Dear friends,

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To say the last week has been chaotic is an understatement. I was caught off guard by the resignation of our Council President, and less than an hour later learned that our beloved downtown symbol of progress and Pride was to be erased. The fallout from both situations has consumed most of my time. Regarding the former, I genuinely had no knowledge of the circumstances that led to his resignation and found out with everyone else. As for the latter, on Monday I witnessed a disheartening display of anger and resentment from our Mayor in response to the consequences of his own choices. I’ve also hugged friends in comfort and held my ground on issues that matter deeply to me. The range of thoughts and emotions I’ve experienced since Friday is wider than words can express.

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I’ve become pretty good at rolling with life’s punches and getting back up to fight again. So now, I’m asking you to trust me as I make a big decision.

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After much reflection and many conversations with my closest supporters, I’ve decided to suspend my campaign for County Executive. When I chose to enter the race, I believed we had a strong council that could carry the city through manufactured crises and erratic executive leadership, even when we didn’t always agree.

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Unfortunately, the events of this past week have changed that. I’ve wrestled with this decision, but my commitment has always been to the people of Salisbury first. Right now, my city needs me here. My focus will be on rebuilding confidence in our council, ensuring transparency, and fighting for the fair and responsible leadership our residents deserve.

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I know this decision will bring relief to some and disappointment to others. My hope is that those who have placed their trust in me will continue to offer me their grace. We cannot organize and win elections next year in Wicomico County if our city is in shambles. More than anything, I want to see our city not just survive but thrive. We have so much work ahead, and it will only get better when we all come together.

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With gratitude,

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