I'm easy-going by nature, and I get along with people from every background, always open to new ideas and opinions.

I grew up in a close-knit Irish Catholic family in Queens, where I learned early the importance of hard work, honesty, family, and treating people with respect.

My grandparents came to New York from Ireland as teenagers with very little. They met here, built a life together, and raised a family whose children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren now live across the country. Their experience shaped the way I think about opportunity and responsibility, and the importance of leaving the next generation with more possibilities than the one before it.

My mother was another defining influence in my life. She passed away 20 years ago after a long battle with cancer, and I still miss her every day. Her strength, along with the values my grandparents instilled in me, continues to shape how I approach my family, my work, and the challenges in front of me.

For nearly two decades, I worked as a television journalist, reporting from around the world and covering major historic events, international summits, wars, and political change. I have also continued traveling throughout my life, including to Ireland, France, Cuba, India, and Israel, and pursuing my interest in history at places ranging from Gettysburg and Normandy to China Beach.

Living and working abroad gave me a deeper appreciation for the United States and for what holds such a diverse country together. I saw firsthand what happens when institutions fail, divisions deepen, and problems are allowed to grow. It reinforced my belief that leadership should be practical, responsible, and focused on solving problems before they are passed along to the next generation.

After living and traveling in many places, I chose Long Island as the place to put down roots and raise my family. I love its beaches, its neighborhoods, its strong sense of community, its proximity to New York City, and the quality of life families can build here.

But maintaining that quality of life takes work. Long Island families are dealing with high taxes, rising costs, pressure on our schools and communities, and too many barriers to getting the healthcare, mental health, and addiction services people need. These are not abstract political issues. They are everyday challenges that determine whether families can afford to stay here, whether children have the opportunities they deserve, and whether our communities remain strong for the next generation.

That is why I am running for State Assembly. I want to bring fresh leadership, practical solutions, and a willingness to work with anyone who is serious about delivering results for the 19th District. My experiences have taken me around the world, but they have also made clear what matters most to me at home: keeping our communities affordable, supporting strong schools, protecting the quality of life that makes Long Island special, and making sure government is responsive to the people it serves.

Above all, my two sons are my greatest treasures. Recent college grads, they're now forging their own lives and adventures, and I couldn't be prouder of the men they've become. Both are also graduates of Chaminade High School in Mineola, forever loyal to their alma mater and the lifelong friends they made there.

I became a dog walker to help pay for my sons' tuition because I have always loved animals, a passion I inherited from my mother and my grandfather, who grew up on a farm in County Cork. He was always kind to strays in our Queens neighborhood and often left food out for whatever animal needed it. That deep respect for animals lives in me, and I see it in my sons now too. Our pets have always been part of the family. Our cat Hazel, a street cat I adopted in Singapore, came home to Long Island to live a long life. 

These days our house is ruled by our golden retriever Kerry, equally smart and goofy, and our cat Beatrice, who purrs like a teddy bear. I also love gardening, English-style from my years in London, and the remote Adirondacks — limited wifi, no TV, a simple cabin — swimming in crisp lakes and s'mores by the fire with the people I love.

I'm also a lifelong Mets fan, riding the 7 train to Shea with my mom and family since I was a little girl, and a Knicks fan through it all.

Overall, I feel lucky and grateful for it all.