Political Party: Democrat Hometown: Sayre, Pa Current Town: Sayre, Pa Education: Manheim Central High School: High School Diploma Rhema Bible Training Center: Certificate of Religion Tulsa Community College: AA. In both Psychology and Literature Sewanee Seminary of the South: EFM The University of Tulsa: BA in Sociology, Minor in Literature Northeastern State University: MS in Counseling, LPC and LADC (in progress)

Age: 56

Candidate Background: Proud member with the Okmulgee Rotary Club, the American Counseling Association, the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, Phi Theta Kappa, the Oklahoma Federation of Democratic Women, the Okmulgee County NAACP, the Okmulgee County Democratic Party, the Partner Advisory Council with NE OK Food Bank, the Okmulgee County Consortium, the OK Continuum of Care, the Okmulgee Homeless Task Force, and Oklahoma Democratic Party.[1] I created and oversaw the Okmulgee County Warming Center during the winter weather crisis in Jan 2024 serving over 60+ people for 10 days, doing triage for mental health to help determine what our community needed. Additionally, worked with local faith-based initiatives to begin the process of cooling stations in Okmulgee County. I have volunteered on numerous community events and have joined up with people with differing view than my own to understand and collaborate. Knowing the benefit of fresh foods, I worked with the local community garden and started one at my home to offer fresh produce to neighbors and to local food pantries.

Education see above. Work history: my work history stretches from being a missionary in the U.S. and West Africa working with women and children during the AIDs crisis, Executive Level Administrator with Williams Communication Services and a Project Manager with a Family Practice Residency, and with a well-known architectural firm. I also excelled in sales /customer service with Dillards, Inc and finally as Interim Executive Director for the Okmulgee County Homeless Shelter. The thread of my life’s work has always been about gaining knowledge and serving the most vulnerable through mentoring women and teens in recovery, and various other faith-based initiatives. When I moved here in 1989, I decided to be an active and engaged citizen and I am proud to state that this still rings true today.

These experiences have granted me skills of communication, service, training, and collaboration allowing me to excel in a variety of positions. All these skills will support my working across the aisle and within the community at large.

What are the top three messages of your campaign?

1. Mental Health, Addiction, and alleviating the crisis of homelessness. It’s time to do what the people want and reflect what the campaign says we will do. We need to invest in mental health services. Oklahoma is ranked 47th in 2023 from the annual report from America’s Health rankings. Current Oklahoma politicians vote consistently to keep us ranked in the bottom tier. Mental Health is the basis of many of our state’s issues such as crime, joblessness, and homelessness. Until we take a real look at facing these issues, they will not be resolved. It’s terrific to say

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one is taking a “hard line on crime,” but knowing that crime is merely a product of unaddressed mental health issues, those words are simply empty words. Another health challenge are ones that women aged 18-44 face as they go without maternity care because of cost and lack of medical providers. Our rural communities are hurting because of decisions to decide on women’s healthcare, resulting in an exodus of rural doctors moving to adjoining states out of fear of practicing in Oklahoma.

Mental health and the addiction/homeless crisis are entwined. Everyone in some manner has been affected by the opioid health crisis. Oklahoma’s rate for substance abuse disorder is 16%, meaning over 700,000 Oklahomans need services to recover from addiction. Many want to find recovery but access without funds to recovery is almost impossible. We need to fund rehab and recovery spaces so our citizens can heal and be a part of our community again. Lastly, as the director of the only homeless shelter for four counties, I see the overwhelming need to help our neighbors find affordable housing. Homelessness is more than someone just wanting to live in a tent by the river. It is about the lack of access to replace lost or stolen IDs, the need for medication for mental health, and the support to find a job. I know we can replicate the good we’ve been able to accomplish locally to help serve our communities at a state level.

2. Public Education is another focus. We must invest our time, talent, and resources to support our educational system. If we want our young people to stay in our state, we must fund our public- school systems. We all know public education is the foundation of our rural communities and believing in education begins with respect for teachers and what education gives to us. Specifically, if our rural communities lose our local schools, our towns and communities will fade away. Our teachers deserve more than a platitude of support; they need funds and actual opportunities to help our children. Go Fund Me pages to support our schools is not a long term solution.

Lastly, I will advocate for adult education. Whether someone finds a career in the trades or in a 4 year plus degree, I believe it is never too late, nor one is too old for an education. By creating a pipeline for our young people and adults to go into the trades or university, our state forms a well prepared and educated base of citizens. We also need to offer education to adults who have lost their jobs, creating new economic opportunities for growth and more investment in our economy.

3. Connecting services with our community. It seems that our rural communities suffer and do not have adequate help in regard to veterans care, transportation, and wrap around services for people struggling to make ends meet. One of the main gaps in reaching services is limited transportation. Our rural communities need quality and consistent public transportation as well as access to quality services for mental health, education, and more. When we focus in on the infrastructure of transportation for our communities, we will open new opportunities for jobs, education, and entertainment. The negative impact of a rural community is the isolation that can come with lack of quality infrastructure. When we can bring in connection through transit, everyone benefits. Our veterans and seniors can access their medical appointments with ease, our people can reach educational opportunities, and our communities stay intact.

What are the top three most pressing issues facing rural Oklahoma? How would you address these issues if elected?

I know there is a bit of rhetoric about the McGirt Ruling about Tribal Sovereignty, and many find themselves on opposite sides of understanding. What we as Oklahomans must do is recognize and support our tribal citizens tremendous positive financial impact for our state. Tribal investment is in the billions. Native American tribes in Oklahoma had a nearly $15.6 billion impact on the state in 2021, and the tribes directly employ more than 54,000 people and support a total of 113,442 jobs for tribal citizens and noncitizens, accounting for more than $5.4 billion in wages and benefits to Oklahoma workers. If we as legislators can learn to team up and work with our Sovereign Nations, ALL Oklahomans will benefit. We must move forward in this important unaddressed issue.

Without restating what I said above, a main issue is addiction and mental health issues combined with a lack of quality housing crisis. All of these become the platform for homelessness and continued poverty. We must offer sustainable and workable solutions if our state wants to move from the bottom tier of quality of life. Oklahoma, we are NOT Ok.

Finally, rural representation that actually represents rural issues is a must. We must work together versus aligning with all the ridiculous partisanship that is still being promoted by current legislators. I think Oklahomans are sick of it. To date, not one person has asked me when I was knocking doors whether I was a Republican or a Democrat. They wanted to know what I was going to do for rural healthcare, rural education, bringing jobs to rural Oklahoma. They don’t care that I am a Democrat. What they keep stating is when will the real issues be addressed? I wholeheartedly agree. I have been labeled as naïve and unrealistic in my view of working together, but I have seen firsthand what coming together, regardless of politics and religious beliefs, does for our community. I also have been mocked about my deep belief in representing ALL our community. What ever happened to legislators listening and working for their community and not their party? What ever happened to working together to help a neighbor in need? How can a Legislator know what the community wants or needs if they are not present and available to meet with the community? I am not running for a paycheck. I am running for the chance to work. I am running for positive changes in our district. If those beliefs make me naïve, then so be it. In the end, I am honored for the chance to run and the opportunity to serve at a state level. Thank you,