“This district is my home. We have raised our children here. My husband’s business is here. I am committed to keeping it the best place to raise a family, live, work and play.”
Jobs and Life Skills
When people are working and families are strong - everyone is better off! We need to do all we can to create a prosperous business environment and keep families together. We have a community mental health crisis that is keeping people out of work and eroding families. We must have strong economic development policies that benefit all job providers and community mental health programs that provide individuals with what they need to be successful and productive citizens.
The Economy
We need to ensure Michigan has a strong economy as we continue to recover from COVID. We need policies creating a strong business climate, removing burdensome licensing regulations, and minimizing the tax burden. It is important to promote more skilled trades and education, preparing our kids for higher paying careers, and stabilizing our supply chain as we return Michigan to prosperity.
Small business is the lifeblood of any community and we need to encourage its rebirth.
Supporting the Working Family
Families are an integral part of any community and we need to support policies that promote families, not hinder them. Family life was been turned upside down with COVID-19 with more work at home families and students returning to work and from learning virtually; we need to do whatever we can to stabilize the family structure and regain the learning losses.
We need to put forth every effort to address the mental health crisis, combat the opioid addiction epidemic, stop human trafficking, and support our seniors.
Roads and Infrastructure
Roads and Infrastructure should be one of our top priorities. The 2015 legislation continues to provide an increased revenue stream to address our major roads and critical bridges, but it does not solve the problem of unmet local road and bridge repairs or water and sewer infrastructure needs. We need to have a broad discussion on how we are going to address the unmet needs and develop a plan that keeps us moving forward – not backward.
Long term solutions are needed and the amending the existing funding allocations under PA 51 would be a start. Strong investments have been made on our highways, but we cannot ignore the byways and driveways. We need to consider how we can route the funds directly to the Agency they were intended. This would eliminate unnecessary layers of government and create greater efficiency and cost savings.
Agriculture
Michigan is an important farming state and farming competes with tourism as the #2 spot in Michigan’s economy and generates billions of dollars in economic activity. We need to support local farmers and the agricultural industry so they can keep growing our economy.
Election Integrity
Election integrity matters. We need to ensure that we have fair, not fixed, elections.
Every eligible voter must be able to vote freely, secretly, independently, and securely. Election integrity can only happen through a system of accountability and participation. I will continue to fight hard to guard the vote and work against fraud and friction to ensure we have clean elections in Michigan. As a former clerk, this is my highest priority.
Fiscally Conservative Principles
Michigan needs to end wasteful spending, prioritize its spending, and reduce debt. I will continue to work hard to prioritize spending to ensure we live within our means. Michigan’s economy has been burdened by the state’s response to COVID-19 and the reckless spending down of an $8 billion surplus led by the Governor. Many programs and pet projects included in this spend-down are not sustainable or necessary. We need to work hard to be sure the gaps are not met by increased taxes on our seniors or businesses.
We need to acknowledge the impact of the state’s decisions and recognize that the state’s checkbook belongs to the people. I will guard it as if it were my own.
Education
Every child should have full access to a quality education that best prepares them to reach their maximum potential and parents should have the right to determine which education model best suits their individual child/children. These models are best determined at the local level - not by the federal government. Expanding schools of choice and models to meet the demands of an ever-changing world will ensure our state’s most precious and valuable resource, our children, are well positioned for success.
2nd Amendment
I support the Second Amendment - the freedom to bear arms is an important individual right granted by the United States Constitution and I will always vote accordingly.
Veterans
We owe a debt of gratitude to our active military personnel and our veterans. America is the land of the free because of the brave individuals who have put their own lives on the line. We must recognize their sacrifices and their service. Michigan's veteran population is growing, and they are a vital part of our community. Ensuring they have the services available to them to ensure a smooth transition back to civilian life and responding to their growing needs such as employment, education, access to healthcare and mental health services is a top priority for me.
I have worked to ensure we have programs close to home for our veterans so they may be easily and readily accessible in time of need. My father served in the Army and was a first-generation US citizen, he taught me to always pay respect to the flag and to honor those who would lay their life on the line. I am forever grateful for the sacrifices and will always work to serve and support our active military personnel and veterans.
Life
With the passage of Proposal 3 in 2022, abortion is now legal under all circumstances. We need to ensure they are safe and rare. Dedicating resources for maternal health are critical. While I believe in the sanctity of life and that human life begins at conception and ends at natural death, we need to recognize that all health care must be safe.