Pasco City Council District 3

1. Housing Affordability and Availability Pasco is growing fast, but wages are not keeping up with rising rents and home prices. We need to expand middle housing options like duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard apartments while preserving neighborhood character. I also support stronger partnerships with local builders, land trusts, and nonprofits to create affordable ownership and rental opportunities for working families. 2. Infrastructure Planning and Growth Management We have to keep up with the needs of a growing population—roads, water, sewer, and public spaces—without pushing the burden onto future taxpayers. That means planning ahead, using public funds wisely, and making sure development pays its fair share. Long-term thinking is cheaper and more fair than crisis-driven decisions. 3. Trust and Transparency in Government People deserve a city government that is clear, accessible, and responsive. I want to see more proactive outreach, plain-language communication, and opportunities for residents to be involved early in decisions—not just after they are made. We earn trust by showing our work and listening to the people we serve.

The top 3 issues facing are city are the city’s budget, handling our growth and housing. Pasco’s growing budget deficit is the most pressing challenge we face. Rising costs, staffing pressures, and years of structural imbalances threaten to limit our ability to fund core services. Push for a balanced, transparent budget that prioritizes essential services over new bureaucracy. I’ve already called for deeper reviews of reserves, long-term debt, and capital overruns. Moving forward, I’ll focus on right-sizing expenditures, increasing accountability in how we spend, and growing our tax base through business expansion — not higher taxes. We can’t afford to spend beyond our means, and under my leadership, fiscal discipline comes first. Pasco is expanding rapidly, but our infrastructure and processes haven’t kept pace. Delays, inefficiencies, and outdated systems are slowing development and frustrating residents. Continue modernizing how we manage growth, from reforming transportation impact fees and SEPA reviews to ensuring that growth pays for growth. I’ll keep championing critical projects like the Road 76 Overpass, Broadmoor TIF, and Court Street safety improvements while making sure developers face clear, fair expectations and staff reviews happen without unnecessary delay. Growth should serve the community — not overwhelm it. Pasco’s housing shortage is pushing families out of the market. We’ve made real progress, but red tape and state mandates still slow new construction. Focus on removing bottlenecks and letting builders build. We’ve already updated zoning, eliminated the single-family school impact fee, reformed water-rights policies, and improved fee structures. Next, we must implement HB 1110 and HB 5290 in ways that protect affordability while promoting infill and middle housing in areas that make sense. Streamlined permits, predictable fees, and efficient reviews are the key to unlocking new homes faster.

One city-owned property with huge potential is Peanuts Park in downtown Pasco. Right now, it’s underused, but it sits in the heart of the city and could become the anchor for a vibrant, walkable downtown. I envision Peanuts Park as a true community hub—shaded seating areas, space for local food vendors and artisans, live music, and regular community events that bring people together. It should reflect the culture and energy of Pasco, not just be a space people pass through. Revitalizing the park also ties into a bigger vision for downtown. We should encourage mixed-use buildings nearby, with apartments or condos above ground-floor businesses. That kind of housing creates natural foot traffic, supports small business growth, and makes downtown feel lived-in and lively beyond business hours. With smart planning, Peanuts Park can become the spark that helps downtown Pasco grow into a place where people want to live, shop, and connect.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center represents one of Pasco’s greatest opportunities to reinvest in our community and restore pride in East Pasco. For too long, this city-owned facility has been underfunded and overlooked, even though it serves as a cornerstone for youth, families, and cultural programs. My vision is to transform the MLK Center into a full-fledged Community Empowerment Campus, a hub for after-school programs, workforce training, small business incubation, senior services, and cultural events. We’ve already secured funding for major renovations and upgrades, and I’ll continue to advocate for expanding partnerships with local nonprofits, schools, and workforce agencies to bring new life and purpose to the center. Revitalizing the MLK Center isn’t just about rebuilding a building, it’s about restoring opportunity, equity, and pride in a part of Pasco that deserves both investment and respect.

If money were no object and I could wave a magic wand, I would lead a full-scale revitalization of underused properties and vacant lots across Pasco, especially in the downtown core and older neighborhoods. This kind of infill development would do more than add affordable housing. It would create space for new businesses, local entrepreneurs, and everyday residents to build a better life. Imagine walkable streets with housing above corner stores, community markets, shared workspaces, childcare centers, and gathering places all within reach. That is how we build neighborhoods that are strong, self sustaining, and reflective of the people who live in them.

If money were no object, I’d start by fixing our budget crisis: fully funding the essential services that keep Pasco running while paying for the infrastructure that drives our future growth. I’d invest in a comprehensive citywide infrastructure program: rebuilding roads, expanding utilities, completing key projects like the Road 76/108 Overpass, bridge out to the Hanford area, more on and off ramps off of Rd. 68 and making long-term upgrades that create jobs and attract new employers. At the same time, I’d put in the infrastructure that makes housing more affordable — ensuring every neighborhood has the water, sewer, and transportation systems needed to support new homes and families. If we had the resources, I’d make Pasco a model city of fiscal strength, where responsible investment builds opportunity and every dollar we spend creates lasting value for residents.