A common social icebreaker is “what is one word you would use to describe yourself?” and my answer has always been “unconventional.” My twin brother and I were born on November 30 of 2000, three months earlier than we were supposed to be. As I stayed at Harrisburg Hospital, my brother, DeKota, was flown to Hershey Hospital for surgery, just minutes after being born. Because we were born early and my brother’s unexpected medical expenses consumed my parents’ funds, we were forced by circumstance into living in a very small apartment in Mechanicsburg, where I shared a room with my brother for seventeen years. Things that were typical in the lives of other kids had made no sense to me, and things that were everyday occurrences for me were foreign concepts for the other kids. For the first five years of our lives, my brother and I were raised on my grandparents’ farm in Newville, while our parents tirelessly worked full-time to support our family. Over the years, I’ve learned to care for my brother’s disabilities (hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, blindness, immobility, and nonverbality), and it is now my current occupation; although I also worked five years for the world’s largest retail corporation (forgive me for not name-dropping them, but I think we both know who I’m talking about).

Like plenty of other people recently joining the world of politics, my interest in the field sprouted in 2016, during the first in the trilogy that had been "The Most Important Election of Our Lifetime." I was just sixteen at the time, and in my second year of high school at Cumberland Valley. After graduating in 2018, although I was in the class of 2019, I dipped my foot into the political waters by volunteering as a poll worker, a bi-annual and fourteen-hour commitment that made me recognize and appreciate the security and depth of our elections. I was a poll worker for a couple of election cycles before I eventually ran for the position of Judge of Elections for Middlesex I (the person who plans and controls the center you vote at on election days). I’ve also lent my passion as an electric violinist and songwriter to local political candidates and events, having performed at a rally for Sara Agerton and John Fetterman, as well as playing for the Cumberland County Democratic Committee’s stand at Jubilee Day.

In 2023, I announced my campaign for State Representative of the 199th District, and though unsuccessful, it was a major chapter of my life. We raised thousands of dollars, knocked on hundreds of doors, gathered hundreds of signatures, and supported countless local businesses and content creators. With the help of volunteers of many parties and ideologies, we laid the groundwork for A New Path Forward in our community. With the path we began carving, I will campaign for Prothonotary in the hopes of serving our county and being the keeper of its history- Our Story, Written Together.

Questions & Answers

What the hell is a Prothonotary?

Delaware and Pennsylvania are the only states to have Prothonotaries, and Pennsylvania is the only state to elect theirs. In Pennsylvania, the Prothonotaries serve as each county’s Clerk of the Civil Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Like most elected offices, “Prothonotary” is a job. But unlike Senators and Representatives, it isn’t a job that comes with a voice and decisions to be made- it is an administrative and procedural office management job that comes with some incredible honors. The Prothonotary certifies and keeps the records of cases decided upon by the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, decisions regarding name changes, custody agreements, divorce papers, even naturalization, and much more.

Why are you running for Prothonotary?

Following my loss in the 2024 Primary for State Representative, I was certain I would give it time before I ran again- I don’t want to be a “perennial candidate.” But what I do want is to serve Cumberland County and the people of the community that raised me in a way that resonates with my passions and lived experience. After the 2024 general election and seeing what offices would be on the ballot for 2025, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the Office of Prothonotary because it sits at the intersection of all of my interests and experiences. So, when you ask “why Prothonotary?” Part of the reason is because this is my dream job. I could spend my entire life working for a major corporation where my contributions benefit only the billionaires running the company, but I’d much rather work in direct service of my friends, family, and neighbors here at home.

What experiences make you a good fit for Prothonotary?

My interest in the office of Prothonotary stems from it sitting at the intersection of many of my passions and lived experiences. My parents couldn’t afford to send me to law school, even if it were my dream, but that doesn’t make my background untouched by the courts. I spent the first fifteen years of my life missing school and sitting in the courtroom watching my loved ones defend my twin brother on the stand in a medical malpractice lawsuit. From Civil to Appellate, I watched the courts function on behalf of the people.

When I was a student at Eagle View Middle School and Cumberland Valley High School, I was a proud volunteer of the English as a Second Language program where I’d help tutor English and other subjects to classmates coming from all around the world. Now, as an adult, I look back with such pride knowing that, if elected, I could be the one who gives the certificate of citizenship to the parents of kids like the ones I tutored.

Though the qualifications of a Prothonotary are 21 years or older, a resident of the county, and a United States Citizen, I believe my prior work experiences and personal life have left me in a position where I could thrive in management of the office of the Prothonotary. My first job was at the World’s Largest Retail Corporation where I worked register, customer service, photo lab, and layaway for almost five years. In the photo lab, I managed hundreds of copyright releases and statements, kept track of shipments and materials, and maintained a gallery of packages and orders ready for pickup. During the layaway season, I was a “co-champion,” the second-in-command of layaway with tons more responsibilities and the same pay; imagine a thorough recordkeeping position where the thousands of records in question might weigh up to 300 pounds and won’t be paid off before Christmas. As Judge of Elections of Middlesex I, I’ve also proven myself to be very organized and capable of thoroughly following procedures down to the fine print while managing a team and ensuring the integrity of our election for voters of all ideologies. Finally, I organized and ran my own campaign for State Representative with a small team of really good friends- and though I chose to do this, to say it was easy or not a “job” isn’t accurate. There’s no guidebook to running for office, and quite frankly, those in power don’t want to welcome people of my age or background- but I did the research, the work, the organizing, the navigating of a hostile field, and I followed-through with the type of endeavor most people don’t choose to pursue. If nothing else, I am organized, methodical, and resilient.

Ok, explain the “brand…”

As somebody young running for office with little help, allow me to let you in on some secrets of “the trade.” When you follow a candidate, elected official, or party on social media, a lot of what they put out is pre-made (usually by their party) and taken from a digital collection of graphics for a variety of occasions. It’s cookie-cutter politics designed for perceived electability and uniformity among affiliations; but I don’t believe in watering myself down for palatability, I’m not in the business of pretending to be somebody I’m not. Everything that comes out of this campaign is designed by hand, by me, and approved and put out by my team, because I believe in a personalized approach to politics that highlights individuality. The “creative choices” you see, are things that hold meaning for me.

The figure resembling a Greco-Roman goddess with a ribboned staff and a perched eagle on top is named “Spirit of the Commonwealth” and she serves as a personification of Pennsylvania found atop our Capital Rotunda since 1905 and on our state quarter since 1999. Local artist and childhood friend of mine, Shannon Laughery, drew a beautiful depiction of “Letitia” for use in my campaign for a uniquely-Pennsylvanian office.

You may notice that in my logo is a swan in which the “M” in my name makes the wings. Swans are my favorite animal, stemming from a story involving my late grandmother, and I chose to use it as my “mascot” in 2024 when I ran under the campaign slogan “A New Path Forward” because I wanted to make sure it was clear that my candidacy, at a time when both parties in a two-party system have been actively voting against the best interests of their constituents, wasn’t about being another red elephant or blue donkey in the circus that is congress.

As for the new campaign slogan, I wanted something that truly demonstrated the role of Prothonotary in our local government. I personally believe that campaign slogans are very important and meaningful ways to connect people- I mean, we literally call a group of political supporters, MAGA, by their campaign slogan. I chose “Our Story, Written Together,” because the records kept by our Clerks of Courts are the stories and signatures of countless constituents, Prothonotaries, and Judges across many generations.

Finally, and probably most notable, is my use of black and white. Why? Because I like it. It’s no secret that I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and so I tend to really be passionate about the things I enjoy- which happens to include the neutral colors to be found as ink on a page, the keys of a piano, shows and movies on TV before 1950, printed words on a newspaper, the attire of a specific fictional fashion designer, the two colors that swans come in, and notes on sheet music.