Civil rights attorney, advocate, hockey mom, and grandma.

I'm running for Maplewood City Council because I believe local government can make a real difference in people's daily lives. Every resident deserves a safe community, responsive local services, and the opportunity to thrive. For more than 30 years, I have worked as a civil rights and employment attorney, standing up for people whose rights were violated or whose voices were ignored. I believe in a community where everyone is respected, protected, and able to thrive.

Rooted in Community and Progressive Values

I live in Maplewood with my husband, an electrician, and close to my son and stepdaughter and their growing families. I spent many years as a single mother, and I know how essential it is to have a community you can rely on. I grew up in a small town in South Dakota, where I learned the values of hard work, caring for your neighbors, and treating people with respect even when you disagree.

Helping my grandmother and later my parents remain in their homes as they aged reinforced my belief that strong communities support people through every stage of life. I understand how important housing, transportation, community services, and strong neighborhoods are to maintaining independence and quality of life.

I also serve on the Maplewood Area Historical Society Board because I believe that understanding our past helps strengthen our future. Maplewood is a community with a strong sense of place, and I am committed to preserving what makes it special while helping it grow and thrive.

A Career Committed to Justice

Throughout my career, I have represented workers and families in discrimination, harassment, whistleblower, wage theft, and civil rights cases. I have never been afraid to speak truth to power, whether in courtrooms, boardrooms, or community spaces.

My work has been recognized with:

• Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer (2022, 2016, and 2012)

• A community justice award from the National Center for Lesbian Rights

• Repeated selection to the Super Lawyers list for over a decade

I have held leadership roles in organizations that defend employee rights and have volunteered my legal skills to Lambda Legal, the Minnesota AIDS Project, and the Employee Lawyers Association–Upper Midwest. I am also a long-time advocate for carbon monoxide safety after seeing how preventable tragedies occur when basic protections are ignored. Keeping people safe and preventing avoidable harm is a responsibility I take seriously.

The Values That Guide My Service

At the heart of all my work is a simple belief: we share a common future, and we each have a responsibility to help shape it. The values that guide me are the ones I was raised with, the ones I taught my family, and the ones that ground my work as an attorney and as an active community member.

Dignity and opportunity for every resident

• A community where people can thrive at every stage of life.

Community partnership and responsive government

• A city government that listens, collaborates, and earns the trust of the people it serves.

Civil rights and equal opportunity

• A welcoming community where every person is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

Stewardship of our environment and public spaces

• Clean air, clean water, quality parks, and community spaces that enrich our quality of life.

Safe, healthy, and connected neighborhoods

• Strong public services, community wellness, and investments that help Maplewood remain a great place to live.

Maplewood deserves leaders who listen, lead with integrity, and bring people together to solve problems. That is the leadership I hope to bring to the City Council. And I hope you will join me in building an even stronger future for Maplewood.