ISSUES

Many members of the 19th District feel unsafe, whether it be immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, or kids doing school shooting drills. We all deserve to feel safe in Missouri and our District. I will work to overturn book and drag bans, support our immigrant communities, and institute stricter gun control policy.

No matter where you live in Missouri, the root causes of crime are the same: a lack of educational and work opportunities, along with drug addiction and poverty. Addressing these basic issues must always be central in any conversation about crime.

Every Missouri child should have access to free, quality public education regardless of their zip code. As your representative, I will work to strengthen our public schools and fully fund our commitment to our kids. Every student deserves investment, and our teachers do too.

I will support universal early childhood education, because investing in our kids from an early age is the best way for us to invest in our future. I will also support investment in higher education and workforce training, to ensure all Missourians have the opportunity to gain the skills to compete in our economy.

Quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare is every Missourian’s right. As your state representative, I’ll support common sense measures like expanding Medicaid, so no Missourian is forced to choose between a decent job and keeping their healthcare.

Whether you own or rent, it's getting more expensive to live in our city. Jackson County homeowners face rising property taxes, pushing decades-long homeowners out of our neighborhood, and renters struggle to find safe and affordable housing. I will work with the City and County to fix the tax assessment process and to pursue rent control methods.

As State Representative, I will have the opportunity to connect local organizations with the resources & support they need to thrive. Local organizations make our District special. I will also work with the City to make it easier to own a small business in Kansas City.

Investment in arts and culture is vital for a thriving community. The arts bring the community together to celebrate our diversity and enjoy the best parts of our neighborhoods. Quality of life is shown to improve with the offering of community events such as music concerts, neighborhood beautification, art classes, and cultural celebrations.

Government works best when it is closer to the people it serves. I respect the fabric of our local communities and trust them to know best when it comes to overcoming the challenges they face.

In Missouri, we have seen many decisions influenced by special interests, circumventing the will of local communities on local issues by preempting local ordinances with state law or by diluting local opposition to matters by including state-wide votes.

Every person should have the autonomy to make decisions about their body and their life. Republicans have passed extreme abortion bans in recent years, limiting access to abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or medical need.

Mothers die from childbirth in Missouri in numbers far greater than the rest of the industrialized world, and instead of promoting healthcare, Missouri legislators have placed burdensome restrictions on it.

Republicans have gone so far as to pass legislation that costs hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to defend against Constitutional challenges, while at the same time blaming budget shortfalls for lack of funding for essential items like school transportation.

As your state rep, I will stand with women for the right to make the best decisions about their healthcare for their own lives.

Every year for the past two decades, the Missouri Non-Discrimination Act (MONA) has been filed, only to be blocked by Republicans. MONA would allow basic protections to our LGBTQ community by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to Missouri’s Human Rights Act.

Missourians should not have to fear losing their jobs or being denied housing for who they love—discrimination that is currently completely legal in our state.

Meanwhile, Republicans in recent years have also passed legislation that makes it easier for employers, landlords or businesses to discriminate based on race, age, religion or gender—more so than in any other state.

As your state rep, I will work for a Missouri that welcomes people regardless of race, religion, gender, age or sexual orientation, and protects all people from discrimination.