People sometimes ask me how I went from being a writer and author to serving as Clark County Clerk. The answer is simpler than you might think: it’s the same work, just a different form.
When I was writing books, I was telling stories about human experience, about the things that connect us, about community and relationships. Now, as your Clerk, I’m still telling stories—I’m just doing it through my service to you. I’m writing the narrative of Las Vegas by preserving marriage records, celebrating the couples who choose our community, and working to make sure that the systems we have truly serve people.
My background as an author taught me something fundamental: that words matter, that narrative shapes how we understand ourselves, and that stories are how we make meaning. When I approach the Clerk’s role, I’m thinking about the story we’re telling as a county government. Are we telling a story of efficiency? Of warmth? Of innovation? Of pride in who we are? I believe we should be telling all of those stories, and I work every day to make sure we live up to them.
The path to this role wasn’t linear, and I’m grateful for that. My time as a writer made me a better communicator. It taught me to think about audience, about clarity, about making complex ideas accessible. These are skills that have served me well in public service. When we create systems, when we communicate policy, when we welcome visitors to our office, we’re creating an experience. That experience tells a story.
I’m also grateful for what I’ve learned as Clerk that has made me a better person, a more informed citizen, and a deeper thinker. Serving in this role has shown me the profound importance of institutions, of how government can make real differences in people’s lives, and of how crucial it is to approach public service with both competence and compassion.
My journey from the author’s desk to the Clerk’s office reflects my deep commitment to Las Vegas. Whether I was writing about our community or serving it directly, I’ve always been motivated by the same thing: a desire to honor the people who live here, the stories they tell, and the dreams they pursue. That’s what drives me every day.