ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS
Seeking Solutions. Solving Problems.
FAMILY
Healthy, safe and walkable neighborhoods are important to the vitality and growth of Clark County.
homelessness & housing
Homelessness is a complex issue that continues to affect many of our Clark County neighbors. For the past several years, I have been serving the homeless and have seen the faces of those who have become lost in the system. The pandemic put pressures on our community that increased the number of individuals needing housing assistance. Rising living costs, scarcity of affordable housing, taxes, inflation, and a lack of safety nets, all impact vulnerable families and individuals in Clark County.
In Clark County, two-thirds of the people who sought intervention in 2019 and 2020 were new to homelessness but only 16% of households were able to find supportive housing. We need diverse voices and perspectives to promote safe and effective solutions including access to basic needs. We need to build partnerships to find solutions for people quickly while expanding emergency services. Clark County leadership must take the lead and work together to promote responsible zoning for mid-range and low income houses that collaborates with the private sector to meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
In Clark County, two-thirds of the people who sought intervention in 2019 and 2020 were new to homelessness but only 16% of households were able to find supportive housing. We need diverse voices and perspectives to promote safe and effective solutions including access to basic needs. We need to build partnerships to find solutions for people quickly while expanding emergency services. Clark County leadership must take the lead and work together to promote responsible zoning for mid-range and low income houses that collaborates with the private sector to meet the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
community
At the heart of Clark County is a small town, know-your-neighbor community. Our beautiful Vancouver waterfront is attracting more and more people to the charm of living in Clark County every day. Leaders of our region need to understand the dynamics of both economic growth and local culture. We live in a region that is overflowing with nature from mountains to rivers which we all cherish. Growth in the region needs to respect the values of Clark County residents while cultivating growth. My solution will focus on developing the most dense zones of our county while preserving areas of outdoor recreation.
FREEDOM
Freedom allows people in our region to increase productivity, be creative, and live a high quality of life.
transportation
As Clark County grows so does our need for reliable roads and better mobility. Moving by vehicle is a fact of life in our community. Our most urgent need is a third bridge that can decrease congestion on the I-5 corridor and connect the industrial areas of Vancouver and Portland. Now is the time for the Clark County Council to collaborate with community partners to make a third bridge a reality.
Additionally, the I-5 bridge repair is an important part of Clark County's transportation future. A crowded I-5 corridor has ramifications for our entire community, and it must be addressed RIGHT NOW. At the same time, a single project is not the only issue on the table. Years of underinvestment in transportation infrastructure have increased costs, lowered productivity, and damaged quality of life in the county. The I-5 Bridge replacement and widening project must be pursued in the long run, because it will provide better transportation options to residents throughout the region. A functioning I-5 Bridge crossing, enhanced and expanded public transportation that make roads and sidewalks accessible for all modes of travel are all necessary components of a good transportation system.
Additionally, the I-5 bridge repair is an important part of Clark County's transportation future. A crowded I-5 corridor has ramifications for our entire community, and it must be addressed RIGHT NOW. At the same time, a single project is not the only issue on the table. Years of underinvestment in transportation infrastructure have increased costs, lowered productivity, and damaged quality of life in the county. The I-5 Bridge replacement and widening project must be pursued in the long run, because it will provide better transportation options to residents throughout the region. A functioning I-5 Bridge crossing, enhanced and expanded public transportation that make roads and sidewalks accessible for all modes of travel are all necessary components of a good transportation system.
crime & public safety
Our public safety toolbox needs to be restocked and Clark County leadership needs to focus on bolstering our Sheriff’s department. Much of the legislation that has been passed in Olympia has undermined our law enforcement which has caused a rise in theft and other offenses around our community. We need to hire more Sheriff deputies and pay them a prevailing wage to retain them within the department. I support allocating funds to recruit new deputies that Clark County desperately needs along with maintaining the current personnel that work on the front lines every day and night.
Jail Replacement
Our Clark County jail is failing and desperately needs to be replaced. I fully support finding the funds to either retrofit or completely replace the jail.
Moving forward, I will work with other council members and consult with the Sheriff’s Department to find alternative options - such as a modular add on - to build a space that is safe for both employees and inmates while we find solutions for a jail replacement that works within the county budget.
Moving forward, I will work with other council members and consult with the Sheriff’s Department to find alternative options - such as a modular add on - to build a space that is safe for both employees and inmates while we find solutions for a jail replacement that works within the county budget.
LIVEABILITY
Strong businesses, good jobs and smart money management support residents and revitalize our neighborhoods.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Our leaders must embrace innovative, contemporary thinking to address homelessness, safety, and growth as Clark County battles with budget allocation issues. When government costs were increasing, our exceptional county employees put in incredible amounts of effort to make ends meet while doing more with less.
Our Clark County Council must place a premium on carefully examining budgets and operations in order to identify what needs to be improved and ensure that taxes and fees are spent as efficiently as possible in order for us to achieve the greatest good for our citizens. I promise that I will work to avoid raising your taxes for unnecessary spending.
Our Clark County Council must place a premium on carefully examining budgets and operations in order to identify what needs to be improved and ensure that taxes and fees are spent as efficiently as possible in order for us to achieve the greatest good for our citizens. I promise that I will work to avoid raising your taxes for unnecessary spending.
JOBS & ECONOMY
All businesses, large and small, must be able to grow in Clark County. We must establish rules that encourage growth and innovation while also attracting new enterprises to the area. Businesses that wish to establish operations in Clark County should know that they will have no trouble obtaining permits, navigating regulations, and finding excellent workers at all levels.
The County must collaborate with local businesses and educational institutions to develop a plan for investing in workforce training, apprenticeship, and education. Our workers' demands include well-paying employment that encourages them to remain in Clark County and engage more fully in the community.
The County must collaborate with local businesses and educational institutions to develop a plan for investing in workforce training, apprenticeship, and education. Our workers' demands include well-paying employment that encourages them to remain in Clark County and engage more fully in the community.