My Experience

I graduated from Belleville West High School in 1995.  While attending Belleville West, I served on the student council, played football, and wrestled.  Then, I graduated with honors from Southwestern Illinois College in 1997 with Associate Degrees in both Liberal Arts and Science.  After racing motocross professionally for two years, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in April of 1999. While serving in the Marine Corps, I was taught to be a leader.  I learned many skills and went through various training centers.  For example, I attended Marine Combat Water Survivor Swim School and qualified to be a "Rescue Swimmer".  However, I was paralyzed while rescuing a fellow Marine in the line of duty and was medically retired from the United States Marine Corps in September of 2002.  After defending our nation's freedom, I was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Gateway Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America on October 2003.  While on the board, I also served as the Sports Director and helped coordinate charity events to raise funds to help send our members to the Summer and Winter Games.  During my service on the board, I became fed up with the numerous ways politicians treated us, veterans, and people in general.  Therefore, I did not seek reelection to the board after October 2006.  Instead, I pursued my academic career at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with the intent of becoming a public servant in which people could trust and rely on. I graduated from SIUE with honors in May of 2009 earning a B.S. in Political Science with a minor in Speech Communication.  While attending SIUE, I served on the Board of Directors of New Horizons.  New Horizons is student body organization committed to raise awareness of disabled students and work to provide a better learning enviroment for students with disabilities.  Although I am retired from the Marines, I stay active in the community.  I do this by volunteering my time to give motivational speeches at schools, being a peer counselor for disabled veterans and people with disabilities, and cochairing charity events to raise funds for disabled veterans and their families.  Eventhough I am paralyzed, I still accomplish more than most able bodied people ranging from sky diving to snow skiing.  I have competed in both the Summer and Winter Games, earning numerous medals and several awards.  I set a world record at the 2006 Winter games.  Also, in 2006 I was the first disabled veteran to be awarded Marine of the Year. The award was presented to me by Lieutenant General Kelly, a three star General in the United States Marine Corps.  Currently while seeking office, I am working to be the precinct committeeman for the 7th precinct in St. Clair County and I am on the Board of Directors for DVPS.  Disabled Veterans Products and Services is a nonprofit organization wich creates and provides jobs for disabled veterans.  Also, I am  a life member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America - Gateteway Chapter, the  Veterans of Foreign Wars - Post 1739, the American Legion - Post 0058, and the Belleville/Swansea Moose - Lodge 1221.

My Vision
I served my county, now I want to serve Illinois.  I pledge my commitment to represent the values and integrity of our community in Springfield, and I feel my experience has equiped me with the leadership skills necessary to support that vision. I will work to secure the needs of all citizens of my district and Illinois.  I intend to uphold the Constitution to the framers' intent.  I support limited government so people have more decision making power in their households. I firmly believe that free market enterprise, is the main economic driver in our society.