My parents immigrated to this country as teenagers, carrying only their determination to break away from the cycle of poverty and crime plaguing their home countries. With less than a high school education, my parents raised and expected me to chart my own path to success. At 29, I’m not just creating a path – I’m running it.
I’m running to be state representative for House District 36, which includes Milford, Ellendale, Lincoln, Milton, Slaughter Beach and everything in between. As a public school graduate and having served on the Milford School District Board of Education for three years, I’ve worked to improve our education system and improve the outcomes for all students, particularly our most marginalized students. But there’s more we can do at the state level. We can ensure that our educators and support staff have higher starting salaries, create high-retaining pathways into teaching, address our funding system to ensure more dollars are going toward student needs, and prepare our students for college and careers.
As the vice president of the board of directors for La Red Health Center – a federally qualified health center – I know that we can do better to ensure that our families and neighbors have access to affordable, quality healthcare. That starts by ensuring that we are finding innovative ways to retain and recruit medical professionals into the area, reduce prescription drug costs, provide additional resources for mental health programs and substance abuse treatments, and, yes, safeguard women’s reproductive health.
At the same time, we also have to make sure that Delawareans can afford to live here. It’s no secret that affordable housing is scarce and unaffordable with the median price of a home in Sussex County above $400,000. We can and must do better. We have to work with the county and local municipalities to allow flexibility of local zoning requirements to accommodate higher-density development while balancing environmental concerns. We must continue funding and expanding programs for first-time homebuyers through the Delaware State Housing Authority, encourage the creation of more accessory dwelling units and ensure affordable access for people with disabilities and seniors. All while increasing impact fees on developers to pay for infrastructure needs including schools.
I’ve spent my entire life overcoming challenges, and this race is no different. My experiences at the federal, state and local levels have prepared and provided me with the knowledge and skills to address these issues and many others on Day 1.
Just like this country gave my parents a chance, I hope the 36th District voters give me a chance to represent them in the halls of the Delaware General Assembly.
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