About

Experienced Business Woman

I believe there is more to being Mayor of the great city of Irving than just being elected. Annual budgets, economic development projects and city planning all need a discerning eye and relevant business experience to comprehend and acknowledge potential deficiencies and identify workable solutions.

Throughout my 20 year career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with small startup companies, mid-size private companies and Fortune 500 corporations. I also founded my own consulting business, working with executives to develop strategic business plans, negotiation strategies, grassroots coalition building and federal and state legislative policy strategies.

Put simply, I have helped run businesses, balance budgets, meet payrolls, and create job opportunities.

Irving is home to thousands of small business and hundreds of internal corporations that comprise over 65% of our tax base. The Mayor of Irving needs to be a proficient business person, with a professional demeanor, who can work with business owners and CEOs to find new opportunities for expansion here in Irving.

Not only does the Mayor need to be a competent business person, our Mayor must also be the primary public relations leader for Irving. That means we need a Mayor who actually sits and listens TO YOU!

I have always made it a priority to hear directly from the people who live here and meet with folks face-to-face so I can better understand their concerns and help find solutions. We need far more of that at City Hall.

Experienced Irving City Council Member

First and foremost, I am honored and humbled to have been supported by thousands of folks across Irving as your City Council Representative from 2004-2010. These people placed their faith in me to vigorously represent their concerns to the City of Irving and I hope they continue to feel I have fulfilled that commitment to them.

During my six years on the council, I provided consistent balance on a council which all too often had its own agenda that did not take taxpayers, residents, or businesses into account. Taking time to meet with homeowners, business leaders, community volunteers and concerned citizens, I listened to what they said and brought their voice, their concerns and their opinions to City Hall. I campaigned for safer neighborhoods, consistent code enforcement, stronger homeowner rights and more efficient government. While no individual councilperson can take credit for accomplishments of the whole, I am proud that I was a catalyst to many of the positive activities you see in the City today in those areas.

  • Irving City Council Woman, 2004 – 2010;
  • Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, 2005 – 2006;
  • Founded and led Communications Committee;
  • Liaison to the Valley Ranch Library Board, Health Board, Carrollton-Farmers Branch and alternate liaison to the Animal Services Board;
  • Worked for Irving on the Legislative Committee, the Audit and Finance Committee, Public Works Committee and the Community Services Committee;
  • Served Irving as the voting delegate to the National League of Cities.
    Strong, Consistent, and Conservative Leadership

Strong, Consistent, and Conservative Leadership

When people have strong opinions based on fundamental beliefs and values, there are always going to be differences and I do not view that as detrimental to governance.

I am a limited-government conservative who fundamentally believes we need the least amount of government possible so families and small businesses can keep more of what they earn in order to make their own decisions on how best to spend their resources. At times, this position ran counter to what the Mayor preferred.

While I’m sure he would have preferred I acquiesce and simply “go along to get along,” that would have broken faith with the many people across our City who elected me to fight for their values. I’m proud to have been able to be a voice for them on Council and I do not regret a single moment of working to prevent higher taxes, fees, increased spending or expanding programs.

Neighborhood and Community Leader

I understand the importance of making the community a better place now and for future generations. We need more opportunities for citizens to contribute to the improvement of our quality of life.

While a student at college, I not only worked and paid for my own tuition, room and board, I also volunteered every semester and during the summers. While difficult at the times, that experience instilled in me the value of hard work, dedication, self-sufficiency and making the effort to give back to the community. I have never lost the desire or appreciation that comes from selflessly contributing to others.

That is why I have proudly worked with the following organizations that help make Irving a special place to live:

  • Led 18-month effort to construct a neighborhood park, raising $120,000 while garnering support of area citizens and business leaders.
  • Outgoing President of the Irving Republican Women's Club;
  • Graduate of Irving's Citizen Fire Academy and Police Academy;
  • Past Chairman of the Hackberry Creek Parks Committee;
  • Former Board member of the Las Colinas Parent-Teacher Association;
  • Past Board member of Brighter Tomorrows;
  • TexasFest Volunteer;
  • Lyric Stage Guild member;
  • Member of the Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network;
  • New Tech High, Board Member;
  • National League of Cities, Representative Voting Member;
  • National Association of Regional Councils, Representative Voting Member;
  • North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Dedicated to Education

I appreciate the importance of a strong education having put myself through school, graduating magna cum laude from college, with distinction in all subjects with two-year study as a City and Regional Planning major and two-year study in Government. Both my children attend public schools in Irving and I know the significance of a strong school system when deciding where to live.

As the past liaison to the Carrollton-Farmers Branch and Coppell School Districts, I’ve worked first hand with our local school boards to improve communications between the City and school districts, increase awareness of development plans and seek innovative partnerships to enhance the opportunities for all Irving children.