What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. We’re proud of where we’ve been and even more excited for what’s ahead.

• Over 20 years working in public service.

• Founder and owner of Reluctant Cynic Legal Services, a public interest law firm helping people who work for the public good

Legislative and Government

Constituent Services Director. Helped establish and led a team of five constituent service professionals dedicated to ensuring that all Oregonians received full, fair, and timely service from their government – whether state, federal, or local

• Investigated and corrected a procedural error in how the State of Oregon awarded SNAP (food assistance) benefits to financial struggling veterans allowing about 8,000 veterans living below the poverty line receive the benefits they deserved

• Helped several hundred Social Security recipients who were left abandoned when their representative payee was investigated for financial malfeasance

• Worked with approximately 1,200 people each year by listening to and understanding their complaints, and helping them get pissed off at the right people

• Visited all 36 counties in Oregon at least three times

State Counsel. Acted as in-house legal advisor for stateside staff assisting people and businesses all over the state

• Helped the City of Condon successfully appeal and receive an award of several million dollars in energy efficiency grants

• Developed opportunities for stakeholders in Eastern and Central Oregon to address and curtail a rogue strain of genetically engineered creeping bentgrass that had escaped into the wild

• Helped small, regional airports successfully engage with the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)

• Supported legislative and political analyses of Senate bills related to reforming the patent system, improving online security and privacy, regulating genetically modified foods, and ensuring that financially struggling people receive proper legal representation when applying for government benefits

Science and Technology Policy Analyst. Worked with a federal contractor working for various agencies of the federal government.

Work and Volunteer

Regional Campaign Manager for the No on 13 Campaign (1994) covering Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties

Speaker during the No on 9 Campaign (2000), attending almost 100 house parties that raised just under $125,000 (in total); also debated Scott Lively, Lon Mabon, and other representatives of the opposition

Campaign Manager for Jerry Rust for Senate (1996)

Campaign Manager for Mike Delman for Multnomah County (2008)

Served as Deputy Research Director and Tracker during Sen. Jeff Merkley’s first campaign for U.S. Senate

Served as General Counsel for Delta Lambda Phi, the oldest and largest collegiate fraternity for queer men and led the fraternity’s efforts to revise its membership policies to specifically include transgender men

Director, Basic Rights Oregon

Director, Portland Area Business Association

Director and Secretary, Friends of Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery

Director, Dreaming America

Personal

Native Midwesterner (Central Illinois and Boone County Nebraska)

Attended Oregon State University earning a B.S. in Biology and an M.S. in Genetics

Attended the University of Oregon School of Law

Founded the Order of the Platypus for any alumni of both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon