I’ve practiced cardiology for 36 years, but I first got into public service 17 years ago because of something that happened in my exam room.

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A patient of mine broke down in tears during a visit. He was a 55-year-old man who had just been laid off from Dan River Mills after working there for 30 years. He had done the same job in the same part of the plant his entire adult life. Suddenly that job was gone, and he had no idea how he was going to make a living. He was too young to retire, but he feared no one would hire or retrain a 55-year-old mill worker.

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I treated his hypertension and heart disease. But I couldn’t give him what he really needed,  a new opportunity.

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That moment stayed with me. It’s why I first ran for Danville City Council.

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I believed then, and I still believe today, that we have a responsibility to look out for everyone in our community, especially those who feel like the system has left them behind. The challenges people face are often bigger than any one person, and the solutions have to be just as big. Over my 17 years on City Council, I’ve learned that when we work to help the most vulnerable in our community, we make life better for everyone.

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Running for the House of Delegates gave me the chance to listen to people across our region. I heard countless stories of struggle, families trying to keep up with rising costs, seniors worried about staying in their homes, workers looking for better opportunities for themselves and their children. Those conversations reminded me why I got into public service in the first place.

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While that race didn’t end the way we hoped, it only strengthened my commitment to the people of Danville.

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There is still work to be done.

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That’s why I’m running for re-election to Danville City Council.

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Our city has made real progress, but we must make sure that progress reaches everyone. That means focusing on the basics that matter most to people’s lives: keeping the cost of living manageable, expanding housing opportunities, and continuing to bring good-paying jobs to our community.

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After nearly four decades as a doctor, I’ve learned that listening matters. Compassion matters. And steady, thoughtful leadership matters.

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Public service isn’t about self service, it is about selfless service. It’s about taking care of people and that work is far from finished.

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