PLATFORM
"I come from a proud farming family that has been in Jasper County for four generations. Hard work and facing challenges are not new to me. I want to work hard for you. We need to give local control of education back to the school community, have more opportunity and security for our working families, and reinvigorate our local communities. With nearly a decade of experience in education, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate the complications of governmental agencies, work with all ages, and get the job done right."
LIST OF ISSUES
Education
Schools are facing many challenges. Those challenges are amplified by the continuous supply of restrictions and testing provided by the state legislature. Teachers are underappreciated and under-compensated for their career as professionals. Ultimately, all of this trickles down and impacts the students the most. We have to do what is best for all of our students.
I will work to give back control of education to the local school district. By allowing the schools to decide what is the best way to instruct their students, you give the superintendents the ability to enact his/her vision, principals the creativity to deliver that vision, and teachers the ability to teach the whole student and not just to pass the test.
Working Families
Working families face daily challenges whether it be seeking child-care, paying the bills on time, having reliable transportation, or whether they can provide a hot meal for their family. No one should face these challenges.
I will advocate for working families to see fair wages that match the current cost of living. Families should not have to work two jobs in order to provide for their family. Families should be able to spend time together. This time is precious and should not be spent working multiple jobs to provide for that family.
Local Governments and Communities
Many residents in rural areas may be seeing their local population move out to other areas of the state as they look for more opportunities and conveniences. We are not alone in this as it is happening all across the country. The growth of rural counties has not kept pace with overall state growth. For many, town populations have dwindled and therefore the tax revenue has decreased and so has the money taken in by the schools and local business. This is a sad reality for many of us who are proud of our communities.
I will partner with local governments and communities to reinvigorate the population. Working together to bring good-paying and sustainable jobs will help keep our communities healthy and growing. Exploring ways to aid in new start-ups and small businesses will bring the opportunities and the convenience back to our community. With opportunity, convenience, and community comes a better quality of life. We all deserve the best quality of life.
Healthcare
Every human being should have access to affordable healthcare. This is a fundamental human right. For so long, healthcare has been unaffordable and the cost of healthcare only continues to climb out of reach for many. This must stop.
I will work to provide better information to Hoosiers that explain what your healthcare options are. I will work to find measures to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare that is affordable and doesn't force someone to choose between medicine or food.
Environment
Our community is making great strides in renewable energies. From solar farms to wind energy, we are doing our part to limit our carbon footprint. Still, there is more to be done.
I will work with our local energy companies to explore options to ensure the energy that we convert from wind and solar will remain here in the our community. Also, I will work with the energy companies to aid citizens with their own installation of solar and wind conversion that would be applied to the local energy grid and provided incentives to those citizens.
Agriculture and Farmers
The costs of making a living in agriculture have continued to increase while market prices for crops and animals have not kept up the same pace. The implementation of technology has helped track production but that production is still falling behind the increased costs. For many, making a profit is a yearly struggle. Providing healthcare for farmers and their families has also become increasingly difficult. There are some good options available that the Indiana Legislature should take into consideration and pass.
I will work with community farmers to find solutions to these issues that will keep them farming. Working together to solve the issues is the best way to ensure that the next generations will be able to continue the proud family tradition of farming.