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Training and Experience
I worked in manufacturing for a supplier to American Honda for 6 years, ran a small business (restaurant) for 12 years, was a manager at Lowes, a service manger and then general manager at a lawn and agricultural equipment dealership, and now work at Ohio University as a learning lab coordinator in the Engineering Technology and Management department of the Russ College of Engineering.
First and foremost, I would eliminate Corporate and other big interest PACs. The hold they have over those in congress is strangling the ability of constituents to get proper representation. Second, campaign finance needs to be reformed such that young people and those who do not have access to financial resources are able to compete on an even playing field. This of course would also help to provide better more accurate representation. I am firmly against the SAVE Act, though I think that if there was better, easier access to certain types of voting data and that transparency was there for voters it might help to dispel myths about voter fraud. The data is there, obviously, but maybe we find a way to give it better visibility.
I think we look at this issue through the wrong lens sometimes. What we need to ask is, why aren't there better paying jobs? The issue is really that we need to improve our education system, invest in our schools, trade schools, and make college an option everyone has access to. Better education not only results in better paying jobs, but a voter base that better understands the issues of government, economics, and foreign policy and can then make choices in leadership that represent the interests of the constituents. This is of course the long game, but it needs to be addressed or we will never break this cycle. When you have leadership that listens, you can tackle the issues of fair wages, wealth distribution, and invest in policies that make local communities and economies stronger
Focusing on bringing Americans back together is central to my campaign. One thing I do is listen to both sides. Listening is a great way to bring down walls. Unfortunately for too long, people have been getting talked at instead of listened to. I want to have discussions with constituents and hear their issues, come up with solutions to their problems, not just tell them what they want to hear and then do nothing. What both sides forget is that we are all more alike than we are different. We have mostly the same problems, but politicians are really good at making us forget that and focusing on things that divide us. We are never going to agree on everything but we absolutely can agree on the most important things if we listen to each other and have civil, respectful, factual conversations.
Foreign policy is probably the most complex issue any politician has to deal with. This is because of the plain and simple fact that you are trying to develop policies to deal with so many nations, economies, cultures, etc. that is a daunting task. I think that it is important first and foremost that we continue to forge strong relationships with our allies, especially members of NATO, that we provide support for countries such as Ukraine who are trying to defend themselves against an unwarranted aggressor, and that we do not support governments that are irrationally killing tens of thousands of civilians without any accountability (Israel.) Starting a war with Iran was foolish and will no doubt threaten our national security. This should not have happened without congressional approval.
I think it is important to recognize that we need strong borders. No country can be without that, especially one with such large borders as the United States. However, immigration has and always will be an important part of who we are as a country. I think the single most important improvement we can make is to increase the amount of immigration courts and judges, streamline the process so people who have come here can obtain their citizenship and if we do that, the issue of illegal immigrants will become a non-issue. The way we have approached these mass deportations is not only morally wrong, it is unconstitutional. We are a better country than that.
