My Positions
The Constitution and Pledge of Allegiance
Long before I knew about the Constitution, I recited the pledge of allegiance. I believe in it, so much that I cry when I say it. -Liberty and Justice for ALL. To this day, I tear up. Right now, in this country our liberty has been reduced, and justice seems only to apply to certain people. The constitution feels like it’s being used as a prop, twisted and bent to near breaking. The constitution is what our whole country is built on, and we must fight to defend it.
Public Lands
Our public lands are sacred. We need to be stalwart stewards of these beautiful mountains, red deserts, and majestic canyons so they can be passed on to the future generations of Utah. Our lands aren’t just ours; the whole world loves them; we see visitors all year long because there is nowhere in the world quite like Utah. Selling any of our public lands is not an option without the majority of Utahans involved in the decision.
Healthcare
As a caregiver and patient, I have seen the failures of our healthcare system on both sides and I think saying the system is failing is an understatement. Premiums are far too high, deductibles are too high, too many medications and procedures aren’t covered, and people are stuck in jobs they don’t like because they are tied to their insurance. That isn’t freedom. I unwaveringly support Medicare for all at the national level; on a local level I would support any legislation that makes healthcare more affordable and comprehensive for the consumer while keeping the standard of care high for patients.
Food as a human right
We throw away forty percent of our food in this country. I find that statistic appalling. No human being should go hungry. I want to craft policies that ensure food is getting into the hands of the people that need it before it expires. I want to expand access to community gardens, farmers markets, and co-ops to source local meats and dairy. I want to implement a system where local food is utilized locally so there is less pressure on our ranchers and farms. SNAP benefits allow people to purchase seeds for their own gardens, but those benefits should also extend to soil so more people can participate in the valuable process of growing their own food. School breakfasts and lunches should be provided for anyone who wants them without shame being passed onto that family or child.
Gun Rights
Personally, I appreciate a .22 bolt action rifle, but to each their own, I won’t judge. I support the second amendment. At the same time, we, as a society must do something to stop the number one killer of our children, which is gun violence; these ideas aren’t mutually exclusive. If we’re being honest we all know someone who shouldn’t own a firearm; common sense gun laws are supported by the majority of Americans and I am one of them. I do not support a weapons ‘ban’ of any kind.
Water
Our water is in danger. There is nothing more important to our communities than water, not just for our drinking, but for our ranches and farms. I have heard a lot of possible solutions to the water issues threatening Utah, and more than one will need to be implemented, but building a data center is not one. I will oppose any Data Center being built in Utah, we can’t afford them.
Immigration
We can, and must, enforce existing immigration policy WHILE respecting human rights and dignity. These ideas are not mutually exclusive. I do not condone the demonization of our immigrant communities and feel strongly that I.C.E. has grossly and egregiously overstepped their authority while spending an indefensible amount of our tax dollars. I support the complete abolishment of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency as it now exists which is inefficient and inhumane; I would instead reroute some of the money being used into the overburdened court system, so we can expedite immigration cases where the individual is simply trapped by bureaucracy or clerical slow-down. There should be a position within the court that identifies these problems before they get before a judge, thus saving tax dollars and creating jobs. Homeland security would still handle criminal immigration cases IF the individual has committed a crime other than illegal border crossing; I believe the current deportation standards handle that infraction appropriately.
LBTQIA+
Our country needs to harness many forms of energy, not just fossil fuels, which are a finite resource. Utilizing our innovation and engineering knowledge we can make renewable energy a cost-effective and reliable reality alongside current methods. As a whole we need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels but it needn’t be a scary, or intimidating process.
Energy
Our country needs to harness many forms of energy, not just fossil fuels, which are a finite resource. Utilizing our innovation and engineering knowledge we can make renewable energy a cost-effective and reliable reality alongside current methods. As a whole we need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels but it needn’t be a scary, or intimidating process.
Housing
I’m personally affected by the housing crisis; therefore, housing is an area I’m passionate about. I’ve always wanted a home of my own; I once had dreams of owning a homestead or small hobby farm, but every year that dream drifts further away instead of closer; no matter how hard we work, the goal posts move by the time we would have reached them. The hopelessness of our younger generations is palpable and for good reason, the American dream is becoming just that, a dream. I’ve heard a lot of possible solutions to Utah’s housing problem over the past year, and many have potential but I don’t think any ONE is going to be the best. Two ideas I am very interested in are: the banning of corporations buying family homes, and a vacancy tax that would be applied when bank owned or corporate properties are left sitting empty rather than providing shelter. We could also renovate existing homes or downtown apartments to be more suitable for use in nearly every city. We could add smaller homes to existing lots rather than build high density housing, especially in rural areas. However, I am not opposed to high density housing where it makes sense to have it, near large businesses or colleges, for example. I would love to see more walkable areas in rural Utah, more housing above businesses. Tax incentives for homeowners to build on their properties for the sake of renting is also something I’d support. Again, I believe the best solution for the housing crisis nationwide, not just in Utah, is utilizing all of these ideas and more, there isn’t only one solution. Additionally, when I am elected, I hope to work with other
Reproductive Rights
I don’t like the term ‘pro-choice’, as I find it diminishes the weight of the choice being made. When a woman chooses to terminate pregnancy, it is not an easy decision akin to flipping a light switch. My hope is to have as few abortions as possible by supporting women so abortion is not the choice they feel compelled to make. Restricting abortion access does nothing to achieve this outcome. We achieve this goal by educating early, providing accesses to birth control, stopping the cycle of shame for women, giving women opportunities to thrive as single mothers, and supporting women through pregnancy with comprehensive healthcare. Even if we succeed, medical abortion will always exist; it is dangerous and impossible to ban abortion regardless of our personal beliefs. If we truly are ‘pro-life’ we need to support women first.
Projects For My Community
Little Free Libraries
What is the goal :
putting Little Free Libraries in every town in Sevier county and Piute county,
What are they:
Little Free Libraries are small, public book-sharing boxes
how far have we come:
We are almost half way to our current goal
WANT TO HELP !!!
Contact me if you would like a little free library on your property or if you like to heal in any other way
my contact information is on my home page
Why thay matter:
not every town has a library and we feel that everyone should have access to books to both read and enjoy books
Other Projects
I’m Just a regular person trying to do as much good as possible, with what I have available to me whether it is;
getting a call about a neighbor that is struggling to feed themselves
Organized “Feed the community soup night and fundraiser”, last September, feed about 50 families during the SNAP stall.
Putting together and handed out dozens of homeless backpacks all over the state,
Voter outreach organizing, sending postcards to thousands to get out the vote
Canvased and phone banked for Kael Weston
Donating thousands of seeds to the local seed Library