I am running to be your representative in Oregon’s House District 2 because I want the voice of the future of rural Oregon to be heard in Salem. We have been too distracted by issues that revolve around partisan political bickering, and we are not focusing on the real issues. We need to quit fighting and focus on the real problems we face like climate change, economic opportunities, lack of affordable housing, homelessness, access to health care/mental health services, as well as, treatment for serious substance abuse. These things are harming the daily livability and safety of our District.
LIST OF ISSUES
Community Rights
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Community Rights is about the Big Picture.
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Who owns and benefits from community resources
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Who is responsible for protecting them so they are here for the future
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Our right to Clean Air, Water, and Land
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Quality Education & Economic Opportunities
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Affordable Housing & Addressing Homelessness
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Access to Health Care, Public Health, and Emergency Management
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Fair Taxation to Support the Community Needs (Timber severance)
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As we see the crisis of climate change, we need to look at our rights in the bigger picture of community rights. This includes the rights of all things in nature, not just humans. These are rights that are inalienable and provide the ability for us to enjoy what the Declaration of Independence enumerated as Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
These individual natural rights of humans depends upon the rights of nature itself.
Housing
I believe that housing is a human right that the state has a responsibility to guarantee. We have the resources to produce housing and place it on public lands. We can create economic job opportunities and training programs if we take the profit out of our social housing. Taxpayers should not be footing the bill to provide profit to real estate investors and speculators. Under our current system of "affordable" housing this is what happens. Because of this, far less housing is produced than is needed, adding to the homeless crisis.
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However, we have a housing affordability crisis right here in HD 2 for young workers. People like me who can barely afford rent even though we have full-time jobs. The state has the ability to impact this and make both rental and home ownership opportunities available to moderate income households.
Check out my Virtual Town Hall: Housing Homelessness & Poverty
Homelessness
We must not allow our citizens to be homeless no matter the cause. Housing is a human right and the state has the ability to make sure everyone has a basic home. I support Housing First as the way to end homelessness because it offers a viable way out for the individual and the community. Housing First is not housing only and depends on systems in place to address mental health and drug problems in our community. I understand there are those who need these services and maybe permanent supportive housing to stay housed. When we better address these issues, the overall health of the community will improve.
Health Care
Access to quality affordable health care is everyone’s right. We must make it so in Oregon. As a person in a dangerous job, I know how important having health care is, not just when I am on the job for injuries, but also when I am not. Oregon could even improve the workers compensation system we have by providing health care benefits for all.
Climate Change
Like I told my grandma, state government can play a big role in making Oregon do its part to halt climate change. Where we can have an impact, if we start now, is being better prepared and proactive in managing the impact of climate change in our region. This not only includes emergency response to severe weather events, but being better prepared to make sure we have basic food and other basics available to us locally. We can do our part, but we need Salem to do theirs and I will work to make that a priority.
Check out the video of our Virtual Town Hall about Water, Fish & More.
Government that Works
I want to help restore people's trust in our government. This starts with having an open door to ALL residents of House District 2. Even if we don't agree, I will always listen to your ideas and concerns with an ear to finding common ground. We need to stop fighting and start working together to solve our problems.