From Reflection to Action
This Martin Luther King Jr. Day feels especially weighty.
As we honor Dr. King’s legacy, we are also watching events unfold in Minneapolis. I don’t know about you, but to me this feels like a painful reminder that trust between communities and institutions remains fragile, and that too many people in our communities still do not feel safe, heard, or fully seen.
Dr. King called us toward a “beloved community” grounded in dignity, fairness, and shared responsibility. That vision was not abstract. It demanded institutions that invite people in — not shut them out — and leaders willing to share power rather than retreat behind it.
Here in Douglas County, that challenge lands squarely at our Board of County Commissioners.
In recent months, we’ve seen choices that make engagement harder rather than easier: public comment turned off on the county’s social media channels, shorter public comment time at meetings, bans on peaceful expressions like signs, and — most recently — ropes and stanchions placed to physically separate the dais from the public. To me, that last step sends a stark message: distance instead of dialogue. Barriers instead of belonging.
That is the opposite of the kind of local government Dr. King’s legacy calls us to build. Local government should feel like a public living room, not a fortress. Ropes, stanchions, and closed channels may create order, but they erode trust. They tell residents: stay back, stay quiet, stay out. That is not the leadership Douglas County deserves.
Reflecting on this, for me, honoring Dr. King requires three commitments that I make to you in my ongoing work.
Community engagement:
Residents should be welcomed early, listened to seriously, and treated as partners in decision-making, not managed or contained.
Safety:
Real safety grows from transparency, accountability, and relationships, not physical barriers or symbolic distance between leaders and the people they serve.
Belonging:
A thriving Douglas County is one where people feel they have a place in our public spaces, our processes, and our future, regardless of their viewpoint, political party, or background.
As I run for Douglas County Commissioner, these values guide my work. Strong local leadership isn’t just about policy; it’s about how people experience their government every single day.
On this MLK Day, I commit to moving from reflection to action — listening more deeply, opening doors more widely, and working toward a Douglas County where everyone truly belongs. I invite you to reach out to me and share your thoughts, concerns, and hopes for our future.
