Better Jobs and Pay

Work Shouldn’t Break You

My first job was as a paperboy. I rode my bike through the neighborhood each afternoon, tossing newspapers onto porches and getting to know the people who lived behind those front doors. Once a week, I’d go house to house, collecting their subscription money in person.

It taught me a lot—about responsibility, about showing up, about people. Even as a kid, I felt proud to earn something of my own. It felt like a first step into adulthood.

What I didn’t realize then was that for many adults, work didn’t just mean pride—it meant pressure. And for too many families today, that pressure is overwhelming.

I’m running for Congress because I believe work should help families thrive, not leave them struggling. If you put in a full day’s work, you should be able to pay the bills, put food on the table, and still have time to rest and be with your family.

But that’s not how it is right now.

Wages have stayed low while the cost of everything—groceries, rent, gas—keeps going up. Some people are working two or three jobs just to stay ahead. Others can’t find steady work at all. And the good-paying jobs? Often, they’re hard to reach or hard to land without a special connection or a college degree.

Here’s what I believe:

• We must raise the minimum wage, so no one working full time lives in poverty.

• We should invest in local jobs—especially in small businesses, infrastructure, clean energy, and caregiving.

• And we need to make sure every job comes with dignity—safe conditions, fair pay, and opportunities to grow.

This isn’t just about the economy. It’s about families.

I’ve talked with parents who miss seeing their kids because they’re working night shifts. I’ve met workers who can’t take a sick day without risking their job. I’ve seen how economic stress takes a toll on marriages, health, and hope.

As a pastor, I’ve heard the quiet frustration of people doing everything “right” and still falling behind. Not because they’re lazy—but because the system isn’t fair.

We can fix that.

We can build an economy that actually works for working people. That means supporting unions. Expanding job training. Making sure new industries come to places like Northwest Arkansas—not just the coasts. And yes, raising the wage so work pays enough to live on.

Because when people earn enough, they give more, save more, and feel more secure. Kids do better. Families get stronger. Communities grow.

Work shouldn’t break you. It should build you up. It should help you provide, dream, and rest.

That’s the kind of future I want for Arkansas—and for every family.