Because it affects nearly everything else — who can afford to live here, whether our workforce can live near where they work, and whether Port Hueneme stays a community with real economic diversity rather than becoming a place only certain residents can afford to call home. In my view, it's the largest issue facing both Port Hueneme and Ventura County as a whole.

One concrete example: I'd like to explore making our beach more physically accessible to residents with disabilities, looking at models from other coastal communities that have done this well. Port Hueneme's beach is one of our greatest assets, and it should be genuinely usable by everyone in our community.

Directly. I'd advocate for lowering barriers to entry for local businesses and creatives — including organized, safe street vending, and incentives for busking and street performance — so that live arts and culture are part of everyday life in Port Hueneme, rather than something residents have to travel elsewhere, and pay premium prices, to experience.

Cities have more control than people often assume — through zoning, permitting speed, and how proactively we plan for a range of housing types. I don't think a councilmember can single-handedly solve regional housing costs, but a city council absolutely shapes whether Port Hueneme itself makes room for a genuine range of housing.

It starts with an honest look at our current zoning and permitting processes, identifying where we're unintentionally limiting the range of housing types that can be built, and being willing to make changes that support that full range — not just the type of housing that's easiest or most profitable to build.

An important one. I want Port Hueneme to be a community where people of every age, ability, income level, and background feel genuinely welcome and included — that shows up in how we plan housing, how accessible our public spaces are, and how easy it is for anyone to participate in the economic and cultural life of the city.