VOTE411 Voter Guide

For as long as I can remember, I have had a call to service. Service to my family, my community and my patients as a medical provider. I have served on two City of La Crosse Committees and have been active in local neighborhood revitalization through neighborhood association work and parent/teacher organizations. For the last 8 and a half years, I fulfilled that call to service by serving our country in the US Army Reserves, as an Audiologist in the Medical Service Corp. As that time has now come to a close, I wanted to redirect my service back into our community, this time at the county level. I’ve been approached in the past about potentially pursuing local office, but until my service was complete, I did not feel I could provide the attention this position requires and deserves. Now I am able to answer this call. I have much to learn about this new role, but I am committed to listening and learning how to best help the citizens of not only District 9, but all of La Crosse County.

District 9 primarily consists of the Powell-Poage Hamilton and Washburn Neighborhoods, neighborhoods rich in history and diversity but also in a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, mixture of owner occupied versus renters and large transient population. We are considered a “food desert” and while we have access to a regionally recognized healthcare system in our neighborhood, many continue to struggle with access to affordable healthcare. As a result, I would like to see continued work to expand access to physical and behavioral health services, stronger housing programs for both unsheltered and current residents (affordability of housing and maintenance to older homes) and continued support systems for young families and seniors alike.

While we have a rich tapestry of both rural and urban communities in our county, that have their own unique qualities, challenges, and needs. I feel that a common thread through out the county is the need for housing affordability and access to affordable healthcare. 1 - Housing Affordability: whether that is from rising rental costs, rising costs of maintaining or obtaining home ownership, or even access to housing at all, housing related costs are overwhelming family's monthly budgets, leading to increase financial hardship. 2 - Healthcare Access and Affordability: With recent nationwide and state healthcare cuts, healthcare premiums have significant increased while benefits have decreased. More of our residents are forgoing insurance, necessary medications, or going undiagnosed in greater numbers every day. While there are many additional challenges our county resident's face, I feel these are two of the most pressing shared collectively as a county.

As there is no quick solution to complex problems such as these, I would focus on the areas where the county can make a real impact. For housing, I would support zoning updates that allow more diverse and affordable housing options, work to reduce barriers for responsible development, and invest in programs that help residents with rental or homeownership challenges. I would also strengthen partnerships with local municipalities, nonprofits, and housing agencies to better coordinate resources. For healthcare, I would prioritize funding for our public health department, support community clinics and mobile services, and expand programs that help residents access insurance, medications, and preventive care. I would also advocate at the state level for policies that protect healthcare funding and improve access, especially for rural areas. My goal would be to use county tools—policy, budgeting, and collaboration—to make these essential needs more attainable for all residents.