I believe the best leaders are in a constant state of learning and soliciting input. I pride myself on being a people person. I will work hard to ensure that I’m hearing from residents about how the office is performing and what it can do better.  When I’ve told people that I’m running for City Controller, I can’t count how many times they’ve responded: “That’s great! What exactly does the Controller do?” People need to know it’s one of the most critical roles in any government. It ensures that their taxpayer dollars aren’t being wasted, and that there are checks and balances at every level of city government: fiscal and operating. 

Taxpayers should be aware of where their tax dollars are going and know there is someone out there to protect them. To that end, I will begin my administration by hosting listening tours throughout the city, to hear from people directly which issues they’re most concerned about. During my time with the county, I made community input a priority, and it paid dividends. For example, I organized a series of forums and petitions about the proposed split between UPMC and Highmark. We heard from residents across the county who were in danger of losing doctors for persistent illnesses that had been treating them for decades. The healthcare insurance system was failing them and the matter was, in many cases, life or death. The findings were included as evidence presented by Attorney General Josh Shapiro as part of the settlement he brokered between the local health care giants, allowing people to continue to be treated by their providers regardless of health insurance carrier. All of these efforts are also currently featured in the documentary “Inhospitable.”