ABOUT ME
WHERE I COME FROM
I’m a born and raised Chicagoan and damn proud to be from the greatest city in the world. My grandparents were Irish immigrants who came to the city in search of opportunity. They always stressed the importance of hard work, education, and being kind – values I have taken to heart. Chicago afforded my grandparents the framework to succeed and live the American dream to give their family a better life. Now I want to make sure that same dream can become a reality for others.
I’ve acted on this desire to help throughout my career by:
-
Working on hundreds of pieces of legislation and multi-billion dollar budgets on staff for the Illinois House of Representatives.
-
Fighting for years as the lead staffer on historic statewide education funding reform to successfully deliver billions of dollars for Chicago Public Schools and other underserved school districts.
-
Earning a law degree from Chicago-Kent and Master of Science in Energy Policy & Climate from Johns Hopkins to be the most impactful advocate possible.
-
Helping pass four significant laws to strengthen special education protections, prevent sexual abuse, and establish digital privacy rights during my first year of law school.
-
Turning down several lucrative lobbying offers to shift my career to working on the climate crisis.
-
Working to implement Illinois’ climate goals and energy affordability initiatives at the Illinois Commerce Commission.
-
Helping implement cannabis regulations and keep elections running during the initial COVID-19 outbreak at the City of Chicago.
-
Successfully advocating for the first-ever Environmental Justice Section and water rights declaration at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
The very first bill I watched pass when I was a wide-eyed intern was marriage equality in the Fall of 2013. When the legislation got the votes, you could see the happiness of people in the crowd as they embraced and shed tears of joy. It was one of the coolest moments I’ve ever witnessed, and it serves as a reminder of the good government can do when it's at its best.
When I’m not out talking to neighbors and running to earn your support for State Representative, I enjoy trying new local restaurants, reading, playing kickball at Winnemac Park, and supporting Chicago sports (no matter how many times the Bears let me down). I live with my wife and two cats, who are all graciously supporting my campaign despite the sacrifices it means.
WHAT I BRING
Frankly, these are hard times and our government isn’t stepping up to meet the moment.
The federal government is cutting funding for services like healthcare, rolling back basic rights, and accelerating the climate crisis. Locally, public transit and schools face devastating budget cuts, housing costs are skyrocketing, and people don’t feel safe. The problems we face can feel overwhelming, but if we elect the right leaders, we can address the issues head-on.
I’m running for State Representative because I know I’ll be an effective legislator to not just talk about these problems but actually deliver solutions. And I know this because I’ve helped with major initiatives at the city, county, and state. I’m well-versed in how government can be a force for good. And for my entire career, I’ve campaigned and protested aggressively for causes that help people, because good policy isn’t achieved in a silo.
The stakes are high, and the State of Illinois needs to evolve if it's going to address problems created by the Trump administration and budget crises. Now more than ever, we need experienced leaders to step up and help our government meet the challenges of the moment effectively.
Results matter, and I bring a unique combination of legislative advocacy, education, and budgetary experience that will be an asset in helping navigate tumultuous times.
I look forward to showing you why I’m the right person to get the job done.