Experience & Bio

Personal Bio

I was born and raised in Toledo, graduated from Whitmer High School, and moved to Pittsburgh to pursue my college education. There, I met my beloved wife, Danielle, and we have been happily married for ten years. In 2015, we relocated to Brook Park, where we first moved into our first home on Richard, then moved into our second home in Brook Park on Sylvia in 2019. Our family consists of our son, Thomas Franklin, whom we welcomed in 2020, and two adorable dogs, Bubba, and Tootsie.

I come from a strong working-class family. My grandfather on my father’s side was a coal miner, carpenter, bar owner, and former Mayor of Dacono, Colorado. He and several family members, and my father’s, mine, and my son’s namesake are memorialized at the Miners Memorial in Frederick, Colorado. My father, a veteran of the 173rd Airborne brigade in Vietnam, was a carpenter, a youth baseball coach, and an advisor to my high school’s carpentry program.

Before serving on City Council, I built a career in website development and digital strategy. As the owner of a small business, I’ve worked with startups, nonprofits, and small businesses across the country to design websites, build digital tools, and improve operations. I’ve also had the privilege of contributing to projects for the U.S. military, including work with a division of the U.S. Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, helping to collect data in support of emerging military technologies. That same entrepreneurial, problem-solving mindset drives the work I do today as a Councilman.

Since beginning serving as a member of Brook Park City Council in 2024, I’ve worked to bring a forward-thinking, service-driven approach to local government. I wrote legislation to modernize our street vendor rules, requiring vendors to clearly display permits — a commonsense move to help protect children and give parents peace of mind. I authored our city’s first ordinance regulating electric vehicle charging locations. I also introduced a resolution urging the Haslam Sports Group to consider a transformative $4 billion investment in our city — an effort to position Brook Park as a major player in the region’s future development.

As a councilman, I voted to authorize the largest road program in city history that didn’t rely on debt. I supported $1.8 million in repairs to the natatorium at the Recreation Center and voted for legislation limiting the overconcentration of vape shops, and car washes in our neighborhoods. I also backed the city’s purchase and planned demolition of the long-vacant BP gas station at Smith and Snow, a long-needed move to revitalize that key intersection.

Before I was on council I championed Brook Park’s partnership with DriveOhio and the Ohio Department of Transportation to help make our city a testing hub for smart mobility and autonomous vehicle technology — a step that could bring economic development, job opportunities, and innovation to our region. My previous service includes terms on the Citizen of the Year Committee, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Board of Directors for both the Rocky River Watershed Council and the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club.

In all that I do, I believe in building relationships, solving problems, and never losing sight of the people I represent. That’s why I’ve held multiple “office hours” sessions at local businesses to meet residents face-to-face and hear their concerns.

Today, I’m continuing to grow in my role as a public servant by pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Ohio University. Through my studies, I’m gaining deeper insight into public budgeting, policy development, and leadership — tools that will help me continue serving Brook Park with thoughtfulness, creativity, and accountability. I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far, but even more excited for what comes next. I believe in Brook Park, and I’ll keep showing up every day to help our city succeed.