Thoughtful Leadership for Douglas County
It is an honor to serve the people of Douglas County as your County Commissioner. Throughout my career as an educator, community leader, and public servant, I have trusted that our best opportunities come from bringing people together, listening carefully, and finding common ground.
Working alongside residents, community partners, and local governments, we have made real progress on housing, behavioral health, public safety, economic opportunity, and planning for the future. Let's keep working together to build a more vibrant Douglas County where everyone can thrive.
Together, we have . . .
- Expanded supportive and affordable housing - Through our "braided-funding" approach, layering federal grants, state programs, and private donors alongside city-county partnerships, we are moving forward with 221 new supportive housing units. This is 60% of the total community need identified in the comprehensive 2022 Supportive Housing Needs Assessment.
- Invested in behavioral health and crisis response - Our comprehensive, integrated approach to mental health crisis care has positioned us as a leader in keeping individuals stable in the community. Today, 81% of mental health calls transferred from 911 to local crisis counselors are resolved safely over the phone, helping people get the care they need while avoiding expensive emergency services.
- Improved public safety while protecting taxpayers - We completed critical public safety upgrades, including renovations to the Judicial Law Enforcement Center and the new Douglas County Public Safety Building, without taking on expensive debt, saving taxpayers millions. At the same time, we expanded ambulance services and have reduced the county mill levy each of the last four years.
- Supported our seniors and veterans - Recognizing the challenges that rising property values pose for those on fixed incomes, we set aside $500,000 from fund balances to provide tax rebates to low-income seniors and veterans. We also integrated Douglas County Senior Services as a county department, ensuring long-term stability of safety-net services for our older neighbors.
- Safeguarded natural resources while planning for responsible growth - We adopted the Douglas County Open Space Plan, a shared vision and guidance for conservation and collaboration. By working together, we can support both environmental stewardship and a strong local economy.