Responding to Federal Overreach

The state legislature is one of Oregon's last lines of defense against reckless federal overreach into our budget and into Oregon's values and way of life. As an elected Representative, I would fiercely fight against federal intrusions by supporting legislation that curbs the federal government's ability to call in the National Guard, empowers the Oregon Department of Justice to prosecute the misconduct of federal officers, protects our 4th Amendment rights from unreasonable search and seizure, and mandates that federal officers identify themselves rather than hiding behind masks.

I would fight against federal efforts to access our sensitive medical data and protect Oregon's most vulnerable communities. Every Oregonian deserves to live in safety and without fear from their government. For many in our community, there is a real threat of federal overreach regarding reproductive healthcare options and gender-affirming care availability. I will support legislation to codify these protections in law.

Healthcare

Healthcare is important for everyone.

For many disabled people, working means losing their healthcare due to antiquated laws around who is eligible for state-funded healthcare.

As someone who has used Medicaid, I have many thoughts and plans for how to better the system here in Oregon.

I have spent much of the last few years working with a group called the Disability Health & Employment Equity Coalition lobbying for changes to Medicaid in Oregon. Our aim has been to get Medicaid legislation passed that would allow disabled people to work without risking their healthcare. To do this, employed disabled individuals would pay into the Medicare system and still retain their healthcare benefits. This cost would often be less than they would pay for the same quality of care from an employer-sponsored healthcare plan, if one were an option, which is not always true. This helps solve the cost problem, while empowering disabled individuals to continue to live meaningful lives and creates opportunities rather than barriers.

• I want to fight against cuts to services

• I will support policies that keep premiums low

• I want to protect medical data from federal overreach

• Expand services provided

  • Access to preventative care

  • Access to alternative treatment options

  • Access to detox/rehab programs

  • Access to behavioral healthcare

  • Access to paid maternity leave

  • Protect access to gender-affirming healthcare

  • Protect access to reproductive healthcare

Supporting Local Businesses and Industry

As a legislator, one of the most important roles I have is supporting the local businesses and industries that make Bend what it is. We need policies coming out of Salem that support our local restaurants, breweries, and the service industry at large. When our local industries succeed, our community succeeds; they are job creators, tourist destinations, staples of our community. You can't come to Bend without thinking about the Old Mill or Deschutes Brewery, or our incredible ski resorts and recreational services. The needs of these local industries are vital because they breathe life into the community. As your legislator, I will stand for local industry and against large corporate interests.

Public Transit

I am against the ODOT tax. What it is funding is NOT the problem, but where it is pulling those funds from. It is a regressive tax that will hit low-income people the hardest.

I want to reduce fees for transit services and invest more money into commuter rail and bus systems. If we invest in public transit, we are investing in the economy. By expanding public transit, we expand access to the economy.

• Creates (or widens) a new access avenue for those who can't drive to get and keep jobs

• Creates jobs in the public transit infrastructure

• Increases the money being spent in local economies

• Boosts consumer buying power

If we're asking the public for more funding, we need to demonstrate as a state that we are being serious about reducing our financial footprint.

Wildfire Prevention & Rebuilding

Wildfires in Oregon are growing more common, and more devastating, every year. I'm serious about making sure that central Oregon gets the state and federal funding that it needs to protect itself and build resiliency against wildfires. I would support efforts to secure federal and state tax relief for utility-caused wildfires, and fight to lower fire insurance premiums.

Behavioral Health

In 2025, 56 people in Deschutes county died by suicide. Almost 1,000 people in the sate of Oregon are lost to suicide each year.

Behavioral healthcare is one of the most important tools we have in preventing suicides and mental health crises. By investing in preventative care and ongoing treatment, we build a more resilient community. As a front-line behavioral healthcare worker in Deschutes County, I know first-hand the needs and struggles of our community.

We need to strengthen the behavioral healthcare workforce and improve access to services.

• Increase student loan forgiveness and scholarship opportunities for people seeking undergraduate and professional behavioral healthcare degrees

• Support legislation to bring Oregon into the Interstate Counseling Compact, making it easier for out-of-state clinicians to move to and practice in Oregon

• Support funding for 988 (Suicide Hotline)

• Increase the number of counselors in schools

• Increase public education and awareness of mental health resources and conditions

I will work to be more behavioral healthcare more accessible and affordable for all Oregonians.

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing in Bend, and Deschutes County more generally, is getting harder and harder to find. Property prices are being driven up and new developments are not meeting the needs of the community. I want to change this.

My vision:

• Expansion of urban development in Bend needs to go hand-in-hand with affordable housing expansion, not be considered as an afterthought

• Property tax relief to first-time and low-income home buyers

• Tighter rules around tax breaks and community funding for housing developments - requiring more low-income and affordable housing units to receive community funds

• Permit reforms to get housing built faster while still maintaining quality

• Change the tax code so that rental costs could be deducted on taxes similarly to mortgages based on the number of dependents in the rental dwelling

If you like my policies and want to see me as your Representative, please donate below to support my campaign.