The responses to these questions were edited for length and clarity by the Georgia Decides team. Each candidate was allotted 150 words for each answer and some answers were trimmed in order to abide by that length requirement. Other edits were made to make sure readers can fully follow and understand the candidate responses.

Campaigning for: US House Georgia District 4

How does your background equip you for the job you are seeking?

I have 23 years in the military with deployment to combat areas. I have a bachelor’s in Science from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree from Harvard University. I have worked in the private sector and the government sector. My varied background has led me to work in the executive side of healthcare to leadership positions in the military. The fact that I am not a politician, but a regular citizen wanting what is best for Georgia is what makes me qualified.

What role should government have in the lives of Georgians? How would you apply that philosophy to the job you are seeking?

The government should exist to enrich the lives of Georgians and not hinder it. I have seen too much government interference into the lives of Georgians and the voice should belong to the people, not the politicians. The politicians are the mouthpiece for the people but it seems we have lost that over the years. I want to bring this back into Congress.

If you are elected (or re-elected), what problems will you spend the most time solving and why?

Inflation is a huge problem right now, this has to be fixed by competent politicians that know how the economy works. We need politicians that can do what is right and not what is popular.

Georgia is a politically diverse state. How will you work to represent Georgians whose political views differ from your own?

I have always brought the ideals that diversity of thought is what drives better outcomes. We are country and varied ideas and backgrounds and everyone has the right to have their voices heard and not silenced. Differences of opinion is what fine tunes policies to be crafted to benefit all of Georgia.

Who has been the biggest influence on how you view state government and politics? What have you learned from this person?

Some of my biggest influencers are Thomas Sowell, Milton Friedman and Ronald Reagan. I have never learned personally from them but only by their examples.

Georgia has a lot to offer current and potential residents, but many parts of the state are becoming increasingly unaffordable. Please explain your proposed approach to address housing affordability through federal legislation and executive actions?

One of the ways we can reduce the prices of homes in Georgia is to get rid of some of the laws and regulations that restrict home builders. Out of a survey of developers and builders in Georgia, it was stated that 26.9% of a homes cost is due to the regulatory practices of the government. During the last years of the 1990’s, Georgia saw more home building permits that all of 2011- 2019. Covid put some home builders out of business and inflation has hit the cost of lumber very hard. If we can reduce inflation, loosen the regulatory requirements on building homes and give developers and home builders more competition, the market will adjust itself and the cost of new homes will start to fall.

Politics is often about compromise. How do you decide when to compromise and take small, incremental wins, and when to refuse compromise?

Many politicians tend to take things personal and I think this question outlines this. This is not about me or ‘my’ wins, but what is best for Georgia as a whole. The compromise is what Georgia considers policies and issues they want to strongly stand behind. My role is not for self-serving purposes but to represent the people of Georgia’s 4th district. It is up to the people on what they want.

There were politicians who questioned the outcomes of Georgia elections in 2018 and 2020. Do you think Georgia’s elections are secure and will you stand by the results?

I think there were questions raised and there is nothing wrong with either side raising questions. This is the way to make sure the election is fair and equal is if both sides make sure the election is fair. I will stand by the results of the November 2022 election.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, state law and local enforcement authority will determine access to abortion. If elected, how will you use your authority in the U.S. House to influence abortion access or enforcement of abortion restrictions?

The overturning of Roe v. Wade only led to one thing, the vote and the power was given back to the people. The voice was given back to the people to vote on the issues that matter to them. The people should be the ones with the voice to determine what is important for them.

The U.S. Congress often votes along party lines. When would you seek bipartisan action and what issues merit such consensus?

This is what is wrong with the two-party system, Democrats and Republicans will stick with their side no matter how it may hurt the people of Georgia. They vote on what is popular within their party. I think it is best to act on behalf of the people and what is best for them. Issues such as the economy, inflation, education and healthcare are issues that we need to work together on to solve. This is what is best for the people of Georgia and what I think Congress has lost sight of. They represent the people and need to do what is best for the people and not their own party.