Amy's Platform
Fighting for affordability
A working mother and leader in her union, Amy will bring the perspective of working people to the leadership of our County government. Amy knows that most of us are just one medical problem away from losing our home, or one mental health crisis away from losing our jobs. Amy will use every lever at her disposal to bring down the cost of living and make Deschutes County an affordable place to live and work.
Fair & Accountable Representation
Our national and state constitutions establish structures for the people to be represented by elected officials. The People however did not delegate away all their powers, and we still have the right and the responsibility to hold government accountable. Amy wants to see County Commission hearings be more accessible to the public both in location and time of day so folks can weigh in on important decisions. For example, a critical discussion of how to achieve fair representation is playing out in the proposed districting of our County. Two outgoing County Commissioners voted to advance draft Map C to the ballot in November for an up/down vote by The People of Deschutes County. Amy encourages people to study the ramifications of this particular option, as it will reduce your voting power substantially over the current at-large system. If the County needs to be districted, there are better ways to do it than this particular map. We recommend looking at Bryce Kellogg's modeling here: https://rpubs.com/bryce_kellogg/DMAC
Public safety
We must restore the public's faith in the integrity and honesty of our Sheriff's Office, which is now under new leadership and yet still making headlines for internal strife. Amy will demand more independent investigations and strategic planning for better transparency and accountability from this Department. Deschutes County's Emergency Response is responsible for evacuations. The public needs more preparation and better evacuation route planning given our increased intensity and frequency of wildfire. Amy also supports new County efforts at risk reduction in terms of home hardening and defensible space, as guided by ongoing fire science. Public safety and public health are also intertwined, Amy emphasizes early intervention with behavioral health care, including treatment for substance abuse disorders, and proactive juvenile justice programs that are proven to reduce recidivism.
Healthy communities
Unmet public health needs are at the root of some of the most significant needs in our community - and the County's Health Services are essential stop-gaps that can save lives and improve outcomes. Amy will work with municipal and community partners to attract more health care providers, build a new youth crisis center in the region, and improve accessibility for critical care of people in Deschutes County. She also would like to expand the success of the Healthy Schools Program by establishing clinics at each high school and will work to find long-term funding for the Stabilization Center.
Read her latest Letter to the Editor HERE.
Sensible land use
Preserving the integrity of our ranch and farmlands maintains open space for wildlife while allowing people to make a living from the land. As a former county land use planner, Amy is committed to keeping rural lands rural by managing growth, building more workforce housing, and finding creative solutions to meet the changing needs of our region as we face water scarcity and wildfire dangers.
Wise water use
The Deschutes River defines our region and water is our most precious resource. We must act decisively to ensure the best use of each drop of surface and ground water. Amy favors a collaborative approach so our region can thrive with mindful stewardship of our water resources.
Public transit
Central Oregon's population boom has choked existing roads and highways while short-term fixes have done little to address our outdated infrastructure needs. Building high quality infrastructure and public transit will improve our communities, make our region more attractive for investment, and create good-paying jobs. It just makes good economic sense.