Leadership is not about titles, politics, or talking at people. Leadership is service made visible. It means listening to people, understanding their concerns, empathizing with what families are going through, communicating honestly, and taking meaningful action.

Today, many people feel unheard, dismissed, or disconnected from government. Residents do not want leaders who only speak during elections or make decisions without understanding the real impact on everyday lives. People want someone who will genuinely listen, create space for respectful dialogue, and lead with compassion, humility, steadiness, and common sense.

I believe people also want leadership that creates psychological safety — leadership that lowers fear and tension rather than increasing division and hostility. They want a level‑headed leader who can bring people together, navigate difficult conversations respectfully, and help communities move forward even when there are disagreements.

Throughout my life and leadership journey, I have worked to bring people together across differences, perspectives, neighborhoods, cultures, faiths, and backgrounds. Whether through healthcare leadership, education, business, nonprofit service, or my work as President of the Rochester Branch of the NAACP, my approach has always centered on trust, empathy, collaboration, inclusion, and action.

I have helped lead community conversations, anti‑hate initiatives, youth programs, educational forums, and partnerships focused on strengthening unity, belonging, and opportunity in Rochester. During moments of tension and division, I have consistently worked to create spaces where people feel heard, respected, valued, and safe to engage in honest conversation.

I also believe effective leadership requires collaboration — not ego. No mayor can move Rochester forward alone. I will work positively and collaboratively with the City Council, the City Administrator, city staff, community organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, and residents across our city. When we join hands collectively, that is when Rochester becomes even stronger.

This is not a “me” thing or a “they” thing. This is an “us” and a “we” thing.

Rochester deserves leadership that listens first, communicates honestly, treats people with dignity and respect, and brings people together around shared goals and solutions. We may not always agree on everything, but we can still work together to strengthen our neighborhoods, support families, improve public safety, expand opportunity, and build a city where everyone has the chance to thrive.

Rochester’s future will be strongest when people feel connected to one another, believe their voices matter, and trust that leadership is working alongside them — not above them.

The rising cost of living is one of the biggest challenges facing Rochester families today. Many residents are feeling the strain of increasing housing costs, property taxes, childcare expenses, transportation costs, and everyday essentials. Everyone — young families, seniors, working professionals, and longtime residents — should be able to afford to live, work, and build a future in Rochester.

As Mayor, I will work to make Rochester more affordable by bringing together city leaders, county commissioners, developers, employers, nonprofits, and community partners to advance practical, people-centered solutions. That includes expanding housing options across income levels, supporting responsible growth, encouraging pathways to homeownership, and ensuring new development reflects the real needs of our community.

Below is my framework for addressing housing affordability and cost of living in Rochester. This approach is informed by conversations I’ve been involved with alongside national research, best practices, and the work of housing leaders, advocates, lenders, developers, and community organizations focused on expanding housing opportunity, protecting residents, and strengthening pathways to homeownership. I believe Rochester can learn from successful ideas and proven models while still developing solutions tailored to the unique needs of our community.

Affordability also means addressing childcare. Rising childcare costs are placing enormous pressure on working families and affecting our workforce. I will support efforts to expand access to affordable childcare by reducing unnecessary barriers for providers, partnering with employers and community organizations, strengthening the childcare workforce, and exploring creative ways the city can help increase availability.

I also understand the concerns around property taxes and the financial burden many residents feel. While a mayor does not directly control all property tax decisions, city leadership can help reduce pressure through responsible budgeting, efficient operations, and smart, balanced growth. When businesses open, homes are built responsibly, and the economy grows, the cost of city services can be shared more broadly instead of falling too heavily on homeowners and working families.

Rochester’s future depends on being a city where people can afford to stay, raise a family, start a business, buy a home, and retire with dignity. We must invest in people — not just buildings — by creating pathways to stability, opportunity, and long-term success for everyone who calls Rochester home.

Every resident deserves to feel safe in their home, neighborhood, workplace, school, place of worship, and throughout our community. Public safety is one of the most important responsibilities of local government — but true safety cannot exist without trust, fairness, accountability, and justice.

Throughout my life, I have supported efforts that protect people, strengthen communities, and build trust between residents and law enforcement. I believe we can support good policing while also having the courage to speak up when improvements are needed. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.

My perspective on safety and service was shaped by my upbringing. Growing up in a civil service and military family connected to diplomacy, police, the Navy, Army, and Air Force, I developed a deep appreciation for discipline, responsibility, service, and public duty. Attending Navy secondary school reinforced those values, and later, military science leadership courses at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse strengthened my respect for the men and women who serve and protect our communities and country.

Because of those experiences, I understand both the importance of public safety and the importance of accountability, professionalism, and public trust.

Over the years, I have worked collaboratively with law enforcement leaders while also advocating for transparency and justice when community concerns arose. When law enforcement acted swiftly and responsibly during difficult and emotionally charged community incidents — including situations involving racism and harm toward children — I publicly commended those efforts. Positive work should be acknowledged.

At the same time, when community members felt unheard or when responses fell short, I addressed those concerns directly and respectfully. Leadership requires honesty, courage, and a willingness to have difficult conversations.

That same balanced approach guided my work in La Crosse when a racist and Islamophobic hate crime targeted a local Muslim business owner. I supported the strong response from law enforcement and community officials while also calling for continued action to confront hatred and division.

I also recognize the long and complicated history of distrust between some communities and law enforcement in America. While progress has been made, much work remains. Trust cannot be demanded — it must be built through transparency, consistency, communication, accountability, and relationships.

Communities are strongest when people believe institutions are listening, acting fairly, and treating everyone with dignity and humanity. That is why community safety and justice must go hand in hand.

We must support law enforcement officers who serve honorably while ensuring systems remain fair, transparent, and accountable. We must strengthen community policing, improve communication, expand mental health and crisis response partnerships, and create environments where residents feel safe reporting concerns and engaging with local government.

Trust also grows when people see themselves reflected in leadership and public institutions. As Rochester becomes more diverse, our hiring and recruitment practices should attract highly qualified individuals from different backgrounds and life experiences who reflect the people they serve. Representation, cultural understanding, and relationship building matter.

Some of my leadership role models include John Lewis, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr. A year before John Lewis passed away, fate placed both of us on the same plane. Despite being beaten during Bloody Sunday, he once said:

“I was beaten bloody by police officers. But I never hated them. I said, ‘Thank you for your service.’”

His life reminds us that progress requires courage, persistence, compassion, and the ability to keep moving forward together. We must “keep our eyes on the prize” by building communities rooted in trust, dignity, safety, fairness, opportunity, and justice for everyone.

Rochester deserves leadership that is steady, thoughtful, collaborative, and committed to bringing people together — because safer communities are built not only through enforcement, but through trust, relationships, transparency, and shared responsibility.

Small businesses are the backbone of a strong and thriving community. They create jobs, drive innovation, and support local families. When small businesses, working families, and the middle class succeed, our entire city does better.

Throughout my career, I have helped lead and oversee more than $100 million in major initiatives spanning healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and technology. I have also worked in consulting, higher education, nonprofit leadership, and business development, giving me a broad understanding of the challenges and opportunities organizations face at many levels.

I understand what it takes to build, grow, and sustain successful organizations. I also understand that economic success is not created by government alone — it is created when businesses, workers, educational institutions, nonprofits, and local leaders work together toward shared goals. At its core, economic growth is about investing in people — their ideas, their skills, their businesses, and their future.

At the same time, many businesses in Rochester are struggling. Rising costs, workforce shortages, changing consumer patterns, construction impacts, inflation, and economic uncertainty have placed enormous pressure on business owners.

We need leadership that listens directly to business owners, understands their concerns, and works collaboratively to create practical, win‑win solutions that allow businesses to survive and thrive while strengthening the broader community.

As Mayor, I will work to strengthen Rochester’s economic future by supporting initiatives that help small businesses grow, attract new businesses and entrepreneurs, revitalize commercial corridors, and create long‑term economic opportunity throughout the city. That includes investing in new entrepreneurs and early‑stage businesses, helping them access the resources, networks, and support they need to launch, scale, and succeed.

That also includes improving collaboration between the city and local businesses, reducing unnecessary barriers and delays when possible, supporting smart economic development, investing in infrastructure that helps businesses succeed, and creating an environment where entrepreneurs feel welcomed and supported.

I believe Rochester’s future economy should be one that supports local businesses, welcomes innovation, attracts new opportunities, and creates an environment where people can afford to live, work, invest, raise a family, and build a future right here in our community.

Rochester is a diverse and growing community with incredible potential. The promise of an even greater Rochester is a community where every resident — regardless of background — truly feels welcomed, valued, and able to belong. Recent regional and national headlines have also reminded us that we still have work to do to strengthen inclusion, trust, and connection across our city. As our city continues to evolve, we have an opportunity to build a community where people feel connected, respected, and empowered to thrive.

A great city is defined not only by economic growth or national recognition, but by how people experience it every day — whether they feel a sense of belonging, whether their voices matter, and whether they have real opportunities to succeed.

Belonging matters because people thrive when they feel connected. Equity matters because not everyone begins from the same place. Opportunity matters because every person deserves the chance to build a better future.

Throughout my life and leadership journey, I have worked to create spaces where people feel valued, respected, included, and empowered. As President of the Rochester Branch of the NAACP, I have helped lead initiatives focused on community dialogue, youth development, anti‑hate efforts, education, cultural understanding, and building bridges across differences.

As an immigrant who came to the United States in pursuit of opportunity, I understand what it feels like to navigate systems where you may feel different, unseen, or misunderstood. Those experiences shaped my belief that communities grow stronger when they embrace people, foster connection, and create pathways for everyone to participate and succeed.

Leadership should not divide or exclude. It should bring people together. Communities thrive when people feel psychologically safe, when diverse perspectives are valued, and when people can engage honestly and respectfully even when disagreements exist.

Opportunity must also be accessible across all parts of Rochester. That includes strong schools, workforce development, youth mentorship, small business growth, affordable housing, accessibility, mental health support, and pathways for civic engagement and leadership.

As Mayor, I will work to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, listening, and shared responsibility. I want Rochester to be known not only for world‑class healthcare, but as a welcoming city where people feel connected, invested in, and able to contribute, belong, and thrive.

Rochester’s future will be strongest when all people feel that this community is their community too.

A strong Rochester depends on strong pathways for education, workforce development, and youth opportunity. Education is one of the greatest drivers of freedom, empowerment, and long‑term success. When people have access to quality education, training, mentorship, and meaningful career opportunities, entire communities benefit.

While the City does not oversee schools, the Mayor plays a critical role in collaborating with education and workforce partners. I will work closely with Rochester Public Schools, the University of Minnesota Rochester, Rochester Community and Technical College, Mayo Clinic, local businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to strengthen and build the workforce of the future right here in Rochester.

We must create opportunities for young people to stay, grow, lead, and build their futures in our community. Too many cities lose talented young people because they do not feel connected to opportunity, mentorship, affordability, or quality of life. Rochester should be a place where young people feel inspired, supported, and excited about their future.

My commitment to this work is reflected in my career and service. As a scholar, educator, mentor, and adjunct faculty member, I have dedicated myself to developing future leaders. As co‑founder of the RISE for Youth program, I have helped create opportunities for leadership development, mentorship, career exposure, and empowerment for young people. Throughout my career, I have also hired, trained, coached, and supported individuals across many industries — work that has shown me how transformative opportunity can be.

As Mayor, I will champion partnerships that expand access to technical education, apprenticeships, internships, career readiness programs, youth mentorship, and workforce development initiatives that prepare people for the evolving economy.

Investing in education and workforce development is ultimately an investment in people. When people are empowered with knowledge, skills, mentorship, and opportunity, communities become stronger, healthier, and more prosperous for everyone.

Rochester has a tremendous opportunity through Destination Medical Center (DMC) — the largest public‑private economic development initiative in Minnesota. This 20‑year, $5.6 billion effort positions our city as a global destination for health and wellness while creating jobs, driving innovation, strengthening infrastructure, and expanding economic opportunity.

But DMC is about more than development. It is about shaping Rochester’s future in a way that benefits residents, neighborhoods, small businesses, students, entrepreneurs, and future generations. Growth should not happen to people — it should happen with people.

As Rochester continues to grow as a hub for healthcare, biotechnology, entrepreneurship, AI, life sciences, and innovation, we must ensure that local residents, students, small businesses, startups, and workers have real opportunities to participate in and benefit from that growth.

Innovation should benefit the entire community. That means supporting ecosystems that encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen our workforce, expand housing options, improve transportation, and enhance public spaces — all while maintaining the quality of life that makes Rochester special.

As Mayor, I will support thoughtful growth, smart infrastructure investments, innovation ecosystems, workforce development, housing solutions, public spaces, transportation improvements, and community‑centered planning that keep Rochester globally competitive while strengthening the everyday experience of residents.

Rochester’s future is full of possibility. Now we must work together to ensure that future benefits everyone.

Arts, culture, and community spaces play a powerful role in shaping a city’s identity. They bring people together, support local businesses, inspire creativity, and create a sense of belonging that strengthens the fabric of a community.

My wife Audrey and I have always been supporters of the arts, and that passion led me to become involved in a nonprofit focused on advancing and uplifting the arts in Rochester. We believe music, theater, storytelling, visual arts, and cultural expression help build a more connected and vibrant city.

Rochester should be a place where residents and visitors can enjoy a wide range of music, theater, visual arts, dance, cultural festivals, public art, and family‑friendly events throughout the year — without feeling the need to leave town to experience creativity and culture.

Our community parks are just as essential. Parks and investments such as sports complex should reflect the intent, identity, and needs of the entire community — with investments that are equitable, responsive, and aligned with what residents actually use and value. Thoughtfully designed parks create welcoming spaces for families, young people, seniors, and diverse communities to gather, play, and connect.

As Mayor, I will collaborate with local artists, cultural organizations, musicians, performers, businesses, educators, and residents to strengthen our arts and cultural ecosystem. We should also explore opportunities to attract regional and national festivals, cultural experiences, and sports competitions, while continuing to invest in the incredible talent already here.

Arts, culture, and community spaces should be accessible to everyone. That means creating opportunities for young people, families, diverse communities, and emerging artists to participate, perform, learn, and share their talents — and ensuring our parks and public spaces are welcoming, inclusive, and reflective of the community’s voice.

Let’s bring the fun to Rochester!

Every person deserves to be treated with dignity, humanity, fairness, and respect.

For more than a decade, I have consistently shown up for our community. I have spoken up when residents felt unseen, unheard, marginalized, discriminated against, or afraid. I have also stood alongside individuals and families when many others remained silent. While some of that work has been visible in headlines, much of it happens quietly, without cameras, because protecting people’s dignity should never be about public recognition.

Much of my community leadership has focused on protecting civil rights, strengthening belonging, confronting hate, and advocating for communities whose dignity and humanity were being challenged. That work has often meant standing with people who felt vulnerable during moments of tension or uncertainty.

I believe leadership requires courage — especially when it is uncomfortable.

Throughout the years, I have been on the front lines when our community faced discrimination, hate incidents, racism, and fear surrounding federal immigration enforcement actions. When actions involving ICE created anxiety within immigrant communities and damaged trust across the broader community, I spoke out publicly even when many leaders and organizations remained silent. Leadership should not disappear during difficult moments. It should show up, speak honestly, protect people’s humanity, and help communities feel seen and supported.

I will continue to stand with residents when outside actions threaten their safety, dignity, belonging, or humanity.

As Mayor, I will work to ensure all residents are treated with dignity and respect, that people feel safe accessing city services, and that Rochester remains a community where everyone feels seen, valued, protected, and welcomed.

My commitment to dignity and justice is deeply personal.

There was a time in my life when I experienced profound hardship — when there was not even a single grain of rice left in the kitchen and my uncle had to ship food to help me survive. Those experiences taught me something I have never forgotten: a person’s dignity should never be determined by how much money they have, whether they can afford food, or whether they can access education and opportunity.

That understanding shaped my lifelong commitment to service, education, and philanthropy. It is one of the reasons my wife Audrey and I established a scholarship to support struggling students — because everyone deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, contribute, and live with dignity regardless of their circumstances.

I believe Rochester should continue striving to be a city where all people — regardless of where they were born, the language they speak, the faith they practice, or the color of their skin — are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.

Protecting residents’ rights and human dignity does not weaken a community — it strengthens it. Communities are strongest when people trust one another, feel psychologically safe, believe their rights matter, and know their humanity will be respected.

That is the kind of leadership and community I will continue working to build for Rochester.