Key Issues
ECONOMY
Money is the engine of the county. The county takes your money and spends it. That is the simplest way to explain it. For that money you get something in return; Police, fire, libraries, parks, and many services that help you and our neediest citizens.
I promise to be a diligent steward of that money.
I promise to make sure that if something does not look right, I will speak up on your behalf. I will make sure that whatever the county purchases, it does at the best price and quality, not because someone owes someone else a favor.
We all dislike paying taxes. But, we all understand that if our money is spent correctly and wisely, we are supposed to get something valuable in return that benefits our quality of living and way of life.
My goal is to make sure that your money is not wasted and I will raise my voice and shout when I see the County not making sound financial decisions.
TERM LIMITS
You, the citizen, hold the key to an elected official returning to office or not. Amazingly, in Miami Dade County, the same commissioners keep returning to office, election after election. In fact, in the past 16 years, not one new challenger has defeated an incumbent.
My own experience has shown me that current commissioners need very few votes to return to office. They get so much special interest money, that they are able to overwhelm any challengers.
I am going to change that when I am elected.
I am going to introduce a two term limit for all County Commissioners. Let’s guarantee that new people, with new ideas, and fresh energies, have the opportunity to lead our County.
My promise to you is: Two terms then I look forward to working with whoever will come after me. This is how it should be. You need to know that I will be working for you, and not special interests.
OPEN DOOR POLICY
As commissioner for District 10, one of the most important policies I will have is my “Open Door Policy”.
I want YOU to visit with me. I want to hear your concerns. I want YOU to tell me if you think I am doing something wrong. I am going to work hard to get YOU involved so that you feel like things can change and improve for you and your family! I want to know what bothers you.
I want you to be my eyes and ears as well. If you see signs that are missing, or streets that are broken, public lights that are out, trash in our neighborhood; LET ME KNOW. This is our community and we can make it better if we are all involved. And, if you don’t come to me, I WILL COME TO YOU. That’s right. I am committed and will come to you for insight and advice.
My door will be open, and I expect you to walk through it. I need your help to make our neighborhood greater.
EDUCATION
It seems that month after month the headlines are always the same for our public schools. “Cuts, cuts, and more cuts”. The end result cannot be good for our students, or for our teachers. And just like a business that cuts or “downsizes”, the “product” can become faulty, or of less quality. We cannot afford to let this happen to our children.
I am the mother of a 4 year old child that will enter public school in August of 2010. It concerns me greatly that the leaders of our school system seem to be only concerned about where to cut, rather than... where to grow.
Even though we do have elected members that make up our school board, I plan to use my pulpit as County Commissioner to speak out LOUDLY, on behalf of our children, parents and teachers. I am going to encourage my fellow commissioners to get more involved with the schools in their districts. I want them to find out how these continual cuts are hurting our children, and I want my fellow commissioners to speak with one voice to make certain that the education choices children received in the past continue to be available in the future.
We do not control the school budgets, but we can be a force to unite and encourage parents to a common goal of funding education properly, rather than just watch as hit after hit takes away one thing after another from our children.
As your commissioner, I promise to meet with parents and teachers to make sure they are being heard and to attend School Board meetings regularly to get those concerns out.
The Marlins ownership will certainly be celebrating their new stadium in a few years, but I would rather celebrate that art, music, special needs classes, libraries, honor classes, teachers needs, become our priority.
50/50 PLAN
New tolls are coming for most of us in District 10 on the Don Shula and Snapper Creek Expressways. They will not go away.
I believe commuters deserve a break and I will push for a “50/50 Plan” for frequent commuters. It is very simple. Once you pay 50 tolls for the month on any Miami Dade Expressway, you get a rebate of 50%. If you are a frequent user, you deserve a reward. Airlines do it, restaurants do it, and hotels do it. I will work with MDX to make sure this reward program (or the equivalent) is offered to residents.
SENSE OF COMMUNITY
I will measure my daily successes if at the end of a day; I can look at my 4 year old son, and say: I really helped a lot of people today. For me, that is what this is about, and the reason I am running for office. It is not for me, but for YOU.
I want to encourage community involvement, and let you see that the public cynicism that is so prevalent in our perception of government will NOT be the standard in our District 10. Government works for you. But to work for you... it needs YOU to speak up and share your feelings.
I will attend hundreds of meetings on your behalf, and I will vote on many issues that concern you. But, I do NOT want to do this alone. My goal is to create a “sense of community” that we can do things better, and that you discover my office encourages you to participate in local government, and help me... to help you.
Animal Advocacy
Will work to ensure the protection of all animals, against cruelty and exploitation. Will promote education and awareness on crucial issues concerning all animals.
