PLATFORM
"I come from proud a family that has roots that date back to the 1800's in Iowa. My Grandfather was born in Buxton Iowa. I want to work for you. We need to create more living wage jobs, improve our schools, and make public safety - especially getting guns off the streets, a top priority. I know that there is much to be done with health care including the mental health aspect of health care. With many years of government experience, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate the complicated governmental agencies, and get things done."
LIST OF ISSUES
Education
Education is a field that is undergoing change at an accelerating rate. From the introduction of new technologies into the classroom to a better understanding of the brain’s development, it can be hard to stay on top of all the latest updates. That’s why as an elected official I will work to make sure that our Teachers and Students have the necessary funding to give them the best possible outcomes.
Housing
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is the Agency that I know will work with the State of Iowa to make sure that everyone will have a fair chance for meeting the needs of all of our citizens.
Diversity in Iowa
Iowa demographics
White: 89.09% Black or African American: 3.72% Two or more races: 2.95% Asian: 2.52%
Iowa has been considered one of the least diverse states, with a population that is mostly white. Iowa is one of ten states that have a white population that exceeds 90%. The state has, however, seen a significant increase in its population of Hispanics.
Between 2000 and 2014, the Hispanic population increased by over 110%, and future growth is expected to continue so that the state will approach close to half a million Hispanic residents by 2050.
I plan on using these definitions in my work as your House 62 Representative.
Working Definitions Diversity: Diversity refers to all aspects of human difference, social identities, and social group differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, socio-economic status, language, culture, national origin, religion/spirituality, age, (dis)ability, military/veteran status, political perspective, and associational preferences.
Inclusion: Inclusion refers to a community where all members are and feel respected, have a sense of belonging, and are able to participate and achieve to their potential. While diversity is essential, it is not sufficient. An institution can be both diverse and non-inclusive at the same time, thus a sustained practice of creating inclusive environments is necessary for success.
Equity: Equity refers to fair and just practices and policies that ensure all community members can thrive. Equity is different than equality in that equality implies treating everyone as if their experiences are exactly the same. Being equitable means acknowledging and addressing structural inequalities — historic and current — that advantage some and disadvantage others. Equal treatment results in equity only if everyone starts with equal access to opportunities.
Healthcare
We must make sure that women have the right to make their own decisions when it comes to reproductive decisions. Iowa's health care system ranked eighth in quality throughout the nation in WalletHub's Aug. 2 report on the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The state's total score across 44 measures pertaining to cost, access, and outcomes was 62.27. Aug 2, 2021
As your House District 62 Representative I plan on working to make sure that we move up in those rankings. We as a state can and should be ranked higher. I know and understand that our states mental health system needs to be addressed both in and out of our prison systems.
Environment
Iowa faces numerous clean water challenges, but the state's most widespread, serious and vexing problem is agricultural pollution. The agricultural pollution problem is particularly challenging to solve because it comes from across Iowa's landscape where over 90 percent of the land area is in farms
In Iowa, sediment is the leading nonpoint source pollutant. Most sediment in Iowa comes from agricultural practices, such as cropland tillage and livestock in pastures, woodlands and feedlots. High levels of eroded sediment also come from construction sites, streambanks and lake shorelines.
The Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) is a panel of nine citizens who provide policy oversight over Iowa's environmental protection efforts. As your next House 62 Representative I plan to
actively participate in a democracy that ensures we elected officials fairly represent the voters, not polluter's interests.
