I spent 33 years at the Y-12 National Security Complex as a project and program manager, where I developed a reputation for solving complex problems, managing budgets responsibly, and bringing people together to get results. That experience translates directly to public service and working across party lines.

My time on the Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee has also given me insight into how government works in a political environment.

I have long been active in the community. I supported my daughters as a Girl Scout leader, band mom, classroom volunteer, and Sunday school teacher.

Today, I serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Anderson County Juvenile Court, am the founder and an officer of the Oak Ridge chapter of PFLAG, and am a member of the Anderson County NAACP. I also tutor students in math and work with youth through my church

Families across Tennessee are struggling with rising costs. Housing is becoming less affordable, and grocery prices continue to rise.

I support eliminating the state sales tax on groceries to provide immediate relief to families.

We need affordable housing, especially for those in the workforce with low and moderate incomes facing higher costs at the grocery store, at the gas pumps and in everyday expenses. The housing development under construction in in the Scarboro community is a great example of this.

I also support using the sales tax raised by the sale of period product to provide period products in the schools.

I support policies that ensure working Tennesseans earn a living wage. This includes raising the minimum wage and supporting unions.

We also need laws regulating the buying up of housing by large corporations. These corporations remove lower price inventory from the market and increase the price of the remaining inventory.

Politics should help people - not make life harder

Oak Ridge officials estimate that 900 more housing units will be needed to meet the demand as nuclear-related jobs grow. I support recommendations included in city plans, such as acquiring federal land for residential development and focusing on high-density housing development. We need to build more housing developments, like that going on in the Scarboro community, funded using state, local and federal funds.

As for traffic congestion created by nuclear-related jobs, Oak Ridge’s recommendations for shift-based carpooling and ridesharing, with park and ride locations, would be helpful in reducing rush hour traffic in Oak Ridge. Involving the state Department of Transportation in planning and recommendations for handling increased traffic on state routes leading to the new industries would also help in solving traffic congestion issues.

As for infrastructure, TVA’s addition of small nuclear reactors for electricity production would support growing needs for electricity. Also, local plans call for regional cooperation in preparing infrastructure budgets across the cities and counties welcoming these new industries, both in Anderson and Roane. That would ensure that growing infrastructure costs don’t just impact Oak Ridge.

We also need to make sure that the local unions are involved in the new construction and that they are hired to work in the nuclear companies locating here. We need to continue to support programs in our high schools and community colleges that will provide qualified workers to these new companies.

The Tennessee supermajority’s refusal to expand TennCare continues to harm families and rural hospitals. Expanding TennCare would help hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans gain access to healthcare while stabilizing rural hospitals that are struggling to stay open. The state legislature has refused to accept our federal tax dollars that would help fund TennCare, a decision that defies common sense.

Healthcare shouldn’t depend on income or ZIP code. I will fight for healthcare that is affordable and accessible for everyone.

I am especially committed to improving maternal and infant healthcare outcomes, as Tennessee ranks among the lowest states for maternal and infant health. Women should not have to flee the state for life-saving maternal health care. And doctors should not face criminal charges for providing that care.

I remember the time before Roe v Wade. When I was in middle school I had a teenage babysitter, who died of an illegal abortion. In Tennessee, we have returned to this same situation. We need to repeal the restrictive laws in our state and return medical decision to patients, their physicians, their family and their faith.

My experience as a CASA has shown me how lack of insurance affects children and families in Anderson County. When a case of neglect is opened with DCS, it is often due to drug or alcohol use. When you dig a little deeper you find out there is an under lying mental health issue or physical issue that has not been treated because the family does not have health insurance.

Medical decisions belong to patients, physicians, families, and their faith - not politicians.

I oppose any program that takes public money and sends it to private schools. My children and I are products of public schools. From kindergarten through college, we all attended only public schools. Because of this experience, I believe Tennessee must fully fund its public schools and ensure resources reach classrooms and students. I am opposed to vouchers for private school students and believe taxpayer dollars should be spent on public schools. Vouchers can be seen as tax subsidies for wealthier families who can afford private school tuition.

For voucher programs already in place, we need to collect data on who gets a voucher and where the money is going. Voucher students need to take the same tests as the children in public schools. The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has reported that voucher students often underperform compared to their public school peers.

Schools should serve every child in Tennessee and provide the tools students need to succeed. Through my work as a CASA, I have been in almost every school in this district. While we hear about how great Oak Ridge schools are, my experience says that all the schools in Anderson County are outstanding. They all work hard to provide the supports such as extra time on a test or the use of a computer instead of handwriting an assignment so that students can be successful.

Every child deserves a great public school, no matter the zip code.

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