I am a wife, a mother, and a small business owner. I have been a resident of Grain Valley, MO for 20 years, but have lived in the Kansas City area my entire life. I have two children, Stephen (29) and Lauren (24, deceased). Lauren had Down Syndrome and was born with severe congenital defects, and ultimately passed away from these health issues in January, 2024. It is in her name that I continue to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.
I have been a volunteer for City Union Mission since I was 15 years old at Tot Lot, and eventually became their Procurement Coordinator when my son was born. My dedication to serving the community continued when my daughter was born with Down Syndrome, and even though my volunteer priorities changed to focus on special needs, my dedication to the community has never waned. I served on the Board of Directors for Giant Step Special Needs program, and then became the advocate for my daughter under the Missouri Department of Mental Health with the Self-Directed Services program until she passed away. She attended Grain Valley High School, graduating in 2019.
It was BECAUSE Grain Valley School district had such a high reputation for excellence that we moved here when she was 3 years old. It is unfortunate that Missouri has placed such a low priority on public schools under their 20 year stranglehold on the Missouri Legislature that I decided it was time to do something about it. Lauren is the reason I am running for State Representative in Missouri House District 32. Since she was unable to speak for herself, which included her ability to consent to reproduction, she is an example of who abortion bans hurt. What about her rights? It was a question I had to answer on her behalf her entire life. Pro-choice options allowed me to make an informed decision on her birth, as well as her death. No woman should ever have to fear making such a life-altering decision, nor should any doctor deny a woman's choice because politicians say it goes against THEIR beliefs.
MY VALUES
I place the highest priority on public education for all children in Missouri. Teachers in this state receive the lowest pay of any state in our country, and this is a travesty! Teachers are leaving the state for better pay because Republicans in the Missouri Legislature have been attempting to defund public schools and send your tax dollars to private and religious schools with little or no state accreditation, oversight, or standardized testing children in rural or urban areas with no choice will go without education. This farce is disguised as "school choice" which simply puts your tax dollars into a voucher system for the rich, and leaves children in rural and poor areas without any alternatives for education. Private schools are NOT required to accept any children that don't meet their definition of worthy, which includes children of color, children with special needs or IEPs. Under "school choice", what choice do THEY have?
I will work to restore reproductive rights to women, including reproductive choice. The government does not have to right to determine or override the needs of women and children under a doctor's care simply because it offends their faith. No person should make a healthcare decision for another person, unless they are the legal guardian, parent, or their medical provider.
I believe that Missouri workers deserve to have protections in their jobs, and that every large corporation should pay their fair share of taxes. I believe that Missourians do not deserve to shoulder the bulk of the taxation that rich seem to avoid, and the rush to the bottom as one of the poorest states in the United States of America makes me upset. It is time for a change.
