VOTE411 Voter Guide

Born and raised small town Kansas girl. Raised in a middle class, working family. I understand the importance of family, of hard work, and compassion for others. I was a social worker for 34 years and those experiences enabled me to learn about community, state and national resources. collaborate with individuals, groups and organizations, advocate for our most vulnerable Kansans. I am an independent thinker and will work for the people of District 107. I am solutioned focused, outcome driven, wanting less drama and more common sense solutions. I seek truth and honesty and base my decisions on facts. Effective communication - active listening and a real desire to hear from people are strengths of mine.

Our economy and cost of living. Creating residential property tax relief is a must. Increasing our minimum wage while providing stability for our small businesses. Increasing affordable single-family housing and rental opportunities.

Healthcare access and rural hospital sustainability. Expand Medicaid. Creat opportunities for rural hospitals to offer incentives for medical staff to learn and work there. Looking at reimbursement rates to ensure those are fair across the state. Expanding mental health services to our rural areas through telehealth, school/community partnerships.

Public education, to include Special Education, funding. Fully fund education as per our KS constitution. Reject school choice/voucher programs.

I plan to send out monthly newsletters with information my constituents can learn from, add too and be informed in the present. Getting an end of the session update really doesn't include them in the process.

I almost put the inability of our legislators to work together and for the people of KS as one of my top 3 issues! IF legislators would focus on why they are in Topeka and not serving big donors, waste time on culture war issues or their self-interests maybe the "gut and go" process would not happen. Often this process is used so time doesn't run out. Staying in session the full 90 days would help with that! I would like to see some real boundaries set. Not allowing testimony, especially from the public, is unacceptable.

I have not found reasons to change our current system. We need to ensure people have the tools and opportunity to vote.

I bring a combination of real world experience and a proven record of public service. Before serving in the Kansas House, I spent six years as a county commissioner and eight years on the county zoning board. Those experiences taught me how local government works, how budgets are built, and how to work with people who have different perspectives. During my first term in the Legislature, I’ve worked hard to be accessible, listen to constituents, and make thoughtful decisions based on facts and the long-term interests of Kansas. I believe in being prepared, asking questions, and treating everyone with respect, even when we sometimes disagree. My goal is to be a common sense voice who puts the people of my district first.

-Property tax relief: Families, farmers, homeowners, and businesses want a tax system that is fair and sustainable. I support looking for responsible ways to reduce the property tax burden while ensuring that essential local services remain viable. -Strengthening rural Kansas: Our rural communities need access to quality healthcare, good schools, reliable infrastructure, and economic opportunities. I support rural hospitals, expanding workforce opportunities, improving broadband, and work on policies that help communities grow. - Responsible budgeting: Kansans expect their government to spend taxpayer dollars wisely. I will continue going over state programs carefully, looking for better solutions and cutting out unnecessary spending,

Transparency is vital to build public trust. I support making legislative information easier for citizens to follow by providing timely bill summaries in plain language, making committee actions easier to locate online, and improving communication regarding hearing schedules. Regarding the “Gut and Go” process, while amendments are often necessary as legislation evolves, I believe significant changes should allow legislators as well as the public enough time to review the language before final action is taken. Finding a balance between efficiency and transparency is a must to promote public confidence.

I believe Kansans should have confidence that every eligible voter can cast a ballot and that every legal vote is counted accurately. I am open to considering election law changes when there is clear evidence these changes will improve security, transparency, voter confidence, or administrative efficiency. Such changes should be carefully evaluated, bipartisan when possible, and implemented in ways that maintain public trust while preserving access for all eligible voters. Our election system should always strive to be secure, accurate, transparent, and worthy of the confidence of all Kansans.