I want to take a moment to publicly thank Akia Sanders for her incredible support—not only for my candidacy but for the future of Northwest Illinois.

I first met Akia late one night in 2024. I received a call from an unknown number from a woman who had heard I was running for mayor to help unify a divided city and turn a distressed town into a thriving one for all residents. She asked if I could meet her. I jumped in my truck and headed over to an empty lot behind what is now her restaurant, The Fresh Spot, on Freeport’s east side, across from the Freeport Boys & Girls Club.

We sat in the darkness at a picnic table and talked. Akia shared her frustrations and struggles, but those were just footnotes to the heart of what she was expressing—her love for the Freeport community. She spoke about what it was, what it has become, and what she knows it can be. She spoke about our children and the dangers they face just to grow up. She spoke about the silence and disregard from elected and hired leadership.

Over the years, I’ve met many who hope for better. Many voice their concerns and then retreat to what feels safe. Akia is different. She doesn’t just voice her concerns—she asks what she can do to help fix it. To bring about change. And she does. She doesn’t stop when it gets hard; she keeps at it.

Not every fight ends in victory. But Akia is beginning to see the hope. Progress doesn’t come in the middle of the night at a picnic table—it takes months, even years, and most importantly, elections. It takes informing yourself, your neighbors, and your community. It’s about showing people that real power isn’t about disruption or chaos—it’s about uniting and believing that in this country, power is given and can be taken back by the people.

Akia, I am grateful for your friendship, your courage, and your unwavering commitment to making Freeport better. Thank you for standing with me, and for standing for the future we all deserve.