State Representative, 144th District. House Vice-Chairman, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Assistant Majority Leader. Member of the Appropriations and Judiciary Committees. U.S. Army Sergeant, public affairs advisor, photojournalist, and paratrooper.
From community activism as a teenager in Stamford’s Waterside district to enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2015, I’ve always felt a strong pull to serve my community and country. As an Army Sergeant, I led soldiers through many complex operations. From supporting NATO anti-aggression operations to aiding in humanitarian disaster relief efforts, I've learned to navigate challenging situations and work collaboratively to achieve common goals. My service instilled in me a deep sense of duty to serving others, emphasized the value of informed and intentional leadership, and taught me the importance of perseverance - all lessons I’ve carried into office.
As a lifelong Stamford resident, I've seen firsthand how rising costs of living have made it difficult for families and businesses to thrive here, and have worked to find solutions to combat these issues. Since being elected in 2022, I’ve worked with lawmakers, community leaders, and residents to secure the largest tax cut in Connecticut history - $600M across Social Security, pensions, annuities, and retirement income to put money back in the pockets of people who need it the most. I’ve passed legislation to expand eligibility for school breakfast and lunch programs, secured $204M to better school infrastructure, and increased funding and support for Stamford seniors, veterans, first responders and businesses.
I am committed to Stamford, and my experience as a U.S. Army Sergeant, zeal for my community, and my legislative achievements demonstrate the strengths I will continue to grow as the State Representative of the 144th District.
Two key issues stand out as top priorities for my continued service to Stamford: keeping Stamford affordable and investing in education. I've seen firsthand how rising costs have made it difficult for families and businesses to thrive here. That's why I've fought to secure the largest tax cut in state history: $600M for middle-class residents, putting money back in the pockets of those who need it most. And I'll continue pushing for policies that address the rising costs of housing, healthcare, home ownership and more because everyone deserves to live and prosper in Stamford.
Secondly, we must continue to invest in education. I was proud to secure $204M for much-needed school infrastructure improvements and help create a Student Loan Forgiveness Program. And I’m committed to continued investment in education at all levels and policies that make higher education more affordable. Investing in education is investing in the future of Stamford.
As a lifelong Stamford resident, keeping our city affordable for the people who call it home is a top priority for me. The current housing shortage is significantly impacting economic growth and opportunities in innovation, pushing families out and making it challenging for businesses to thrive. It is my belief that the state of Connecticut has a responsibility to address this reduced access to housing and that it will require cooperation between the state, local government, and community leaders to create a well rounded and informed plan to move forward, for example:
Stamford’s residents and leaders are intimately familiar with their communities' needs. It’s imperative the state works with them to best understand where housing is most needed, necessary upgrades to infrastructure, and overall neighborhood concerns.
We’ve worked to provide greater protection for renters through increased fines for landlords, advanced notice for rent increases and a $50 cap on rental application fees. But the state must continue the work to create a fairer and more balanced rental market.
We’ve implemented tax incentives to encourage the construction of workforce housing and are working to streamline processes to convert vacant properties into housing. But approval processes for new housing developments need to be simplified, particularly for multi-family housing.
By continuing to prioritize these initiatives and working in partnership with local communities, the state can play a vital role in addressing the housing crisis and ensuring that Stamford remains a vibrant and inclusive city for all its residents.