My first campaign for public office was in 2017 for Cook County Commissioner in the 12th District. I grew up in Edgebrook, on the northwest side of Chicago. In 1994, I graduated from The University of Dayton, with a degree in environmental engineering, and a minor in industrial engineering. From 1994 through 1996, I served in the United States Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa in natural resource management. While living in a mud hut, with no running water or electricity, I learned how to speak Bambara, develop relationships with those in my village, and work on projects that were important to the community. After supporting projects that were important to the village, they embraced projects that were important to me. I'm proud to continue that service in this role as County Commissioner. The Cook County Board makes important decisions in our everyday lives, specifically on healthcare and hospital services, forest preserves and green spaces, and roads and infrastructure. It’s imperative that the Board’s Commissioners develop credible revenue generation proposals to maintain critical services. My priority continues to focus on revenue generation without placing an undue burden on citizens or services. With a funded budget, Cook County Healthcare systems and jobs will be maintained. Other priorities include crime reduction while supporting mental health programs at Cook County Hospitals and clinics, and environmental conservation with an emphasis on greenhouse gas reduction. The County's budget of almost $10B is largely dedicated to public health with the County hospital system, and public safety with the sheriff's office and judicial system. I welcome community outreach and look forward to supporting Cook County during my term.

As the Deputy Director of Medical Cannabis at IDFPR since 2013, I've worked diligently to establish a strong and credible statewide program for the medicinal use of cannabis. My primary focus has been on patient safety and regulating cannabis as medicine. In the implementation of Illinois’ program, I have screened and selected dispensing organizations, developed rules governing dispensary operation and framed policy and best dispensary practices. I have organized and staffed the IDFPR team, I regularly meet with concerned stakeholders, monitor legislation and communicate across six state agencies. While much of our work involves continued development of the program, prioritizing urgent matters, developing program technology and crafting policy, equally important is my ability to listen to criticism and accept new ideas.

As Deputy General Counsel of the Illinois Department of Public Health, I served as the Department’s primary attorney directing litigation to bring health access programs like hospitals and long term care facilities back into regulatory compliance. I managed the Department’s litigation staff, counseled the Department on personnel and HR-related policies and procedures; and represented the Department in federal court on labor, employment, personnel and HR related matters. Because a legal department only functions well when questions are brought to it before they become problems, I spent every day multi-tasking to support all corners of the agency including environmental health, emergency preparedness and health care regulation. I worked easily together with the Department’s Deputy Directors, assisting with the enactment and promulgation of health-related regulations, advising on contracts and suggesting alternative courses. During my tenure, I participated as legal liaison to multiple health care boards on behalf of the OGC. Equally important, I also coordinated on public health initiatives such as smoke-free living and the advancement of a healthy and safely built environment.

My practice at Segal McCambridge primarily included complex litigation and regulatory compliance. I successfully defended clients in matters involving environmental law; warranty law specific to product recall, factory and extended warranty; product liability; mass tort; commercial disputes and insurance coverage claims. Through my years of practice at Segal McCambridge, I litigated cases in state and federal trial courts and with the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation. While serving on a national coordinating counsel and trial counsel team for a major equipment manufacturer, I defended tort cases throughout the nation. I supervised law firms that served as local counsels in 12 states. As first and second-chair on over a dozen trials that went to verdict, I have the trial experience essential for any skilled litigator. My strengths lie in detailed, clear and concise written articulation of the facts and law, and an ability to negotiate matters using creativity while isolating the key points specific to each case.