In my 20 year career on Vashon, I provided nursing care for families faced with poverty, disabilities, limited English, homelessness, drug addiction, and mental illness. I know the realities these individuals experience in accessing health care. As a Vashon Public Health District commissioner, I will work to ensure that vulnerable populations and the island as a whole will have health care access here on our island.

Although Seamar extended their commitment to provide health care on Vashon, our community still faces challenges such as providing care for homebound individuals as well as a shortage of behavioral health care providers and access to urgent care. I look forward to working with my fellow commissions and the Vashon community to address these unmet needs.

I also want to acknowledge that our tax rate particularly impacts our low-income residents, and I will work to keep our rates as low as possible.