Meet JOnathan
I was first elected to Raleigh City Council, at-large, in 2019 and re-elected in 2022. I presently serve a Mayor Pro Tem and chair of the Economic Development and Innovation Committee.
When I am not working in my role as an at-large council member, I am a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and certified mediator. I help individuals navigate difficult personal circumstances with a goal of finding compromise solutions.
During my time on Raleigh City Council, I have worked to come from a place of “yes” and to build a city that is welcoming of new ideas, people, and businesses.
I led our efforts to include renters in required notice of city business and to make it easier to address the City Council at our meetings. I worked closely with Wake County Commissioners and statewide organizations to enact a comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinance to protect residents and visitors from discrimination in private employment and public accommodations. I’ve advocated for support for our city workers and first responders, including additional benefits and increased pay. And I’ve been a strong champion of reducing car-dependency through creating an e-bike incentive program, funding for sidewalks and bike lanes, increasing transit options, and allowing micromobility providers to operate in our city; these efforts help reduce traffic and make the roads safer for all users.
I am the first openly LGBTQIA+ person elected citywide in Raleigh. Before my service on Raleigh City Council, I worked to build safe, inclusive spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies as a founding board member of Stonewall Sports. Because of my involvement with Stonewall Sports, I was afforded a platform that I channeled into further advocacy. In 2017, I helped create an annual fundraising event for the NC AIDS Action Network. I also joined the Board of Directors of TLC (formerly, “the Tammy Lynn Center”). And in my profession as an attorney, I helped create a program that provides pro bono legal assistance to families involved in domestic violence actions in Wake County District Court.
In my free time, I enjoy playing recreational sports, especially kickball, and spending time with my husband, Stephan, and our two dogs and two cats.
