I’ve always believed that honesty and transparency are the foundation of public service. That’s the kind of leadership I stand for and it is what I believe in. In the interest of transparency, I want to address something I've discussed previously, but in a more public way. I fully expect Brenton Davis to twist the facts in an attempt to discredit me and Erie County voters deserve the truth.

In 2021, there was a misunderstanding between me and a neighboring business owner I considered a friend. I had a key to both businesses and we shared a common storage space. We were friends, having supported her business financially, including a check for $1,000 to help her stay open, and paid for her trash and lighting when things got tight because I wanted to help a friend. One night I took a small pint of ice cream using our shared space, thinking nothing of it as we often shared food with one another. As a result of that action, I received a summary offense, a similar classification to a traffic ticket, and had to pay a $50 fine. I accepted the consequences, and moved on.

Those are the facts, that’s the story, and I am happy to talk about my past with anyone who has questions.

I’m sharing this experience because I expect Brenton Davis to turn it into something it’s not. He will run attack ads, twist the truth, and try to smear my character with lies. He’ll try to paint me as someone I’m not – all over a couple dollars worth of ice cream.

Brenton Davis isn’t interested in facts; he’s interested in distractions. He’s hoping that if he throws enough mud, people will stop paying attention to his record because he doesn’t want to talk about what really matters. He’s not interested in the truth. He is hoping to distract voters from that record: millions wasted, lawsuits piling up, tax increases, and morale at an all-time low in county government.

No one’s perfect. But I tell the truth, take responsibility, and focus on practical solutions. Erie County deserves better than political games. And when the attack ads come — as they will — I trust voters to see through them and decide for themselves who they can count on. And if Brenton Davis really wants to compare court documents, I am more than happy to do so.