Social Justice

Diversity should be celebrated, and our culturally rich communities deserve to feel welcome and safe in the environment they go to school in, work in, and play in. By creating equality for all, we eliminate inequity and promote inclusiveness of diversity, and establishing environments that are supportive of all people. Having equal access to wealth, health, well-being, justice, privileges, and opportunity regardless of legal, political, economic, or other circumstances, will enrich our communities.

Revitalizing our small towns and rural communities

Iowa is one of the top states in the nation in education. We have the best-educated workforce and to keep them here, we need to expand our job creation in all 99 counties. With that, we need to increase access to high-speed internet, create safe and affordable housing, improve water quality, and protect the environment, while increasing cultural and recreational opportunities.

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A Champion For Iowa’s Working Families

As a teacher and state employee, I see every day how hard-working Iowans are struggling. Out-of state-corporations are given tax breaks leaving Iowa’s working families behind without a living wage.  We are taking care of corporations instead of our families.  As a result, our small businesses and rural areas are left struggling. 

We need to work together to create good-paying jobs for Iowans to keep our best and brightest here in the state to help grow our economy.

People Over Politics 

Over the past years, we have seen our politicians say one thing and do another. They hand out millions of our hard-earned tax dollars to out-of-state corporate entities in deals that hurt hard-working Iowans.

As your state senator, I will hold myself as well as other legislators and state employees accountable to our communities. All tax dollars expenditures must be transparent. 

Equality for LGBTQ Community

In 2009, Iowa became one of the first states in the nation to legalize marriage for all. I want to ensure our state remains a leader in equality and that no one is discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Clean Iowa for the Future

Iowa leads the nation in clean energy, and we want to continue to grow our use of wind and solar energy resources, and that we incentivize the use of clean energy.   

Clean waterways matter and I will continue to fight to make sure all Iowans have clean drinking water. In making sure Iowa has clean waterways, we also keep our waters clean for recreational opportunities. 

Making Our Schools A Priority For Our Kids

As a special education teacher, I see first-hand how the current funding for schools affects our students and our communities.  I will listen to and work with all stakeholders involved in making our schools some of the best in the nation.   I will protect the public school promise of educating all by preserving tax dollars for public use.

I will fight to make sure Iowa has good skill training programs and post-secondary opportunities for our students and workers. Iowans know what it takes to have first-class schools; there is no place for out-of-state special interest groups in our children’s education.

Our Veterans Deserve Better

I believe we must:

• Provide more and better job training
• Decrease veterans’ unemployment
• Allow incentives to companies that hire veterans for good wages and benefits
• Reduce homelessness by providing transitional housing

Iowa has approximately 225,000 veterans who have served in war and peacetime. These men and women chose to put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. Many of them have returned home with injuries visible, as well as invisible. They kept their promise, but America has let our veterans down by not providing physical and mental health care to survive and flourish upon their return to civilian life.

Many of them find few job opportunities with livable wages. It is estimated that over 200 veterans in Iowa are homeless.

We owe a debt to our veterans we can never repay. They protected us, now we need to protect them. We must provide them with appropriate and accessible healthcare for their physical and mental well-being. Mental healthcare, in particular, must be expanded. Far too many are lost to suicide each day. Our veterans deserve better.

This is and should be a non-partisan issue. Veterans have protected all of us regardless of political affiliation, race, or creed. We need to thank them for their service and sacrifice by supporting them in the same way.

Keeping Our Community Safe

I know how important it is to keep our communities safe.  We need appropriate mental health care for our citizens, we need a health system that works for our most vulnerable Iowans, and we need common sense gun laws to prevent needless gun violence.  We need legislation to protect domestic violence victims and children.