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 44

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

I spent 30 years working for a major company in the Atlanta area. The jobs I held in the company involved finding solutions to issues between parties who did not agree on important employee matters. In addition, my education, lifelong compassion for people, and knowing the difference between right and wrong, are the tools that will equip me for the job I am seeking.

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

Government is a part of every facet of our lives. The role that government should have in the lives of Georgians, is making sure all Georgians have the same opportunities, including a living wage, health care, affordable housing, education for all of our children, voting rights and privacy. When elected, there are three items I want to focus on right away: Medicaid expansion, reversing the unfair voting bill (Senate Bill 2020, and the freedom of personal choice for women.

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

The voting rights bill, women’s rights, increasing the minimum wage and Medicaid expansion. The Election Integrity Act of 2021 (Senate Bill 202) — makes it illegal to give someone water or food at voting sites. No one lives without food and water. Without Medicaid expansion, some Georgians have to decide whether to eat, pay rent or purchase medications.

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

We all share core human values. I will work across the aisle to find and support these common values that binds us all together. My goal is to respect the opinions of others and do what is best for all.

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

My mother was courageous in registering to vote at a time when there could have been violent repercussions for doing so. From her, I learned to stand strong for things I believe in.

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?

As a private Georgian, from my observations, some areas don’t want affordable housing in their communities. This is troubling to me. For housing to be more affordable, the supply of houses needs to increase. Inclusive zoning and limited rent control can help.

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

Compromise is a part of all facets of life. Politics is the art of compromise, but only to a point. When the compromise benefits most of the people and solves major issues that is a win.

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 will stand by the actual results because upholding our democracy is incredibly important.

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

I am a pro-choice candidate. When elected, I will offer a bill to protect women’s rights.

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

No. However when elected, I will sponsor a bill for Medicaid expansion that is very important to those with disabilities.

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?

When there is a surplus, I would look for areas that will benefit all Georgians, such as improving the infrastructure, decrease taxes, making sure our schools statewide have the best of everything to educate our children and focus on the environment.

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

I would seek bipartisan action when voting rights, healthcare, living wage and privacy rights are on the table.