Why I Am Not Asking for Your Money

Campaign season usually means one thing: non-stop requests for your hard-earned money. Mailboxes fill up with flyers, inboxes overflow with urgent appeals, and candidates treat voters like open wallets.

I am doing things differently.

We are living through difficult economic times. Groceries cost more, utility bills keep climbing, and paychecks do not stretch nearly as far as they used to. Every dollar matters. As a working-class man who came from meager beginnings, I know firsthand what it means to balance a tight budget and make tough decisions at the kitchen table. In this economic climate, asking you to hand over your money to fund a political campaign simply does not feel right.

A few days ago, while knocking on doors and talking directly with residents, I had a conversation that reinforced this conviction. A homeowner listened to my plans for our community, nodded along, and asked how they could get a lawn sign. Then they asked how much they should donate to help cover the cost.

I told them what I will tell anyone who asks: keep your money.

Running for office should be about service, not fundraising. I am funding this campaign on my own dime. I do not expect anyone to subsidize my decision to step up and run. If you want to put up a lawn sign to show your support, that is fantastic, but you will never be asked to write a check for it.

The only currency that truly matters in this election is your trust.

If you want to help this campaign, don't reach for your wallet. Give me your vote on election day. Talk to your neighbors, share our vision for safer streets and real accountability, and show up at the ballot box. In return, I give you my word: I will work tirelessly at City Hall to deliver meaningful, positive results that benefit our entire community.

Keep your money where it belongs, with your family and your household. Let me earn your vote.