis on prevention, preparedness, and addressing problems before they become tragedies.

Not every issue has an easy answer, and not every decision will make everyone happy.

Regardless if we agree, residents should always expect their City Councilmember to show up, listen, ask questions, explain their decisions, and follow through.

Those decisions include being responsible with the city budget. Lake Forest has worked hard to maintain a strong financial position, and I want to protect that foundation while investing in the things residents rely on: public safety, roads and infrastructure, emergency preparedness, parks and open spaces, and the basic services that keep our city running well.

I’ll approach those decisions the same way I approach complicated problems in my professional life: understand the facts, ask good questions, consider the long-term consequences, and communicate clearly about the choices in front of us.

I’m not running because I think City Hall can solve every problem. I’m running because I believe local government can be practical, responsive, and accountable. The everyday concerns residents bring forward deserve to be taken seriously.