Campaign Priorities

One of the mandated responsibilities of County government is maintaining a jail. Luckily for the residents of Monroe County, we believe that responsibility carries a lot more than simply securing a building. Monroe County is long overdue for a new facility that can hold people in a safe and secure location, while providing pathways for leaving that same location with the supports needed to never return. For the last five years, Kate has worked with members of our community to identify and prioritize the qualities necessary for a safe and rehabilitative environment. First as part of the ad hoc CJRC and the subsequent JFAC, Kate and her Council colleagues used local data and input from law enforcement, the judiciary, formerly incarcerated folks, advocates, and community service providers to compile a list of specific goals to guide the planning for a new jail and related systems, services, and facilities. Unfortunately, the transparency of those initial meetings and discussions devolved and County Council was not granted a seat at the decision-making table until late in the process. Now, we are back to work on identifying an affordable and serviceable location for the new jail and justice services.

The devastating storms of the past year have highlighted the need for communities like ours to make every effort to minimize the impacts of increasingly severe weather and other natural disasters. Having worked in the field of natural resource management and communications for nearly two decades, I continue to prioritize projects that allow our neighborhoods to weather storms more effectively, including stormwater management, open space preservation, and programs to support low-income, rural housing maintenance. Now, local government must consider its role in recovery from inevitable natural disasters in addition to prevention and management. Monroe County will continue to see its residents displaced by storms, fires, etc, and our response will need to go beyond service coordination – we can not count on FEMA coming to our rescue. Through our emergency management, first responders, and additional networks, the county needs to have specific protocols of care and concern for the aftermath of these disasters.

Monroe County is full of caring people and service organizations that support our most vulnerable residents – those in need of housing, mental health services, basic medical care, food, and much more. Unfortunately, the needs often still outpace the supports. Local government must fill gaps and provide pathways for these services to reach the people in need. Our role is to establish an environment that reduces health disparities and approaches the systemic inequities surrounding housing, poverty, and health from a place of compassion and care. By implementing health-in-all and evidence-based policies, we can reduce harm and provide supports to those who are in need.