.png)
Meet Rachel:
Cypress has always been home.
My connection to Cypress goes back to childhood.
I grew up here when the city still had strawberry fields and dairies, and I attended preschool on a farm. I've watched Cypress change dramatically over the years, but the things that matter most have remained: strong families, community pride and neighbors who care about one another.
I attended local schools before earning my degree in History and Business from Loyola Marymount University, with an emphasis in management and marketing. I later built a career in business before starting my own company.
In 2007, I founded Strong Dance Studios, a Cypress-based business built around a simple idea: we can use dance to build confidence in young people.
Today, I lead a company with two locations, a team of employees, interns and apprentices, hundreds of students and an annual budget of more than $1 million. Through my business, I've learned how to manage budgets, lead people, solve problems, navigate difficult decisions and turn ideas into something real.
I've also had the privilege of creating opportunities for children and families through adaptive dance, scholarships and nonprofit programs, including Cypress's only performing arts/dance company.
LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT MORE THAN EXPERIENCE.
It's about listening.
It's about bringing people together.
It's about understanding that good ideas can come from anywhere.
And it's about doing the hard work after the cameras are gone and the meeting is over.
That's the kind of leadership I want to bring to Cypress.
I'm running for District 5 because I love this city—and because I believe loving Cypress means being willing to do the hard work of preparing it for the future.
We don't have to choose between preserving what we love and building what's next.
We can do both.
Vote Strong for City Council!
You might be concerned about what you've seen at meetings, read in the paper, seen on Community pages. Me, too.
Here are some things I think are critical for Cypress RIGHT NOW...
Let's be civil.
I don't know about you, but I think in recent meetings hearing constituents approach the dais to speak to their representatives and say "this makes me feel sick to my stomach" is about more than just public speaking jitters. This should be an open forum for our community to speak our minds without fear of stonewalling, disdain, and worse yet retribution. I would be hyper aware of maintaining an open and friendly demeanor that is approachable and collaborative if elected.
Let's be transparent.
I understand that our recent actions as a city have led to multiple lawsuits and that care and candor must be exercised in communicating about these topics. Even so, the number and duration of closed session meetings has become a little alarming. Whether real or perceived, confidentiality can look like secrecy. If elected, I'd like to try and move at least some transparent dialogue about matters in closed session to the dais for voters.
Let's be vigilant.
The message from the community is clear. Facts seem muddy because they are presented as such. It appears that vendor contracts are not being scrutinized on behalf of our residents. Contract extensions on service level adjustments are being granted. We are all paying for services - some of us as homeowners, some as business owners, some as landlords, and some as ALL THREE. We have to exercise care in creating terms in vendor contracts to maintain some control over costs and quality of service. Contracts need to go back out to bid periodically to protect this. It would be my goal and my pleasure to be a watchdog for our community on this.
Let's be kind.
Cypress is a leader amongst local communities for so many reasons. We can expand on this by continuing to be open, to listen, to engage in productive dialogue, to honor other ideas and viewpoints. We are well respected as a city that is beautiful, prosperous, well maintained, and friendly. Let's keep this the demeanor at the dias. If elected this is something I would take pride in leading by example.
