Bio

I was born and raised in Tacoma, and am a product of our schools. As a kid who struggled in traditional education, I especially thrived with the unique and innovative pathway offered by the Tacoma School Of The Arts. It was this feeling of adults taking a chance on me that planted the seeds of wanting to give back to my hometown.

After finishing college – and navigating to find work during the start of the Great Recession – I served three years as a volunteer Elected Supervisor with the Pierce County Conservation District, where I helped expand the number of neighborhood community gardens

It was at the end of my term on the Conservation District in 2011 when – at the age of 25 – I ran for my neighborhood’s open City Council seat. It was an uphill battle. No one thought a kid who hadn’t “waited his turn” would have a chance. But I was passionate about creating a path for my neighbors who felt left behind. I walked my district four times over, personally visiting over 20,000 doors. I campaigned on the issues my neighbors told me were the most important. And I won.

During my first term, we addressed a staggering budget deficit that threatened core city services like street repair and public safety, worked to improve the transparency of city government processes, and stood up for working families in our community. Hearing the stories of struggling Tacomans only fueled my inner fire more to make change on their behalf.

However, my advocacy made me powerful enemies from entrenched, monied interest groups, and in 2015 I overcame the largest ever Independent Expenditure effort at the time, funded by corporate special interests, and won re-election with an even larger margin.

Taking this momentum to Council, I pushed significant progressive policies forward, including:  Participatory Budgeting to improve transparency and citizen involvement; incentivizing electric vehicles and environmental protections; and growing our economy by bringing together our hospitals, universities, and other “anchor institutions.” 

To this day, I still have a heart full of gratitude for having had those 8 years to help my neighbors and to push our city to innovate.

Now as the Managing Broker and owner of a high-volume real estate team at Windermere, I help military families moving into Pierce County, as well as serving my old neighborhood. Navigating the twin crises of COVID and high inflation & interest rates has been both humbling and educational.  I’m proud to have built a successful business, and have contributed over $25,000 from my own commission to charities benefitting low-income and homeless families.

It was right after my time on Council that I achieved my greatest accomplishment of all: fatherhood! My son Wally was born two years after my last term on City Council, and the experience has been as wonderful as it is challenging. Parenting a toddler is not for the faint of heart! When I feel the warmth of my 3 year old’s beaming smile, I think of the world I want to leave even more beautiful for him.

When I’m not working, I am a homebody who likes to play with my rescue pittie mix Henrik; read a good book or relax with friends at a local establishment like Peaks & Pints or the Antique Sandwich Company; and hike with my boy in one of Tacoma’s many treasured green spaces.