GET TO KNOW ME
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If you have any questions, you can contact me at any time.
THIS IS ME
I am a retired teacher who moved to Montana in 1990 because of its wide-open public lands and community spirit. For over 30 years I taught in Laurel and Billings Public Schools as both a special education and regular education teacher. I taught for over 10 years at Central Heights Elementary, so I know District 25 very well. I finished my career as a Reading Interventionist in Title 1 schools. Every day I served the kids others too often overlook. I know what it means to stretch limited resources for those with the greatest needs.
I was a Building Representative for the Billings Education Association for over 20 years and an Executive Board member of the BEA for 4 years. As an active member of the Montana Federation of Public Employees, I advocated for public education and worker protections in the Montana State Legislature. I know what a struggle it is to fight in every session for funding of public education, affordable healthcare, union rights, fair wages and decent working conditions as a union member and representative. And since retiring, I know what it means to navigate a broken healthcare system on the so-called affordable healthcare program. I dream of the day when I am passing legislation that protects and supports all Montanans and not just fighting against legislation that protects and supports corporations and the ultra- wealthy.
My faith has always been expressed through service to those in need. Beyond teaching, I have served as a Mental Health Assistant for children with emotional disturbances who lived in therapeutic foster homes with Youth Dynamics Inc. I volunteered for several years at the Montana Women’s Prison leading a prayer group with other members of St. Patrick’s Centering Prayer group and I am currently a volunteer with Lutheran Family Services helping refugee families in their Global Refuge program in Billings.
I am running for the Montana State Senate because my values are threatened by the same forces that have always threatened ordinary Montanans: concentrated wealth and political power that works for the wealthy instead of everyday working Montanans. The Montana Constitution was drafted to enshrine the rights and values that Montanans hold dear and to prevent the corruption era of the Copper Kings where politicians were bought and paid for and the land we love was destroyed by corporations. That constitution, which preserves our privacy, our public schools and our clean and healthy environment, is under attack by the those who want to diminish the rights of ordinary citizens and grant unlimited rights to corporations and the ultra-wealthy. The next four years will be important in preserving our Montana Constitution. As Senator for District 25, I will work to preserve the constitutional rights we already have and fight the attempts to privatize our public schools, public lands and public services.