Community Service and Experience

Growing up with a surgical nurse mother and an aerospace engineer father, I learned the value of hard work, problem-solving, and the belief that nothing is impossible. If my father could put a man on the moon, I believe we can tackle today’s challenges together.  With over 25 years as an ICU nurse and community service, I’ve dedicated my life to saving lives and supporting families.  Being a nurse and making a difference in people's lives daily has been an honor and shaped who I am.  Now, I’m ready to bring that same caring compassion, commitment and accountability to Olympia to you and our community.

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Public Safety And Reducing Crime

No one should feel unsafe in their homes and in their neighborhoods. We need to ensure our police have the resources they need to do their jobs. As an intensive care nurse, I am not afraid of hard work or tough challenges. Fentanyl use and mental health crises are on the rise. In Olympia, I will champion first responders and crisis intervention programs so they can make our neighborhoods safer.  As a nurse and a nursing supervisor of the local hospital in Eugene, Oregon, I worked with the CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) during its conception.  CAHOOTS is a national model mobile crisis intervention program that was created to improve the city’s response to mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness.  Ensuring comprehensive mental health and addiction support is crucial for the well-being of our communities.  I will support expanding and supporting programs like CAHOOTS and the HART program in Vancouver because I saw first-hand how it saved lives, improved outcomes and made a difference in mental health and addiction crises and our communities. 

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Affordability
Living in Hawaii as a young adult, I faced high living costs and a lack of affordable housing, which eventually brought me back to the mainland. I never expected to see similar challenges in Washington. We must work together to make our state affordable and livable for families. My goal is to ensure that everyone can thrive without the burden of excessive costs.  I will support policies that find solutions to our current affordability crisis, crushing inflationary impacts, lack of affordable housing, childcare and healthcare that is hitting families so hard.

 

Affordable Housing
Skyrocketing rent increases are making it difficult for many in our community to afford housing.  No one should be forced to live in their cars or on the streets while we remain gridlocked.   This isn’t a partisan issue; we must work together to solve it.  Rural families face unique challenges, including limited employment opportunities and low-quality housing. We must work together to find solutions to rebuild rural opportunities and support rural communities in our district.  Southwest Washington faces a significant shortage of affordable housing, and we need innovative policies to protect the affordable housing we have and expand affordable housing opportunities for all.  

Affordable and Accessible Childcare

As a single working mother and nurse, I experienced how hard it was to find childcare working long 12-hour shifts, weekends and nights.  It is even harder now with loss of childcare facilities and childcare providers.  We are facing a childcare crisis with childcare costs too high and childcare providers too hard to find.  The lack of childcare is also a drag on our economy with folks leaving the workforce, missing shifts and losing income.  This is a bipartisan issue that affects both our rural and urban communities!   I will work across the aisle and bring my lived experience with me to Olympia to find real solutions!  Improving lives for working families is a top priority! 

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Economic prosperity for everyone 
Too many families are working multiple jobs just to make ends meet. We need to build a strong economy by investing in and providing family-wage jobs, which means affordable childcare, paid sick leave, and family leave. Supporting small and medium-sized businesses through tax cuts and incentives and cutting bureaucratic red tape is crucial, especially in rural communities where they are the lifeblood of the economy. We must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to grow and thrive in today’s economy.

 

Education and Workforce Development
Strong communities depend on a well-educated workforce. We need to fully fund our K-12 public schools, so every child has the resources to succeed. Higher education costs must be addressed to relieve graduates from crippling student debt. Investing in apprenticeships and internships is crucial for those not pursuing college, providing pathways to good jobs. Union apprenticeships offer valuable opportunities to earn while learning and fill workforce gaps in skilled trades.

 

Empowering Youth and Families
As a young single mother, I struggled to balance college, work, and raising my daughter. Today, young people face even greater challenges with rising education costs, expensive housing, and limited opportunities. We must make sure success is within reach for all our youth and families.

Healthcare
We need legislators in Olympia who truly understand our healthcare systems and the changes that need to be made. With over 25 years in healthcare, I am that legislator. We are facing a nationwide nursing shortage, and Washington is no exception. As a nurse, I understand what needs to be done and how to implement the changes needed to avert this crisis. Access to healthcare, including reproductive care, will always be among my top priorities. Healthcare needs to be affordable, accessible, and available to all, regardless of zip code or financial status.  I will be your healthcare advocate in Olympia!  

Women's Reproductive Healthcare Freedom
Access to reproductive care, will always be a top priority. I am committed to supporting and protecting women's reproductive healthcare freedoms, ensuring that every woman has the right to make decisions about her own body and access the care she needs. I am the only pro-choice candidate in this race! 

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My vision for our state is clear:

I envision a Washington where prosperity is inclusive, opportunities are accessible to all and our economy fosters growth for every individual, not just a select few.  I will be accountable, transparent and responsive to constituents and bring cooperation to Olympia.  I will work for you and everyone in the district to address our complex problems and find collaborative, common sense solutions.