Member of Espoo's  Culture and Youth Committee
2025-2029
National Coalition Party

Thank you to all of those that supported me as a candidate in the Espoo City Council election in the spring of 2025.  Those votes, along with my experience with Espoo's youth, local politics and support from local National Coalition Party decision-makers, have led to my appointment to the new Kulttuuri ja Nuorisolautakunta for the next four years.   I look forward to this opportunity to serve our community.

Education. Well-Being. Employment.

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I am an American Finn. Born and raised in the U.S., I met my Finnish wife after university, and we moved our young family to Finland in 2008.  We quickly learned that Espoo was a great fit for us, so after learning Finnish and living here for several years, I enthusiastically became a dual Finnish-American citizen. I work in the Espoo school system and am fully engaged in the broader Espoo community as an educator, administrator and as a parent of two young adults.  In addition, getting involved with local politics has been an excellent way to learn how I can help to make Espoo a better place to live and work.​

 

For the past four years, I have been an active member of our city’s Youth Affairs sub-committee, a part of Espoo’s Growth and Learning Committee. As a reserve member of the council, I have also attended several Espoo Municipal Council meetings as a voting member.  It has been an honor to be an active part of our city’s leadership and decision-making.​

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Espoo is a wonderful place to live; it is both diverse and international, yet still proudly Finnish. It boasts both exceptional beauty and great opportunities for hobbies and civic life. So what can make Espoo even better?  I've learned that not all residents have had the same positive experiences living here that I have had.  In particular, many immigrants and non-native Finns feel that they have little influence on society.  This may lead to them not engaging in civic society, not voting in local elections, or not even being aware that they have the right to vote! 

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My campaign’s areas of focus are education, well-being and employment, and this website tells you more about my platform. Additionally, I have the overall goal of helping non-native citizens get more connected with civic society. With your help, I hope to use my background to continue to enable positive change in Espoo within these areas and more.   

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