Husband, Father, Business Owner, Bellingham-local

I am a sixth-generation resident of Bellingham and am proud to say that I am raising my family with my wife, Brittany, in my hometown, where I also own and operate a construction company, Volonta Corporation—specializing in residential, in-fill housing, and commercial projects in Whatcom, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties. I have enjoyed working with numerous great clients and successfully completing many projects over the last two decades.

After wrestling competitively for the Washington State National team and Central Washington University, I started coaching youth freestyle programs for Bellingham's Sons of Thunder wrestling club in 2006. Recently, I became active in coaching again when my oldest daughter expressed interest in the fast-growing sport of women's wrestling. I have volunteered with local programs and continued to assist my daughter with college wrestling at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana.

Bellingham Home Fund Review Board, Building Industry Association of Whatcom County

As an expert in construction with a strong interest in economics, I have contributed to the Bellingham Home Fund Review Board by partnering with the City of Bellingham to oversee housing and service initiatives that leverage our local housing levy and federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) financing to provide affordable housing and supportive services for individuals with very low incomes. Furthermore, I have contributed to the Community Development Advisory Board, which involves many activities. I also served on the small loan review board, a technical committee focusing on specific projects, project proposals, budgets, and staff underwriting and review.

I have also served on the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County board. In this capacity, I provided policy direction and guidance to staff to implement programs that support the construction industry in Whatcom County.

Bellingham Planning Commission, Bellingham Public School Volunteer, BEATS Program, Sons of Thunder Wrestling, Bellingham Girls United Wrestling

I am passionate about community service and have served on various boards and commissions. Mayor Kelli Linville appointed me as a City of Bellingham Planning Commissioner for two terms. During that time, the Planning Commission reviewed and updated our 2016 Comprehensive Plan, our Waterfront Master Plan, and plans for Fairhaven, Old Town, and the Fountain District Urban Village.

Empowering our youth through meaningful leadership is crucial for the success of our community. I have volunteered with the Bellingham Public Schools and BEATS Program. This program is dedicated to mentoring students in a community learning environment. It is funded by the 21st Century Learning Grant, which supports creating academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours.

Independent, non-partisan

Bellingham is nicknamed the city of subdued excitement. Still, for those of us living here, our passion and opinion regarding the future of our city are anything but subdued. A trend that I have noticed in Bellingham politics has been as voters' viewpoints have become more similar, politicians have responded by emphasizing their conformance to prevailing values rather than an ability to implement policy successfully. I value critical thinking and open-mindedness over allegiance to a political party. As a community member and public servant, I seek diverse perspectives and actively participate in informed discussions based on emergent needs and sound evidence.