A Leadership of Conscience
The law is a powerful tool, but it isn’t always a just one. A prosecutor’s role isn’t simply to rack up convictions; it is to serve as a check on the system. To represent Monroe County is a responsibility that requires more than a manual—it requires a conscience. I believe every case deserves a human lens, and I will have the courage to choose justice over technicality, ensuring our resources protect people rather than enforcing outdated standards.
Guided by this conscience, our platform is clear:
- Marijuana will be a zero-priority issue while violent crime remains a threat.
- We will not prosecute women or doctors for exercising the fundamental right to choose.
- We will not criminalize poverty, but we will investigate those who exploit the displaced by abandoning them in our county.
- We will prioritize violent offenders to solve the jail crisis and make Monroe County truly safe.
Please continue scrolling to read more about our stance on these critical issues.
Ending Marijuana Prosecutions
The landscape of our country is changing, and it’s time our local legal system caught up. With legal recreational cannabis available in three of our four neighboring states, the “criminal” status of marijuana has become a relic of the past. Beyond the shifting social tide, we must acknowledge the proven medical and therapeutic benefits of cannabis for those dealing with chronic pain, PTSD, and other ailments.
Furthermore, I am committed to ending the “racket” of pre-diversion programs that exploit individuals for cannabis possession. These programs often create a cycle of fees and bureaucracy that does little to improve public safety. In this office, marijuana will be a zero-priority issue. As long as there is violent crime threatening our streets and our families, we will not waste a single taxpayer dollar prosecuting cannabis users.
Defending Reproductive Freedom
A woman’s right to make decisions about her own body is a fundamental matter of liberty and healthcare. The courtroom is no place for the government to interfere with the deeply personal medical choices made by women and their doctors. We believe in a Monroe County where healthcare professionals can provide care without the fear of handcuffs, and where citizens can seek medical help without the threat of a prison cell.
My position is clear: this office will not prosecute any woman, doctor, or nurse for making or facilitating medical decisions regarding reproductive health. We will stand as a shield for those exercising their right to choose, ensuring that our legal system remains a guardian of personal freedom rather than an instrument of medical overreach.
Homelessness & Poverty
We cannot, and we should not, prosecute people for the “crime” of being poor. Homelessness is a complex social challenge that requires compassion and systemic solutions, not a revolving door in the county jail. My office will treat our unhoused neighbors with dignity, focusing our efforts on underlying issues rather than criminalizing the struggle for survival.
However, compassion for our local community also requires accountability. We will launch a formal investigation into troubling allegations that other jurisdictions may be transporting disadvantaged individuals into Monroe County under false pretenses or without the resources to return. We owe it to our residents—and to those being displaced—to ensure that no one is being used as a pawn in another city’s attempt to outsource their responsibilities.
Public Safety
The Monroe County Jail is facing a very real, very dangerous crisis. Overcrowding doesn’t just strain our tax dollars; it creates an environment that is unsafe for staff and inmates alike, often serving as a revolving door that fails to address the root causes of crime. For too long, the system has been clogged with non-violent offenders and individuals trapped in the cycle of poverty. By ending the pursuit of marijuana prosecutions and emphasizing compassionate, common-sense solutions for non-violent offenses, we can finally clear the path for what truly matters: keeping our families safe.
True public safety isn’t measured by the number of people we lock up, but by the level of violence we prevent. By shifting our resources away from low-level “crimes of circumstance,” we allow our investigators and prosecutors to focus their full might on the threats that actually keep you up at night. We are redirecting our energy toward reducing violent crime, dismantling cycles of domestic abuse, and aggressively pursuing those who commit crimes against children and our most disadvantaged neighbors.
My office will be defined by a simple, firm philosophy: we will be smart on crime so we can be tough on violence. We will use the full weight of the law to protect the vulnerable and ensure that those who harm our community are held accountable. In doing so, we don’t just clear out the jail; we build a Monroe County where justice is focused, effective, and centered on the fundamental right of every citizen to live without fear.
