These past eight years have been an incredible journey for me and my family as I’ve had the privilege of serving as a Sparks City Councilman and representing our community on various regional boards. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the citizens of Sparks for entrusting me with this opportunity to serve on city, regional, state, and national levels. As this season of being a councilman has come to a close, it has opened the door to a new season of serving and caring for the people around me.

Some may believe that leadership can only happen with a title, but I’ve learned that’s far from the truth. As long as you have breath in your lungs, each day is an opportunity to shape lives, create change, and make the world better for someone. Many have asked what I’ll do next and whether I’ll run for office again. The truth is, I don’t know what the future holds. But for today, I’m following my own advice: I’m focusing on loving and uplifting those I encounter.

Of course, it was disappointing not to win the last election. I had many hopes and ideas for the next four years as a Sparks City Councilman. My prayer is that my colleagues and the newly elected leaders approach their roles with integrity and embody what true leadership looks like. Leadership doesn’t have to divide families or friends or turn negative; great leaders find ways to bring people together. In my time serving this region, I’ve had the honor of working alongside some incredible leaders, many of who I now call friend, and I know they’ll continue to guide us wisely.

As the city moves forward, I hope the elected body will prioritize our seniors. These individuals paved the way for the rest of us, and their needs must remain central, even amid budgetary challenges. There will undoubtedly be tough decisions ahead but ensuring that seniors feel valued and supported should always be a priority.

One of the most difficult parts of the past campaign was addressing questions about my sincerity toward caring for veterans. This was deeply personal, as supporting veterans has always been a priority for me, whether through memorials, chaplaincy, helping to stop veteran’s suicide or simple acts of friendship. That commitment won’t change—whether I hold office or not, I’ll continue to advocate for and support the veteran population.

To those reading this, whether you live in Sparks, Reno, or Washoe County, I hope this message challenges and inspires you. Each of us has a role to play in helping the most vulnerable, standing for truth, making small but meaningful gestures like picking up litter, offering encouragement, or showing kindness to a stranger. Even without a title, we all have the power to lead by example and make our communities better.