Our community deserves leadership that combines compassion with competence. These are the issues I’ll champion from day one.

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Issue #1: Safety for all families

Every Person Deserves to Feel Safe in Our Community

Safety isn’t one-size-fits-all. It means different things to different families, and we need comprehensive approaches that work for everyone.

What Safety Means:

• Safe streets and neighborhoods where our children can play
• Safe schools where every student feels protected and supported
• Safe public spaces that welcome all community members
• Safety from discrimination and harassment
• Emergency preparedness that considers all residents

Cassi’s Commitment:

• Work with law enforcement, schools, and community organizations to develop safety strategies that build trust
• Ensure safety policies consider the needs of marginalized communities who face unique safety challenges
• Invest in community-led safety initiatives including neighborhood watch programs and youth engagement
• Create transparent reporting systems so residents can track safety concerns and responses
• Prioritize mental health crisis response and support services

As a mom, I think about safety every day. As an election judge and community leader, I know that real safety comes from building trust, not just enforcement. Everyone deserves to feel safe—no exceptions

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Issue #2: Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging

Building a Community Where Everyone Belongs and Thrives

True inclusion means actively creating spaces where every person can thrive, contribute, and feel valued. Our diversity is our strength, but only when everyone has a seat at the table and feels genuinely welcomed.

Why This Matters:

• Children thrive when they see themselves reflected in their community
• Diverse perspectives lead to better decision-making for everyone
• Inclusion in leadership creates policies that work for all residents
• Celebrating our differences strengthens our social fabric and economic vitality
• Belonging isn’t just a feeling—it’s a foundation for participation

What Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging Mean in Practice:

• Recognizing, learning, understanding, and celebrating different cultures, identities, traditions, experiences and abilities
• Ensuring representation in leadership and decision-making
• Creating accessible spaces for all 
• Supporting multiracial, LGBTQ+, and diverse family structures
• Removing language barriers and scheduling constraints
• Fostering interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue
• Creating culturally responsive services and programs

Cassi’s Commitment:

• Ensure community meetings and public processes are accessible to all, including those with disabilities, language barriers, and scheduling constraints
• Create advisory boards that truly reflect our community’s diversity
• Champion policies that support all family structures—multiracial, LGBTQ+, single-parent, multigenerational, and chosen family
• Support inclusive programming in schools and libraries that reflects and honors diverse cultures and identities all found in our own community 
• Remove barriers to participation for all individuals 
• Foster dialogue and understanding across different community groups
• Support local small businesses owned by people from underrepresented communities
• Stand firm against discrimination in all forms
• Create platforms for diverse voices to be heard in community planning

As co-lead of an Allyship Affinity Group, a neurodivergent person, and a member of a multiracial family raising biracial children, I’ve seen both the barriers and the possibilities. I know how important it is for our community to not only tolerate diversity, but to actively celebrate it. I’ll advocate relentlessly to make sure our community works for everyone—not just some of us. Every family deserves to feel at home here.

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Issue #3: Early Childhood Education

The foundation for lifelong success is built in the earliest years. Quality early childhood education isn’t a luxury—it’s an essential investment in our community’s future.

Why Early Childhood Education Matters:

• Brain development is most rapid from birth to age 5
• Quality early learning closes achievement gaps before they start
• Access to childcare enables parents to work and contribute to the economy
• Early intervention for developmental delays changes life trajectories
• Social-emotional learning in early years builds stronger communities

The Current Challenge:

• Many families face long waitlists for quality childcare and preschool
• Cost of care is prohibitive for many families
• Early childhood educators are underpaid and undervalued
• Not all programs are equipped to support diverse learners and abilities
• Access is uneven across different neighborhoods

Cassi’s Commitment:

• Expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education for all families
• Support early childhood educators through competitive wages and professional development
• Ensure programs are inclusive and equipped to support neurodivergent children and those with developmental delays
• Advocate for universal pre-K programs in our community
• Create partnerships between schools, childcare providers, and community organizations
• Prioritize early literacy and social-emotional learning
• Use data to identify childcare deserts and target investments where they’re needed most

As a mom and Chamber of Mothers co-facilitator, I’ve witnessed firsthand the struggles families face finding quality, affordable care. I’ve also seen the incredible difference early learning makes in children’s lives. Every child deserves a strong start—regardless of their family’s income or zip code.

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Issue #4: AI in Education

Preparing Students for a Changing World – Without Skipping the Basics

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how we work, learn, and solve problems. Our schools must thoughtfully integrate AI while maintaining what makes education fundamentally human—and ensuring students master the fundamentals first.

The Learning Foundation Principle:

Think about how a child learns to move: first they roll, then crawl, then walk, and finally run. You wouldn’t put a toddler on a bicycle before they can walk. The same principle applies to AI in education.

Students need to learn the fundamentals—how to write, calculate, research, think critically, and solve problems—*before* AI becomes a helpful assistant. Just like running is only possible because you learned to walk, using AI effectively only works if you understand the underlying skills.

Why Mastering the Basics Matters:

• You can’t evaluate AI’s output if you don’t understand the process yourself
• Critical thinking requires knowing how something works, not just getting an answer
• Problem-solving skills atrophy when we skip straight to AI assistance
• Students who learn the foundations can use AI as a tool; those who don’t become dependent on it
• Understanding the “why” behind concepts is essential—AI can’t teach that

The Opportunity & The Challenge:

• AI can personalize learning and help students practice skills they’ve learned
• Technology can help educators work more efficiently and focus on students’ individual needs
• Students need AI literacy skills for future careers but we must protect student privacy and data
• Technology cannot replace the foundational learning process
• There’s a difference between AI as a crutch and AI as a power tool

What Responsible AI in Education Looks Like:

• Roll: Master the basics without AI (handwriting, mental math, research skills, essay structure)
• Crawl: Practice with guided support and feedback from teachers
• Walk: Use AI as a tool for specific tasks *after* demonstrating competency
• Run: Leverage AI to enhance and accelerate work you already know how to do

Key Principles:

• AI as a tool to support teachers, not replace them
• Students must demonstrate mastery before using AI assistance
• Teaching students to use AI ethically and critically
• Protecting student data privacy and considering algorithmic fairness
• Ensuring equitable access so all students benefit
• Maintaining focus on social-emotional learning and creativity
• Preparing students to thrive in an AI-enabled world

Cassi’s Commitment:

• Establish clear grade-level guidelines for when and how AI can be used—students must demonstrate foundational skills first
• Create “AI-free zones” for learning core competencies (like learning multiplication tables before using a calculator)
• Develop policies that protect the learning process: students learn to write essays before AI helps them revise
• Ensure AI tools are vetted for bias and used equitably across all demographics
• Invest in professional development so educators can effectively guide appropriate AI use
• Teach students AI literacy—how to use it, question it, and understand its limitations and biases
• Protect against AI-enabled shortcut-taking while embracing legitimate uses after mastery
• Use AI to identify students who need additional support (early warning systems for attendance, engagement, achievement)
• Ensure special education services students and English Language Development (ELD) program students benefit from adaptive AI tools—but still build fundamental skills
• Create community conversations about AI in education—parents and educators should have a voice
• Track data on AI implementation to measure whether students are still developing core competencies

Balancing Innovation with Human Values:

• Technology should enhance, not replace, teacher-student relationships or the learning process
• Students must learn how to do things themselves before AI becomes an assistant
• Critical thinking and creativity matter more than ever in an AI world
• Social-emotional skills can’t be automated
• Access to technology must be equitable
• Understanding the fundamentals is non-negotiable

As someone who values both data-driven solutions and human connection, I believe AI has incredible potential—but only if we implement it thoughtfully. Just like you wouldn’t hand a child a bicycle before they learn to walk, we can’t give students AI tools before they master the basics. Our children need to learn how to think, write, calculate, and solve problems themselves first. Then—and only then—can AI become a powerful assistant rather than a crutch. They need to understand technology while flourishing in the creativity, critical thinking, and fundamental skills that make us human.

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Issue #5: Data-Driven Decision Making

Smart Governance Starts with Good Data

Feelings and anecdotes matter, but effective policy requires evidence. We need leaders who make decisions based on data, measure outcomes, and adjust when something isn’t working.

Why Data Matters:

• Limited resources require strategic, evidence-based allocation
• Data reveals disparities and helps target interventions where they’re needed most
• Tracking outcomes ensures accountability
• Transparent data builds public trust

Cassi’s Commitment:

• Establish clear metrics for success in all major initiatives
• Make data publicly accessible in easy-to-understand formats
• Use analysis to understand how policies affect different groups
• Create feedback loops so community input shapes policy
• Be transparent about what’s working and what isn’t

Data-Driven Priorities I’ll Champion:

• Track safety incident patterns to deploy resources effectively
• Monitor student outcomes across demographics to ensure equity
• Analyze budget impacts before and after policy changes
• Use data to evaluate program effectiveness, not just inputs

Good intentions aren’t enough. I believe in setting measurable goals, tracking progress, and being honest about results. Data helps us focus on solutions that actually work—not just what sounds good.

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How These Issues Connect

Safety, inclusion, early childhood education, AI, and data-driven decision making aren’t separate silos—they reinforce each other:

• Data reveals where safety concerns are concentrated, which neighborhoods lack early childhood programs, and how AI tools are performing across different student groups
• Inclusion ensures that diverse perspectives shape safety strategies, education policies, and technology decisions
• Early childhood education builds the foundation for students to thrive with new technologies and become engaged community members
• Thoughtful AI implementation can personalize learning for diverse learners and help identify students who need support
• Safety and belonging enable children to focus on learning and families to fully participate in community life

I bring both lived experience as a mom, neurodivergent person, and community leader—plus a commitment to evidence-based solutions. Together, we can build a community that works for everyone.

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