We asked each candidate to answer a few questions so that you can know a little more about their priorities. Click on each question to reach the candidate’s answer. See responses from other candidates: Susannah Brown and Shannon Kessler.
Candidate Statement
It has been my honor to represent San Luis Obispo in the State Assembly. In this role, I’ve listened to the residents of our district and worked hard to deliver results for our Central Coast communities.
My values come from my experiences as a classroom teacher, mom, community leader, and former City Councilmember.
As your Assemblymember, I’ve worked hard to secure San Luis Obispo’s fair share of state funding, support our public schools, improve healthcare access, protect our coast and climate, and lower barriers to home ownership. I’ve authored important legislation to make utilities more affordable, provide housing for homeless students, and improve bilingual education. I also successfully defeated insurance premium increases for low-income seniors and rejected cuts to our California State University and University of California campuses.
Rank the issues in order of importance for our county:
- Cost of living
- Public education
- Housing
- Economic recovery & head of household jobs
- Homelessness
- Public safety
- Public health
- Climate action & resilience
- Infrastructure (roads, water, broadband, etc.)
- Government regulation
- Taxes
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Regional collaboration
If elected, what will you do to address the issue you identified above as most significant?
The rising cost of living has become a crisis for Central Coast families. I am committed to doing everything I can to mitigate the problems high prices have caused for our community. I have authored new laws aimed at reducing costs and adding to the supply of student and senior housing. I also authored a new law protecting mobile home renters from renter abuse. I authored a bill that requires gas and electrical utilities to provide additional cost information when they apply for rate increases that affect consumers. This legislation (AB 2847) was signed into law and prevents undue rate increases for Central Coast consumers.
There is a great deal more to do, and I am open to a range of new approaches to tackle these challenges.
Which theme in the Chamber's regional economic vision, Imagine SLO, do you think deserves the most focus in the next four years and why?
I believe the Chamber’s “Lifelong Learning” theme deserves the strongest focus over the next two years because it is foundational to both economic growth and community well-being. As a public school teacher for over 20 years, including 13 years in special education, I’ve seen firsthand how access to quality education shapes opportunity.
That’s why I introduced AB 560 in 2025, the Special Educator Support Act. Now signed into law, this bill strengthens support for special education teachers by establishing teacher-to-student ratios that promote fair, balanced workloads and improve access to quality education for students with special needs.
Investing in lifelong learning means strengthening our schools, supporting educators, and ensuring students of all abilities have the resources they need to succeed.
When we prioritize education at every stage, from early learning to career advancement, we build a stronger, more resilient local economy that benefits everyone.
What are you most proud of having contributed to our community in the past ten years?
I am proud of the work my office has done to directly serve residents. Our office has an open door to every resident facing problems with state services, and I make it a priority to ensure our team is responsive and effective. We have helped hundreds of people and local businesses facing issues with disability assistance, veterans’ state benefits, unemployment insurance, Medi-Cal benefits, DMV issues, and other challenges. This work is among the most important things legislators can do for the people they represent.
I am of course proud of the work I have done legislatively, securing more funding for local police departments, fire departments, parks, schools, and health facilities. I am proud of my efforts to reduce the cost of living, protect our environment, and reduce homelessness. But the work that stands out to me is what I see in my district office–where people are getting help every day.
Which Assembly Committee has the biggest impact on our region and why?
The state budget process has one of the greatest impacts on the Central Coast because it determines funding for the services our communities rely on most. As Chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health, I fight to improve access to quality healthcare on the Central Coast and across our state. We need a budget that puts our communities – not special interests – first. That’s why I work to ensure our region receives critical investments in rural healthcare access, behavioral health services, and support for local clinics and providers.
For the Central Coast, where many communities face provider shortages and geographic barriers to care, these investments are essential. Through this role, I’m able to advocate directly for resources that improve health outcomes and ensure families can access care close to home. Prioritizing equitable, community-based healthcare funding is key to building a healthier Central Coast.
Do you think the state government is doing enough to support housing in our region? If not, what would you do to change it?
We are not doing enough to build affordable housing and reduce homelessness. I authored legislation specifically aimed at reducing student homelessness and senior homelessness, but there is certainly more to do. Part of the challenge is that California’s large urban centers are not adding enough housing to accommodate the population, but across our state young families are struggling to afford to buy a starter home in the communities they grew up in. I support efforts to make it easier to build housing that fits the character of our communities, that create new home-buyer down payment assistance, and I am going to continue to support efforts to cut red tape and reduce the cost of housing.
Do you think our business environment is healthy? If not, what would you do to change that?
I have supported in various ways the development and adoption of the city Climate Action Plan for Small businesses are struggling on the Central Coast, in no small part because of inflation and the high cost of living. There is not one quick fix to these challenges, unfortunately, but there are steps we can take. I believe we need to support efforts to reduce red tape for businesses, make it easier to launch a business, and to provide low-interest loans to businesses that want to expand and hire more workers. We should also reduce the onerous regulations that many small businesses face just to operate every day.
Some of the hardest hit small businesses during the pandemic were local restaurants–that’s why I introduced a bill that would increase alcohol licenses for Central Coast businesses. Signed by the governor and developed in partnership with San Luis Obispo County, this bill allows restaurants in San Luis Obispo County to expand their offerings so that more businesses can thrive.