Currently holds the office of Oregon House of Representatives - District 13 until January 13, 2025.
Candidate for Oregon House of Representatives - District 13 in 2024 Oregon General Election.
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Get StartedI continue to work on specific topics including interoperability of emergency responder radios (did you know some of them have to carry two or three different radios due to incompatible frequencies as they move through different city-county jurisdictions?), and the cost of maintaining more than the ideal number of 9-1-1 call center (Public Safety Answering Points, or PSAPs). Learn more
I also believe it’s critical to preserve a right-sized university system for students to pursue liberal arts education and advanced degrees. How community colleges and universities work together is already changing - and should - since the separate systems currently compete for funding and have varying sources of revenue from taxes, bonding authority, and private gifts. Learn more
How can we re-think the “infrastructure” to maximize money going to the classroom and supporting kids? Are we spending more money on testing than we need to? I passed a bill to take a look at testing: what’s required, what’s necessary, and how many more on top of that taking time away from teachers and students. Learn more
It’s important to provide quality career and technical education to students who want it to prepare for their future careers. It’s important to ensure we have public education options (like community colleges) for students to achieve certificates to open doors in chosen careers. Learn more
Climate change demands that we do things differently. I will continue to support actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on carbon-based energy. Learn more
We need to continue working on re-shaping access to immediate health care to work on mid-range and long-term ideas including urgent care, funding models, and workforce. Learn more
Pharmacies are struggling to stay in business (35 more closed in 2023) and a main source of strain is from Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) who impose harsh rules and reimburse pharmacies less than the cost of the drug to fill the patient’s prescription. PBMs are the little known "middlemen" or go-between businesses that call the shots for prescription drugs, influencing prices and choices. Those PBMs will see some significant new regulation in Oregon. My PBM bill (HB 4149) requires licensing, imposes stricter regulations, and sheds light on their money stream. Learn more
I will continue to press for creative, flexible, and new solutions, in some cases “back to the future” solutions like Tiny Homes and Single Room Occupancy housing, so that we have housing available for people in situations ranging from emergency and temporary to affordable rental and ownership. Learn more
We should fix choke points around the metropolitan areas and the rail crossing over the Columbia River. Serious problems are posed by trains that are too long, aging infrastructure and signals, lack of adequately-sized sidings and at-grade crossings. We need more separated grade crossings to reduce hazards and prevent delays as trains roll through towns. Learn more
Passenger train service in the Willamette Valley needs to be a realistic and popular alternative to traveling by car. We need more options (more trains in the schedule). Faster times. And reliable schedules. Passenger trains are often delayed. It’s happened to me, and I hear the same from constituents. The Cascades train is late 27% of the time, usually because of freight train interference. I’ve been pressing for state and federal action. Learn more
I’ve worked on bills to help transition to and encourage alternative fuel transportation, especially hybrid and electric vehicles. Health is impacted by poor air quality and climate change, as are household and public budgets; increasing options for public and private transportation are key to attacking those problems. Learn more
Uniformed law enforcement officers respond to situations of immediate danger to the public. Certified health care and human service providers can respond to mental health and other crises. Learn more
The legislature routinely reviews some tax credits, and has even discontinued a few to help balance the budget. There are lots of other tax breaks that could be reviewed routinely to ensure they are still meeting the public interest. Learn more
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