The RB Landmark sent questionnaires to each person running for public office in 2025. The Landmark’s questions are in bold and the candidate’s responses are below.
Political experience
This is my first attempt at public elected office.
Community experience
I moved to Brookfield in 2023 and am excited to get involved. In the past, I’ve served on professional boards and a range of service committees at work.
How do you view the library’s role as a “third space” in Brookfield? What can it do better in that regard?
When my family moved to Brookfield in 2023, the library was the first place outside of home/work/school where myself, my wife, and my daughter could meet neighbors, learn, play, relax, and get information about the community. Personally, I was immediately attracted to the Maker Space, where Alan helped demonstrate how libraries generally and Brookfield Library in particular must adapt to the needs and interests of the community. I know lots of remote workers who regularly use the library and I really value that there is a social and supervised ‘third space’ for youth to gather to play video and role playing games.
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
Over the last year, I’ve personally become a huge fan of Maker Space and the presence of the Title Wave library bike at the Farmer’s Market and monthly Brookfield Cycle Slow Rides, but what really stands out to me is the care and dedication of the library staff. As a parent of an 11 year old avid reader and emerging writer of children’s scary stories and sci-fi/horror, I am enormously grateful for the team of children’s librarians who have taken the time to get to know my daughter, patiently listen to her interests and stories, provide abundant recommendations and inspiration. Their work inspires me and I want to do anything I’m able to support them serve our community.
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
My first encounter with the Brookfield Public Library was during their annual Banned Book week, when I was working in a local cafe and one of the librarians came in informing customers about the banned book issue and handing out free copies of titles that had been banned in various places. I strongly support first Amendment freedom of speech and oppose attempts to censor and control American citizens through the banning of books, especially in educational settings. I believe the Brookfield Library’s participation in the national Banned Book Week event encourages informed consumers of information, critical consciousness, and respectful awareness of differences in experience, ideology, and opinion.
What is the biggest challenge facing the library?
One of the biggest challenges facing Brookfield and other public libraries relates to large scale social changes to information technologies and increasingly polarized political discourse. Personally, I’m concerned about youth media literacy and the need to enhance critical analysis of political content disseminated via Tiktok or podcasts or generated by AI. I believe Brookfield Library has an excellent opportunity to support youth to be engaged, thoughtful citizens.
How does the library balance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
By examining the Library’s public records and meeting with library staff and current Trustees, I’m very impressed by their high level of fiscal responsibility and planning, where revenue from local taxes are carefully spent and saved to fund capital projects. I appreciate the current staff and Board of Trustees’ financially conservative and methodical approach to growth and expansion, which includes building and maintaining long-term relationships with the Library’s neighbors and the Village.
Please add final thoughts not covered in this questionnaire. These responses may appear online.
I am honored to have this opportunity to run for Brookfield Library Board of Trustees. Thank you.