I was born in Tomball 27 years ago and have lived in the area for most of my life. My family didn’t have much when I was growing up, usually we were lucky just to keep the lights on. As the youngest of three boys born to parents who worked too hard for too little pay, I always knew that we were one missed paycheck away from homelessness. For many families, including mine, there was nothing to do but rely on credit, dig a deeper hole, and hope for a miracle. Unlike some in this race, I feel the cost of living crisis personally, and will dedicate every waking hour to fixing it.

I appreciate that Houston is made up of residents from all across the country and around the globe. I’ve lived with and around people of all stripes, all languages, all nationalities, and have become a better person because of it. Community is at the core of who I am. From middle school all the way to my first years in college, I pursued theatre, which helped me grow my appreciation for community and how each person’s individual strengths can create a stronger whole. I was able to experience and study stories from other cultures, which grew my worldview and taught me the importance of considering perspectives other than my own. When I changed my major to accounting, I didn’t have the means to finish my degree. This, along with my childhood, inspired my fight for not just free higher education, but for higher wages and stronger unions, too.

Like many Houston households, my family has faced hardships in the last few years. Including, but not limited to, my oldest brother’s battle with cancer. We are a tight knit bunch, and sacrifice for each other. Like many Americans we have struggled with the weight of healthcare coverage and medical bills and I understand firsthand the cruelty of the profit driven, private healthcare system. Every day sick people are forced to jump through hoops to receive the care they need. The only way to end this cruelty is for every Texan family to receive free universal healthcare so that families like yours and mine can receive the care they deserve as a human right. 

Everything I do and believe is for the betterment of others. I’m a vegan because I believe in animal rights and a healthy environment, I’m a cyclist because I believe in human-centric infrastructure, I’m a musician because I believe that music is a universal language, and I’m a democratic socialist because I believe that we all deserve to live with dignity!

I promise to continue to fight the corruption of our healthcare system, our political system, and our country as a whole. I am the only candidate running in this race to fight for you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and a better future for all.