Tahoe’s Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That a town exists first to serve the people who call it home.
That all residents: teachers, nurses, firefighters, mechanics, hospitality workers, contractors, and small business owners deserve the opportunity to build their lives here.
That prosperity without community is not progress.
That South Lake Tahoe should chart its own course, not by imitating Aspen or Jackson Hole, but by preserving what has always made this place different.
That government exists to serve the people who live here, not distant corporate interests.
We declare our independence from the idea that every successful mountain town must become an exclusive resort town.
We reject the false choice between a strong tourism economy and a thriving local community.
We choose a different future. We choose South Lake Tahoe.
Where Does Tourism Fit?
Tourism has always been part of Tahoe, and it always will be. Visitors support local businesses, create jobs, and help sustain our economy. I welcome people who come here to enjoy this remarkable place.
But the purpose of city government is not to maximize the visitor experience at the expense of the people who actually live here.
Our roads, parks, neighborhoods, housing policies, and public safety decisions should first serve the families, workers, retirees, and business owners who call South Lake Tahoe home. A vibrant and funky small town community is what makes South Lake Tahoe worth visiting in the first place.
Protecting What Makes Tahoe Different
What we have in South Lake Tahoe is increasingly rare.
We are still a community where everyone regardless of your job, background, age, or politics can build lives alongside one another. Families know their neighbors, kids grow up together, volunteers coach youth sports and maintain trails, and people still shovel each other’s driveways after a snowstorm.
Many mountain towns have become communities where only the wealthy can afford to live. I don't want South Lake Tahoe to follow that path.
I want my children and yours to grow up in a town that values community over exclusivity and neighbors over the newest McMansion vacation rental.
Housing That Works for Residents
Tourism contributes to our economy, but it also creates real pressure on housing.
When too many homes become investment properties instead of family homes, it becomes harder for teachers, nurses, young families, and local workers to stay here. That weakens the very community that makes South Lake Tahoe special.
I'm not interested in punishing second-home owners, and I'm not proposing to eliminate vacation rentals. They are part of our economy.
Instead, I support practical policies that help local residents put down roots, including:
✓ Expanding local homebuyer assistance programs.
✓ Streamlining the construction of ADUs and thoughtfully planned higher-density housing.
✓ Exploring deed-restricted housing that keeps homes affordable for working local families.
✓ Preserving voter-approved tools that allow our community to responsibly manage short-term rentals.
These aren't anti-tourism policies. They are pro-community policies.
The Tahoe I Believe In
South Lake Tahoe isn't Aspen. It isn't Vail. It isn't Jackson Hole.
We are a middle-class mountain town where people work hard, shovel out neighborhood fire hydrants, volunteer in their schools, pick up litter that isn't theirs, and keep an eye on each other's kids.
That's not something to apologize for.
It's something worth protecting.
If elected, I'll work every day to make sure South Lake Tahoe remains a place where families can afford to live, local businesses can thrive, and future generations can enjoy the same community that has given so much to my own family.