Biographical Information
Occupation / Current Position
Paralegal
Education
Oakland University: BA History (2005); Paralegal Certificate (2007)
Qualifications and Experience
Sarah has 20 years of experience as a paralegal in construction litigation. She founded a nonprofit to tackle the housing crisis and serves on the board of Oakland County Housing Trust Fund.
EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
Michigan has made progress by increasing per-pupil funding, expanding early childhood education, and investing in educator recruitment, but schools are still grappling with teacher shortages, rising costs, student mental health needs, and achievement gaps. I believe we must continue investing in public education by fully funding our schools, supporting special education and student mental health services, and expanding career and technical education to prepare all students for success, We must better support our teachers with competitive pay, and stronger retention efforts. Standardized testing is a useful tool, but not the sole measure.
ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Everything I care about in public policy comes back to affordability. Michigan families are paying more for housing, childcare, groceries, healthcare, and other necessities while wages struggle to keep pace. I support policies that help workers earn a living wage through workforce training, apprenticeships, career and technical education, collective bargaining, and job creation. We must also address the biggest household expenses by expanding affordable housing, childcare, and access to healthcare. People who work hard should be able to afford to live and raise a family in Michigan.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability, and environmental protection in Michigan?
Michigan needs an energy strategy that is reliable, affordable, and sustainable. Families and businesses depend on dependable energy, but they also need protection from rising utility costs. I support investing in a diverse energy portfolio, modernizing our grid, and strengthening infrastructure to improve reliability and reduce outages. At the same time, we must protect our Great Lakes and natural resources by encouraging clean energy development, improving energy efficiency, and holding polluters accountable. We can grow our economy while protecting the environment for future generations.
IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
The Constitution protects fundamental rights that should be respected for everyone in Michigan, including due process, free speech, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. I believe government must follow the law and respect constitutional rights regardless of a person's immigration status. Public safety and civil liberties are not mutually exclusive. I support policies that ensure fair legal processes, protect First Amendment freedoms, and uphold the constitutional principles that are fundamental to a free and democratic society.