VOTE411 Voter Guide

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While living and working in La Crosse County for over 40 years, I have appreciated and enjoyed all it has to offer. I have lived a life of service with my family, for my church, in my community, and in my career as a registered nurse and health care manager. I am ready to continue to use my leadership skills in the next chapter of service, representing and making a difference for the people of this county. On behalf of District 21 residents, I am committed to understanding their concerns through listening and bringing forward workable solutions to the County Board. I will ensure that problem solving is done collaboratively and with fiscal responsibility. Strong, efficient local government is critical to our daily lives and reflects our shared priorities. I am committed to strengthening our community through effective leadership on the County Board.

While out talking to the residents of this district, I often hear the question, “What does the county do?” “How are they using taxpayer money?” I usually respond with a list of things that I know impact their daily lives, i.e. public health, public safety, and safe roads, but this is just a few of the services offered. I believe the county needs to continue to make investments in technology to help local governments and the residents it serves. Modernizing technology would facilitate the ability to seek information and allow more communication with our residents. It gives them the opportunity to be engaged in the early stages of problem solving. This engagement ensures decisions represent their needs, values, and priorities. Other benefits of technology include building in efficiencies to lower long term infrastructure costs, providing faster resident service and availability of education, and improving internal processes.

1. Caring for the mentally ill - Mental health is a complex issue throughout the country. The county provides crisis and emergency support and several ongoing support programs. There is collaboration with local clinical and healthcare providers and other community services. A challenging issue is matching the resources to the needs of the individual and/or family and ensuring that it happens easily. With the growing issue of mental illness in our community, we have to ask if we have enough resources to meet the need. 2. Homelessness- The La Crosse County/City “Pathways Home” program goal is to house more people than become homeless each month. Although the initiative is making progress, housing availability remains limited, and long-term affordable housing is still needed. Homelessness not only challenges public health and safety, but those without a stable address face additional barriers to accessing services in place to help them establish permanent housing.

While mental health and homelessness are major issues, many of these individuals and families are also challenged by finding affordable housing and making a livable wage. In many situations all of these issues can impact an individual or family at the same time. Some of the ways I can address these issues are to: 1. Support the progress made on solving these issues, 2. Ensure that there is easily available information and resources, 3. Monitor and make decisions that are financially feasible, are sustainable and show a community benefit, and 4. Support change if we are not experiencing the outcomes we expected. Government and community partners must continue expanding solutions and monitoring results.