Communities across Pierce County face unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Between health concerns, job losses, and business closures, our communities are in emotional and financial pain. But I know a strong recovery is possible.
As a member of the Lakewood City Council, I helped reinvigorate the City of Lakewood by attracting more jobs and achieving financial security following the 2008 economic downturn. We ensured Lakewood created a healthy rainy-day fund to respond to emergencies and economic downturn, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and we pushed to invest more money into mental health services.
I am confident that – through smart policies implemented by the right leadership – Pierce County will experience a strong COVID-19 recovery.
As a member of the Pierce County Council, I pledge to:
- Listen to the experts and follow the guidelines outlined by them
- Increase mental health services throughout the county
- Ensure small businesses have access to the resources they need to recover financially and retain employees
- Implement smart incentives to attract more businesses to Pierce County, as well as more affordable housing, creating more jobs and reinvigorating local growth
- Create a robust rainy-day fund capable of helping our communities overcome unexpected future emergencies
As the Deputy Mayor of Lakewood, I’ve worked hard to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 shutdowns on small businesses in my community. I worked with my fellow city council members to establish an assistance program dedicated to providing funding for small businesses to sustain operations and retain employees. The program converts the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding to grants, ensuring capital arrives to qualified businesses quickly.
Serving on the Economic Development Board (Tacoma – Pierce County) has also given me the opportunity to make a difference for businesses in communities across Pierce County. Initiatives like the Business Retention and Expansion program assist growing companies – including a maritime manufacturer and food processing companies – to ensure job creation. We also continue to attract more companies to our county through recruitment programs. These include a PPE manufacturer and an electric vehicle company.
Our efforts resulted in a noticeable improvement in many industry sectors. Pierce County is ahead of many other counties across our state on the path of recovery. Of course, far more must be done for the health of our communities. I am ready to help lead Pierce County toward recovery. I know what it takes to recover from an economic downturn. I am confident I can help communities across Pierce County come out from our present challenges stronger. But, I also know our challenges aren’t just financial — the burdens brought on by COVID-19 impact our mental health, which is why I am committed to increasing funding for mental health services in Pierce County to ensure better access to care for all of our residents in need.