My Story

I am a North Carolina native, having grown up in the northeastern part of the state in the farming community of Belvidere. Growing up on a family farm taught me many valuable life lessons, like the importance of a strong work ethic, faith, having each other’s back in the community, and being a good steward of the land, water, and air.

 

After high school, I attended NC State and East Carolina universities. I earned a doctorate degree and became a school psychologist. After graduation, I worked in a number of public school districts (including Wake County), providing mental health services to children and families, and consultation services to teachers and administrators. My husband Mark and I have lived in Wake County for over 30 years (having lived in Zebulon, Raleigh, and now Apex).

 

We chose Apex as the place to raise our son, Charlie, because of the friendly people, great schools, and small-town charm of the downtown. I am a strong advocate for public schools, and I am happy to say that Charlie is a product of the Wake County Public School System. Additionally, he earned his undergraduate degree at UNC-Charlotte and his MBA at UNC-Chapel Hill.

 

When Charlie was in pre-school, I began working in a Raleigh mental health practice. I have been at this practice for over 20 years, providing mental health services to children, adolescents, families, and adults throughout Wake County. I am also co-owner of the practice, which makes me a business owner as well.

 

In 2019, I ran for and won a seat on the Apex Town Council. I enjoyed my time on the Council as we worked to help mitigate the negative impact of COVID for our residents, business owners, and Town staff. Additionally, we worked to address infrastructure needs; housing affordability; community-building initiatives; and responsible growth within the context of environmental stewardship while carefully monitoring our school capacity and traffic needs.

 

In 2022, I ran for and won a seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners. In this role, I have worked with my Board colleagues to invest in job creation through economic development as well as a number of services for the people of Wake County. These services include public safety (Sheriff’s Department, EMS, and County Fire); health and human Services (Social Services, Public Health, Mental Health); and public education (pre-school, K-12, Wake Tech Community College). Additionally, we allocate funding for our public libraries, county parks, affordable housing, animal center, pool and restaurant inspections, and Board of Elections.

 

Currently, I am the chairperson of our Board’s Health and Human Services Committee. I also serve on the Wake County Health and Human Services Board, and the NC Association of County Commissioners Health and Human Services Steering Committee. I am an Alliance Health Board member as well.

 

I am running for re-election to continue serving the people of District 3 and Wake County.  In partnership with my Board colleagues, I will continue working to provide opportunities for a healthy and sustainable economy, community, and environment for all. I would appreciate your vote!