WHY I'M RUNNING

Increasing Transparency in State and County Government

Ottawa County has become a national example of what happens when elected officials see ethics and transparency as optional. Critical decisions about program funding and personnel are being made outside public meetings. Taxpayer dollars are wasted on lawsuits highlighting the county commission’s misdeeds. And, with a lack of open and honest communication from these officials, the number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests has skyrocketed. We need to strengthen our state transparency laws, including FOIA and the Open Meetings Act, so they more effectively help citizens know what their government is doing, and so that all voices are heard as elected officials develop and implement public policy.

Strengthening the Public Health Code

Public health professionals are trained to protect people’s health — from controlling the spread of infectious disease to ensuring that our water, air, and food are safe. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, most state and local public health authorities issued orders to help stop the spread of the new and contagious virus. In a backlash that continues today, public health officials — including those in Ottawa County — faced firings, had their budgets slashed, and were stripped of authority. We need to prioritize public health initiatives and strengthen our public health code to prevent this kind of retribution and ensure that science-based guidelines, rather than ideology, drive public health decisions. We need to respect our frontline workers and give them the tools they need to provide equitable access to healthcare services for all.

Protecting Air and Water Quality 

When I joined the Ottawa County Department of Public Health in 2006 as a health educator, I was tasked with leading a coalition of community members to advocate for and pass smoke-free indoor-air-quality regulations for worksites and public spaces. One of my reasons for taking this on was my personal experience. I watched my mother's life becoming increasingly restricted because she couldn't breathe poor-quality air, while those of us with healthy lungs found the same air quality a mere inconvenience. It was an early lesson in health equity and the power of good policy on people’s lives. We are blessed to live in an area with abundant freshwater, groundwater, and fresh air, and we must ensure the same for future generations.

I believe in the power of unity and collaboration to create positive change, and I will continue to work tirelessly to advocate for strong and healthy communities through effective public policy.