How I dealt with Evections?
One of my campaign pillars is communication. I’ve seen it work—and I’ve lived it myself. When people talk openly with their landlord and explain their situation honestly, it can change everything. Most landlords don’t want conflict; they want solutions. When someone shows they’re trying, willing to listen, and ready to make things right, doors often open that seemed closed.
I remember receiving my first three-day notice to vacate. I was scared and overwhelmed, so I reached out to friends for advice. When they found out who my landlord was, they all groaned. She had a reputation as the toughest landlord in Amarillo. Still, I had no choice. I walked into her office, heart pounding, and told the truth. I explained that I didn’t have the money at that moment, but I was willing to do whatever I could to fix the situation.
To my surprise, she listened. Instead of shutting the door, she was open to a mutual resolution.
That experience stayed with me.
As your Justice of the Peace, I am committed to helping people communicate before situations spiral out of control. That means encouraging honest conversation, helping tenants and landlords understand each other, and—when needed—connecting people with community resources. Whether it’s budgeting guidance, third-party mediation, or local assistance programs, help should be accessible before eviction becomes the only option.
I approach this role the same way I approached my own hardest moments: with honesty, respect, and a belief that most problems can be solved when people are willing to talk.
Truancy should be addressed as a symptom, not merely an offense.
By the time a truancy case reaches the courtroom, the system has already failed the child. Educators have shared that the average student referred to court has missed close to 100 instructional hours. At that stage, judicial discretion is limited by statute. While I will always be faithful to the law—applying it with fairness, consistency, and prudence—the court itself is inherently reactive.
My approach as Justice of the Peace is grounded in prevention and early intervention.
Chronic truancy often reflects deeper challenges, including but not limited to:
Lack of reliable transportation
Single parents or guardians working multiple jobs
Food insecurity and inadequate nutrition affecting focus and energy
Unstable housing or overcrowded living conditions
Family trauma or unresolved mental health concerns
Bullying, whether at school or within the home
Limited access to supportive services, mentorship, or positive role models
I see truancy as a warning sign, not the root problem. The question should not be “How do we punish?” but rather “What barrier is preventing this child from succeeding?”
As a longtime community coach my perspective is informed not by setting on the bench, but by direct, hands-on experience. Through my work as a substitute teacher with ASID, a volunteer mentor, and currently coaching at Maverick Club. I have worked directly with students and families facing these challenges. This experience gives me a strong sense of both what drives truancy and how to get a handle on it before it escalates to court involvement.
As your Justice of the Peace, I will actively seek to build bridges—between schools, parents, and community resources—before a child ever enters a courtroom. This includes supporting attendance intervention efforts, encouraging early communication, and connecting families with services related to transportation, nutrition, counseling, and family support.
The court should be a last resort, not the first response. When judicial involvement is necessary, it should be constructive, solution-focused, and aimed at restoring stability rather than compounding hardship. By supporting teachers, empowering parents, and addressing the root causes affecting children, we can reduce truancy, strengthen families, and improve educational outcomes—proactively, not reactive.
Inquests should be approached not merely as legal proceedings, but as an opportunity to serve with compassion, dignity, and integrity.
During my seven years as an ER Trauma Chaplain at NWTH, I witnessed firsthand how profoundly death affects families—regardless of how close or estranged those relationships may have been. I stood with people in the most painful moments of their lives, often with no ability to change the outcome, only the responsibility to grieve alongside them. In those moments, I learned to be a calm presence and a steady voice, helping families navigate decisions no one ever wants to face, often under immense emotional pressure and limited time.
That experience taught me that once the legal process is complete, the true work of a Justice of the Peace begins. It is then that families need stability, clarity, and reassurance as they begin to move forward. A JP must not only uphold the law, but also help restore a sense of order, purpose, and humanity to those left behind.
As a pastor, I am deeply grounded in an understanding of life, loss, and hope beyond death. I will bring that perspective—along with experience, compassion, and sound judgment—to the office of Potter County Justice of the Peace, Precinct One.