The responses to these questions were edited for length and clarity by the Georgia Decides team. Each candidate was allotted 150 words for each answer and some answers were trimmed in order to abide by that length requirement. Other edits were made to make sure readers can fully follow and understand the candidate responses.

Campaigning for: State House District 86

How does your background equip you for the job you are seeking?

I am a public health doctoral candidate, biomedical scientist, youth development coach, and parent and community advocate. My track record of identifying issues and partnering with experts to implement long-term solutions is necessary for inclusion and growth in our district. Throughout my career as a scientist, I studied the effects of economics on health and sustainability, as well as nurtured partnerships to facilitate youth development. We deserve leadership that can relate to the needs of our growing community and will articulate those concerns to obtain quantifiable results.

What role should government have in the lives of Georgians? How would you apply that philosophy to the job you are seeking?

Government should reflect the interests of the diverse families, businesses and cultural populations in the district. I would stand to serve the citizens who voted me into office as well as those who did not by applying this philosophy in my fight at the Capitol.

If you are elected (or re-elected), what problems will you spend the most time solving and why?

I want to fight to mitigate educational, health, gender, housing, and racial disparities using proven public health frameworks that explain the need for funding in these areas.

Georgia is a politically diverse state. How will you work to represent Georgians whose political views differ from your own?

I would stand to serve all citizens whether they voted for me or not by equally listening to their issues and removing bias as much as possible to allow for a clear and unbiased solution.

Who has been the biggest influence on how you view state government and politics? What have you learned from this person?

My mother. I have learned from my mother to stand up and fight for what you believe is right.

Georgia has a lot to offer current and potential residents, but many parts of the state are becoming increasingly unaffordable. Please explain your proposed approach to address housing affordability through legislation and executive actions?

I do feel there should be laws on how many properties can be bought by private companies to allow single families the opportunity to purchase homes as well. The state can evaluate other states that have successful affordable housing programs, and formulate that to fit our state and our specific situations. We can also develop legislation that requires developers to include a certain percentage of its units as affordable housing units to ensure equity and diversity within the growth of the community.

Politics is often about compromise. How do you decide when to compromise and take small, incremental wins, and when to refuse compromise?

The decisions should be made according to whatever solution provides the best quality of life for the citizens in our district and state.

There were politicians who questioned the outcomes of Georgia elections in 2018 and 2020. Do you think Georgia’s elections are secure and will you stand by the results?

I do think they are secure but I also feel voting laws should be revisited to better accommodate fair voting for all citizens.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, state law and local enforcement authority will determine access to abortion.

“Reproductive Justice is the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities” (Midwives Alliance of North America). I strongly defend a woman’s right to choose. I also support the expansion of services to help parents raise strong healthy well-educated children.

Are there any programs/legislation you’ve sponsored or created to help people with disabilities?

Not yet.

Georgia closed out its budget year with a “likely record surplus, billions of dollars in federal aid and a growing economy.” Georgia spends more than half of this money on education and health care. What would you want to see in the budget in terms of spending or taxes?

Continue supporting education and health care, but add housing assistance.

The Legislature often votes along party lines. When would you seek bipartisan action and what issues merit such consensus?

Reproductive rights, public health, and education. Roe v Wade being overturned, and inflation.