I am a product of my heritage and life experiences.

I grew up in a multicultural household and can trace my roots to many places on the globe. Some of my relatives immigrated through Ellis Island and found work in factories and mines in the eastern United States. Others came through the west, finding jobs as agricultural workers.

I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My parents moved west in search of better jobs when the United States steel industry took a turn for the worse. They believed in and pursued the American dream. They also believed that each generation should do better than the last. For the first time in our nation’s history, research suggests that this may not be possible for our children and personally, that scares me.

I recognize that each of us has a different road to follow and that there are roads that are bumpier than others. I am here today not only because of my self determination, but because of the helping hands of others. I can tell you based on my own experiences what is broken in our current public assistance programs. I can also attest to the power of education; I firmly believe that real change, and the future of our country, is dependent upon sustaining our position as a country of educational opportunity and innovation.

I believe that our Congress should spend less time on partisan bickering and more time on issues such as national security, the economy and our ability to compete long term in a global market. Furthermore, I believe that personal liberty and religious freedom are cornerstones of our constitution, cornerstones which may currently be at risk.

I am running for office because I believe that living in a democracy has both rights and responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is participation. I am fortunate enough to not only vote, but to be able to run for office—to personally be part of the equation for change and to offer you, the voters, another choice on the ballot.

On behalf of you, the constituents of the 23rd Congressional District in Texas, I am prepared to:

1) Offer you the best of my ability;
2) Act ethically and in good conscience;
3) Listen intently to your concerns;
4) Earnestly represent your concerns in Washington and elsewhere.

I am a professional, an educator, a spouse, a parent and a community volunteer. I am an ordinary citizen, who cares about our nation, our community, our environment, and the future of my children and yours. I am running because I have hope for the future and I believe all things are possible.

I have consciously chosen not to accept monetary donations for my campaign. This stems in part from my belief that citizens should not have to be bankrolled by special interests to run for public office. I also believe that the millions of dollars spent each election cycle on campaigning would be better donated on issues of real concern. If you would like to support me in other ways, such as block walking or hosting campaign events in your home or neighborhood, please e-mail me.