League of Women Voter QUESTIONNAIRE
Candidate Questionnaire from The League of Women Voters
What are the top three challenges facing our country today and what do you propose to address them?
-The divisive nature of our current political moment needs to be addressed with pragmatic, bipartisan cooperation to move our country forward. There are multiple pathways to most problems we face as a country. Demonising opposition and purposely articulating an environment of fear are not pathways to success. Across my 50 years of work, I have a track record of working with others to accomplish defined goals.
-My adult children cannot even envision owning their own home. Some ideas: aggressive, federally assisted programs to streamline regulations on non-traditional and manufactured homes, assistance to rural communities to allow for development of utility infrastructure, low interest loan programs for 1st time and low income homeowners, ramping up vocational ed programs to increase the number of tradesmen, tariff and trade policies that do not cause shortages or dramatic price increases for building materials.
-Most Americans are facing the daily struggle of rapidly increasing costs across nearly every household need: energy, groceries, durable goods, medical care, air travel. Tariffs applied haphazardly, and an ill conceived war in Iran have spiked energy and commodity prices immediately with no respite in sight.
What changes would you make to the federal immigration enforcement practices to ensure all residents are treated with dignity, civilian’s constitutional rights are protected, and people’s rights to free speech, assembly, and civic participation are not violated?
We need bipartisan immigration reform so there are legal, common sense pathways to citizenship. Most immigrants come here to be productive citizens, add to our tax rolls, and fill jobs in the service industry, construction work and agricultural sector. We need strong border protection measures that are commensurate to the natural migration pathways while using technology to assist with physical barriers. Enforcement agents should be well trained, funded and equitably paid, and adept at deescalation techniques that are humane as most immigrants' only crime is illegally crossing the border. Cabinet level appointees should be accountable and provide leadership that reflect the scope of the mission - secure borders combined with common sense immigration rules. Violent criminals should be refused entry or deported.
What three Congressional actions will you support to protect, preserve, and enhance America’s democracy and why?
I would support efforts to overturn Citizen United. The abuse of campaign financing has spiraled to where it feels like elections are simply between large PACs and billionaires competing for their own self interest. Foreign interference in our elections and cybersecurity need to be proactively addressed, in a bipartisan manner. The Electoral Count Reform Act, which did pass with bipartisan support, helps ensure that our Presidential election results continue the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power.
How do you see Congress fulfilling its constitutionally mandated role as a check on the President and Executive Branch’s power and what additional steps will you propose?
The role of Congress is clearly laid out in the constitution. While its historical focus has been on legislation and budgetary matters, the continued overreach of the executive branch under successive presidents has heightened its responsibility and duty to serve as a check on executive power. The DOGE program, the impoundment of funds by the executive branch, the dismantling of Congressional mandated programs are but a few examples that demonstrated to me that Congress has abdicated their role. The simple solution is for Congress to do the job as is laid out in the constitution.
