One week on the campaign trail and, not surprisingly, the question so many have asked is why I’m running and why I’d want to spend the time in Olympia that this job requires.

That’s why I’m running! Our district deserves a real voice in Olympia. We need someone who shows up, speaks up, and fights for us every day.

I first realized how urgently we needed better representation when the state overhauled its education funding system. Washington invested heavily in public schools – and yet our district’s revenue barely budged. We gained a little, lost almost as much, and wound up not far from where we started. Why? Because when it comes to state policymaking, one size doesn’t fit all. And no one was in the room talking about communities and school districts like ours.

We learned quickly that instead of being able to rely on our own legislators to advocate for us, we had to do it ourselves. I met with legislators outside the 16th who were willing to listen and help fix what wasn’t working. And while I’m proud of that work, it shouldn’t be the norm. We can’t be an afterthought for our own legislators.

We need someone who will champion our needs, our schools, our economy, and our future. That is why I’m running. I’m stepping up because it’s time we finally had someone in Olympia who represents us, and I will.