I grew up in the country outside Augusta, Georgia, and always wanted to live in a city. My husband and I chose Knoxville in 2005 and raised our two sons here. We bought a 1914 house near downtown that was slated for demolition, and I got to know my neighbors and the history of their families. I got involved because I wanted to see the area improve.

That work grew. I’ve rehabbed blighted houses and picked up a hammer and saw on a commercial building, because I’d rather save a building than spend taxpayer money tearing it down. I’m a librarian by training, and the library is still my model for how a city should work: anyone can walk in and get help.

On City Council, I’ve focused on the things people use every day, like a sidewalk on Old Broadway linking Fountain City to downtown and an extension of the First Creek greenway. Knoxville doesn’t need to be torn down and started over. We fix what’s worth keeping.