As a Libertarian serving on the Buckeye Union High School District Governing Board, I’ve witnessed firsthand how centralized government control suffocates educational excellence. My background in risk management and analytics has proven invaluable in bringing private sector efficiency to public education governance, demonstrating that Libertarian principles can transform even the most entrenched institutions.

While state mandates still heavily restrict our authority over academic programs, Career and Technical Education remains one bright spot of true local control. This stark contrast perfectly illustrates the benefits of decentralized education. In areas where federal and state officials dictate standards, we see stagnation. But in CTE, where we have full autonomy, innovation flourishes.

Our district’s transformation showcases this dichotomy. In traditional academic areas, we’ve made progress through school vouchers, as first proposed by legendary Libertarian economist Milton Friedman, creating competition between public schools, private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling parents. This market pressure helps overcome some restrictions of centralized control.

However, in the decentralized areas of education like Career and Technical Education, with complete local authority, we’ve created one of the Southwest’s strongest programs, even against private school standards. By partnering with local businesses and focusing on practical outcomes, we’ve built a program that directly serves our community’s needs. The results speak for themselves – our CTE graduates consistently secure high-paying jobs or advanced technical training opportunities.

This contrast between our CTE success and the constraints on academic programs highlights why Libertarians must continue fighting for local control. While state officials still dictate most curriculum choices and academic standards, we’ve proven through our CTE program that local governance produces superior results. Schools free to respond to community needs and market demands naturally deliver better educational outcomes.

One of my proudest achievements has been implementing unprecedented fiscal transparency across all programs. We’ve eliminated layers of administrative complexity, giving citizens direct access to detailed spending documents. By reducing overhead costs, we’ve redirected resources where they belong: back to taxpayers and classrooms. These aren’t theoretical victories. They’re measurable improvements in educational outcomes and fiscal efficiency.

School board service offers Libertarians strategic value through focused oversight. While the monthly time commitment is manageable (typically 2-6 hours), the impact is substantial. Through careful policy decisions and vigilant fiscal oversight, we create meaningful change while maintaining professional careers. Our role isn’t to manage daily operations but to maximize freedom where we can while pushing back against centralized control where we must.

We see conversion to our cause when parents watch their children thrive in programs free from excessive regulation, when taxpayers see their money spent transparently, and when teachers experience the benefits of reduced interference. These tangible results build credibility for Libertarian principles in action.

To my fellow Libertarians: your path to reducing government control starts with local office. These positions often go uncontested, allowing institutional inertia to flourish. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need unwavering commitment to liberty and the courage to challenge the status quo. Your perspective will create real change in your community.

Local victories cascade into systemic change. As Libertarians demonstrate competent, principled leadership in school boards, city councils, and county commissions, we establish credibility for larger political ambitions. Success breeds success. Every well run Libertarian administration makes it easier for candidates to win higher offices.

My experience proves that Libertarian governance works. By focusing on transparency, local control, and individual liberty, we’re building the credibility and public trust necessary for broader political transformation. We’re not just winning elections. We’re winning the battle of ideas by proving that freedom works in practice, not just theory.

To showcase that I standby everything stated, I am running for reelection in 2026. Keeping up the fight to ensure Libertarian governance is shown to be better than any alternative.

The opinions shared here do not necessarily represent the official position of the Libertarian Party. These editorial articles have been submitted by Libertarians across the country, and featuring these topics does not represent an endorsement of the content therein.