We are at a critical moment in Sacramento’s history. Over the next few years our City Council will shape the future of our city, our communities, and our neighborhoods. I am running for city council for the people, to bring a forward-looking perspective and fresh new ideas to district 2.
When I talk with the people of district 2, many tell me that they are afraid to let their kids play in the park, afraid to walk along the sidewalks, embarrassed to invite family members and friends to their homes, and that they have no hope or trust in city hall. I have seen firsthand that the city is not going directly to the people proactively. I will change this.
Having had the opportunity to work for the city, county, mayor and council, I have a wide perspective and understanding of our governance structure, policies, and the intersection to the needs of our community. I have the ability to play both inside and outside baseball. I have the skills and experience to connect various segments of our community to discover shared objectives and work together towards finding innovative yet attainable solutions.
I’m a leader, I listen, I am connected to our community, I bring an all-embracing community perspective. I am running for Sacramento City Council to bring the voice of our district 2 residents alive!
Why I’m Running
I've dedicated my career to being a public servant...initially by accident, but now intentionally.
Early Life
Growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Akron Ohio, and later moving to South Sacramento, Veronica comes from humble beginnings. After her parents divorced when Veronica was just 3 years old, she watched her mother do what she had to do to care for and provide for her and her two older sisters. While neither of Veronica’s parents were active in politics, they actively served their community through the church.
Veronica gets her quiet yet impactful demeanor from her mom who was born and raised in Bay Minette, Alabama, and her entrepreneurial competitive side from her father who was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Splitting time between families early on and later spending very little time with her father at all, while watching her mother strive to provide for three girls without complaining is what sparked Veronica’s flame and drive for success, self-determination, self-sufficiency.
How it Began
In Veronica’s junior year of high school, she was exposed to the Regional Occupational Program. During this time, she was afforded the opportunity to intern at the Elk Grove Unified School District Office, Career and Vocational Education Division. It was here that she learned the importance of mentorship, and the power of higher education.
After graduating high school, Veronica went on to Sacramento State to study Business where during this time she married, started a family, and launched her first retail business. After college, Veronica started her career with the County of Sacramento Office of Military Base Conversion and Economic Development.
This is where Veronica’s love for community and economic development was birthed, and her life of public service officially began.
Overcoming Adversity
During Veronica’s tenure with the County of Sacramento she would be exposed to many barriers and bias in the workplace. This is when she realized that having a bachelor’s degree would only take her so far. After giving birth to her son, she decided to enroll into the MBA program at National University while also expanding her retail business and purchasing an investment property outside of California. Shortly after embarking on these things Veronica’s marriage came to an end and she found herself a single mother. This was followed by the death of her father and the hard decision to walk away from her business.
In 2013, she joined the City of Sacramento Economic Development Department. During this time she had the opportunity to work directly with Councilmember Allen Warren and Mayor Kevin Johnson. While working for the City, this opened Veronica’s eyes to the myriad of issues taking place in neighborhoods and communities. She would also be exposed to the flaws of City Hall and the breakdown between the policy side of the house versus the administration and implementation side of the house.
Through the relationships and connections made during her time with the city, Veronica was afforded the opportunity to leave the City of Sacramento in 2018 and begin working for herself as a community and economic development consultant and strategist.
Why District 2
First and foremost, community is not a place, a building, or an organization. Community is both a feeling and a set of relationships among people. People form and maintain communities to meet common needs and to share common experiences. I live here. I fellowship here. I worship here. My family and friends are here. District 2 is my community. This is home for me!
I have managed to evade running for elected office for quite some time now, but after 20 years of public service, with 10 of these years including working in district 2, now is the time for me to step up and run. I share lived experience with many in my community – from losing family to gun violence and the war on drugs, to trying to help family members that are suffering with mental illness, alcohol abuse, and homelessness – including my own father. I relate firsthand to the small business whose storefront has been vandalized, robbed, gifted with feces at the doorstep upon arriving to open, and an occasional unhoused person sleeping in my doorway. I have made the call to 311 and to my elected official to report issues in my neighborhood. I know all too well the feeling of feeling like my voice does not matter.
Why Now
I bring with me to this campaign two decades of work experience serving the residents of Sacramento and District 2 – in policy, political, public, private, and non-profit roles. This experience means that I also bring with me significant working, and personal, relationships with many of our leaders here in the Sacramento region and state of California. These relationships will assist me in working with our neighbors to address many of the major issues we face – issues that require regional collaboration, state, and federal dollars such as addressing our infrastructure, parks, housing, and transportation needs.
My professional experience provides me with the skills needed to reach out to, listen to, and engage with a diverse set of community members. I believe that it is this experience that is my greatest strength and distinguishes me from my opponents in this race. And I’m so excited about the possibility of getting to put these skills, experience, and relationships to work on behalf of District 2 residents.
I’m very proud of the broad and diverse coalition of supporters we have been able to assemble for my campaign for City Council – supporters who come from a wide variety of perspectives. I have support from the faith community, from lifelong residents, from grassroots leaders, from Democrats, and Republicans. Because I’ve found that, when it comes to local issues, we all want the same thing for our families: to live in a safe community with a high quality of life.
It would be an incredible honor to serve the residents of District 2, on the Sacramento City Council. If you live in District 2, I hope I can earn your vote on March 5, 2024.
