Key Questions for Candidates for Governor for the State of New Jersey

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the right to live and work in their own communities—not institutions. As Governor, I’ll expand and strengthen Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) so individuals can live with dignity and close to family and support networks.

But, the high cost of living in New Jersey affects far more than just those who qualify for Medicaid. That’s why my top priority will be lowering those costs—starting with taxes, healthcare, housing, utility bills, and everyday essentials—so all families, including those with disabilities, can afford to stay and thrive in their communities.

• My Family Tax Credit will lower income taxes for every family with dependents—including a 50% cut for families in the lowest bracket. Every family—regardless of income—will see their taxes go down.
• I’ll build more housing that’s affordable by repurposing vacant office parks and government-owned properties and investing in innovative housing options like starter homes and workforce housing. I’ll cut property taxes by nearly 15% and give renters an annual rental rebate.
• I’ll lower drug prices, expand telehealth, and require more transparent pricing—relief that’s especially important for people with disabilities and their caregivers.

People with disabilities should never be priced out of their communities. I’ll make New Jersey more affordable—especially for those who need it most.

It is essential that we create opportunities and programs that allow individuals with disabilities to live and thrive in our communities. With the right support, these individuals can live safely and independently outside of expensive facilities. Our state provides more services for those under the age of 21, but individuals and families have far less support as they reach adulthood, especially in living independently within their communities.

During my time in Congress, I have worked with the disability community to improve accommodations for independent living. I secured funding for Jewish Services for the Developmentally Disabled for a pilot program to incorporate assistive technology into their day habilitation and private residential settings across Northern New Jersey, with the goal of providing greater independence and autonomy. They designed an innovative program that is customized to meet the unique needs of each individual, including a person’s lifestyle, daily living routines, medical, health, and safety needs. Dedicated staff members are able to monitor and intervene as necessary, with the capacity to support a larger number of individuals. This pilot program allowed JSDD to develop a new model and best practices that will allow these services to be expanded to additional organizations. As governor, I would seek to scale this model to support more individuals across the state.

As governor, I would also work to expand support for caregivers. More than one million residents in New Jersey provide care on their own each week, valued at $17 billion annually, and spend on average more than 25 percent of their income on caregiving activities. My Affordability Agenda strives to drive down costs of care and I will work with groups like the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities to better support caregivers across the state.

As Governor, I will double-down on our state’s commitment to assisting people with disabilities to live in the communities of their choice. This means making sure self-directing individuals and families are empowered to make decisions. Government is best when it gives people the tools to build their own lives and then gets out of the way.

As Governor, I have the responsibility of ensuring full inclusion and support for New Jerseyans with disabilities. This should be an all of government approach to provide critical programs for our residents with disabilities, as well as their families and caretakers. Critical to my approach is to prioritize listening to the needs of our residents and caretakers who are part of the I /DD communities. Too often very basic needs, such as transportation or a sustainable community home, are made impossible because of a myriad of regulations and policies that (no matter how well intentioned), interfere with the goals we aspire to achieve.

I will work in collaboration with organizations like NJCDD, to ensure the state budget builds funding for services and identifies areas where we can enhance services and support while reducing the frustrations of bureaucracy. With the fate of federal funding for healthcare and human services in jeopardy due to Donald Trump and Elon Musk, it is imperative that we shore up our state-issued programs to minimize services disruptions.

We have to address a host of issues such as resistance in some communities to welcome community homes for people in the I /DD community, regulations and policy that make the level of care and fiscal sustainability of local residences impossible and staffing challenges. I believe that there are practical solutions to all of these, some of which require money and other actions are at no cost at all.

To the point of your question, the solution to these challenges are going to be less costly (and most importantly provide better care and support) than the alternative of expensive nursing homes.

As an educator I have seen the life changing impact that appropriate supports and opportunities provide, and I look at all children through the eyes I see my own children.

A key element in helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain and maintain employment is ensuring access to appropriate job training. That’s why I sponsored the law that established college-based adult centers. These centers are specifically designed to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the training they need to live independently and succeed in the workforce.

I was also proud to advocate for legislation that enables fast-track hiring for individuals with disabilities. As Governor, I will build on this progress by offering incentives to businesses that hire individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I will also permit exemptions from certain civil service examinations.

In addition to employment opportunities, individuals with disabilities and their families need proper support systems to help them remain in their communities and out of nursing homes. We must ensure that all direct support professionals are well-trained and fairly compensated so they can provide high-quality care in home settings. And while we must do everything we can to support individuals athome, some may still require nursing home care. It is equally important that aides working in these facilities receive proper training as well.

We need to do everything we can to ensure all of our children have the support they need in school to learn and achieve their full potential. That is why I am a proud co-sponsor of a bill to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act so our schools are able to access the grants and funding they need. At the state level, it is clear that our current school formula is not working and that is especially true for children who need special education. We should be allocating funding in a way that gets students the help they need, rather than using arbitrary statistics. As Governor, I will establish a Special Education Funding Review Task Force to assess the effectiveness of state aid for special education and determine how our school funding formula can better serve the needs of our school districts and children in special education.

New Jersey has one of the top-rated school systems in America and that is a testament to the resources we have dedicated to ensuring all students have a fair shot at success. I’m glad to see we are finally fully funding the formula, which was no small feat, but now that it is being fully implemented, we are seeing flaws that need to be addressed. The bulk of the current formula was written in 2008 and needs to be modernized. For example, we need to ensure it takes into account districts that have a higher percentage of students with special needs. These are often districts that have prioritized special education programming and have attracted greater numbers of families seeking those services. The census-based approach to special education fails to consider how classification rates vary across districts. I am supportive of efforts to examine a tier-based model for special education funding, either through a task force or under the next Education Adequacy Report, as is being considered under Senator Gopal’s S3917. As governor, I would work with the legislature on a comprehensive effort to modernize and stabilize the formula, ensuring districts have the resources needed to maintain the programs, staffing levels, and the quality of education a student receives year to year.

As Governor, I will do everything possible to empower our families with special needs children. Parents shouldn’t have to fight their local school district for the basic right to a quality education. Indeed, we not only have a legal obligation to ensure students with disabilities have meaningful access to a “fair and appropriate” education; we have a moral obligation, too.

As a teacher and current President of the NJEA, I have worked my entire career to promote educational opportunity for all students, particularly those whom our current system underserves. The census-based model for special education services does not disburse funding equitably and it causes financial strain on many districts that must absorb costs of providing services students deserve. The census-based model has created gaps between actual needs and actual funding – $378 million less than what is necessary to serve all students based on actual special education enrollment. We should be allocating funds based on individual district needs, based on the students they actually serve. And the state must continue to increase funding for extraordinary special education costs as well. Of course, this is compounded by the threats and attacks that the federal administration has perpetrated against public education, namely the attempt to eliminate critical funding and the Department of Education.

Yes, a tiered funding system more accurately reflects the true costs of educating students with special needs. The current census-based model has consistently shortchanged local school districts, leaving them without sufficient resources. I have a proven record of advocating for the state to fully fund extraordinary special education costs—100%, as it should be.

Data and family feedback show that the current system under the Children’s System of Care is failing our children—there simply aren’t enough resources to go around. We need to tackle the root of this problem. As Governor, I will make sure children with developmental disabilities are provided with the services they need, regardless of what department those services live in. The goal isn’t more bureaucracy, something that we’re legendary for here in New Jersey, it’s better outcomes for kids and peace of mind for their families.

I strongly believe that the needs and interests of individuals and families that are served by the state government should be at the forefront of how we structure and administer those programs. As governor, I would work with stakeholders and advocates to consider how we can best serve individuals with disabilities, and specifically evaluate whether the 2013 reorganization has improved services and outcomes.

In far too many cases, New Jersey residents are asked to navigate services across a number of different agencies, leading to frustration and wasted time. For example, by dividing services across multiple agencies, individuals and families are forced to reapply to a new agency and go through a duplicative process to prove once again that they have a disability. The Department of Human Services has considerable expertise in programs and services for families, children, and vulnerable populations like those with disabilities. I will work as governor to improve the administration of these programs and create a better experience for children and their families.

As Governor, I would do everything possible to make sure our special needs children have the supports and services they need. To that end, I plan to undertake a comprehensive review of our disability policymaking and service delivery system, looking at each department and agency, and something tells me, changes – big changes – may be in order.

I have heard substantive and serious concerns about CSOC as the pathway to serve children with developmental disabilities. No matter how well intentioned, if a governmental system is not serving the needs of the people it is designed to serve, we must take a serious look and reevaluate. The decision to reallocate departmental authority would start with feedback from you and others who engage with CSOC regulary. I would absolutely consider transferring jurisdiction back to DHS if that means our children receive better quality care and more attentive service. So we have to make sure that any change we collectively agree to is implemented carefully and thoroughly.

Ultimately, any system of care needs to be monitored consistently and we should always be ready to adjust the system so it meets the needs of those it serves.

Whether the services for children with a developmental disability are served by the Department of Human Services or Children and Family Services, they need to be provided with adequate services. The solution may be moving back to the Department of Human Services, but I cannot commit to that at this time. What I will commit to is to guarantee that my administration will be focused on providing adequate services for all families with a child with a developmental disability.

The Trump Administration has declared war on some of our most vulnerable citizens: seniors, children, and people with disabilities. I’ll do everything in my power to protect Medicaid and any other earned benefits. In Congress, I’ve been leading the charge to prevent cuts to these critical programs—and we also have to work tirelessly to make sure everyone eligible for Medicaid is promptly enrolled. As Governor, I’ll direct my attorney general to sue to stop any cuts to benefits and I’ll double our fight fund to stand up to Trump. New Jersey is one of the worst states in the nation at getting money back from Washington that we are owed. I’ll appoint a “Clawback Czar” to bring every last penny we can of our tax dollars back to Jersey, just like I’ve been working hard to do in Congress, where my district is up 357% in money clawed back.

I am committed to protecting the key social safety net programs that New Jersey families rely upon — like Medicaid and SNAP — so New Jerseyans can continue accessing them. The horrific truth is that if Trump and Washington Republicans defund Medicaid and other critical programs, New Jersey will need to find billions to offset the federal cuts. I will comprehensively evaluate and consider a variety of proposals to generate the revenue to fund state expansions, with a focus on revenue that doesn’t increase families’ already-high costs of living or harm our state’s competitiveness. I will also direct the Attorney General to take the Trump administration to court when they try to cut the critical resources that New Jersey communities rely on every day.

• As Governor, instead of taking away Medicaid from individuals and families we should be rooting out waste, fraud and abuse within the system.
• Work to reduce, if not eliminate the waitlist for the Community Care program to serve more individuals and families.
• I would ensure that Federal reimbursements are reinvested back into support and services for people with I/DD.

Our residents with disabilities are among the most vulnerable to changes in healthcare funding. Medicaid funding serves as a cornerstone of our public healthcare system, as it provides essential coverage for residents who would otherwise be priced out of care options. With a presidential administration threatening to destroy Medicaid and Medicare nationwide, I will be aggressive in protecting the care required. First, let me be clear that any attempt to withdraw Medicaid support will be met by an aggressive legal strategy from the Attorney General I appoint. Second, as the Trump Administration seeks to cut funding for vital programs to provide tax cuts to the super wealthy, I will seek tax reform here in New Jersey to recoup lost revenue.

These are perilous times and I understand that it adds tremendous stress to families already balancing so much. My commitment is to work with you, work through these challenges together and never have you feel you are going it alone.

We can’t predict the cuts or their extent. As Governor, I will dedicate myself to supporting individuals and families affected by this issue. These cuts will affect my daughter and many others. I will work to ensure the state provides adequate resources for long-term support for I/DD and their families.

I fully support helping people with disabilities find and maintain meaningful employment in the community—and being paid fair, competitive wages for their work. It’s not just a matter of equality and dignity—it’s also smart economic policy.

As Governor, I will make it a priority to expand access to competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This means investing in job coaching, supported employment services, and customized employment pathways tailored to each person’s strengths and interests. We’ll work with employers to improve inclusive hiring practices and provide incentives for businesses that prioritize accessibility and retention.

I’ll also ensure that people with lived experience—individuals with disabilities—have a voice in how our workforce and disability support systems operate.

I strongly support state action to help more individuals with disabilities access good-paying, meaningful employment – which can be so critical to the quality of life of New Jerseyans with disabilities. As a Member of Congress, I’ve been proud to bring back federal dollars to help connect individuals with disabilities with good jobs, and to support federal contracting opportunities for individuals with disabilities. As governor, I am committed to working with you and other organizations to boost the employment of individuals with disabilities within the state government, provide assistance and incentives to businesses and nonprofits that employ workers with disabilities and pay them the same wages as those without disabilities, and provide individualized career counselling and mentoring to individuals with disabilities who are seeking employment. With strong state action and support, we can reduce the unemployment rates facing individuals with disabilities in New Jersey and help them transition to high-quality, well-paying jobs.

• Absolutely, people with disabilities should have the support they need to find and keep jobs in the community and if they are doing the same job at the same level as someone without a disability their pay should be the equitable.
• Provide state assistance to incentivize people to develop more job training programs and programs (i.e., No Limits Cafe in Middletown, NJ). Educate and provide training for companies and organizations on how to hire and support people with disabilities at their job.

Yes, absolutely. As Governor, first I want to lead by example. That means employment opportunities in my administration for people with disabilities. Second, I want to see an all government approach to employment opportunities and ensuring fair living wages – from job training programs to incentives, where appropriate, for businesses to create opportunities. Investments in workforce development for New Jerseyans with disabilities provides benefits on the individual level and strengthens our labor force. The all of government approach includes labor and civil rights protections.

We also need to address supportive services such as transportation and assuring that there is training for employees at businesses that are hiring people with different abilities to create positive work environments for all.

To do this work with fidelity I would recommend a working table under the auspices of the Governor’s office with stakeholders and employers so that we maintain communication and expand opportunities statewide.

As an educator I have seen the success and satisfaction that comes when we provide high quality employment opportunities for people with disabilities. I want to see this for every person who wants to work.

There are varying levels of ability amongst individuals with disabilities, but the value of employment is crucial to enhancing the quality of life for all. I have supported sheltered workshops and will continue to do so. My preference is for individuals to be given the opportunity to be employed and earn a paycheck rather than being limited to adult day care options. Additionally, I am committed to providing comprehensive training and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to secure traditional employment. The adult career training centers equip adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) with the skills necessary to achieve independence, including the ability to maintain employment. Recognizing that many employers may be hesitant to hire individuals with developmental disabilities, I advocate for incentivizing these employers to hire I/DD employees. Moreover, I championed legislation mandating improved paratransit practices to strengthen transportation resources for individuals requiring transportation to their workplaces. We also increased hiring ratios in the public sector and eliminated civil service barriers that previously hindered the employment of individuals with I/DD.

Inadequate public transit negatively affects few people more than people with disabilities, The failings of Access Link over the last several years are unacceptable. As Governor, I will improve transit access for everyone—including those who rely on Access Link. I’ll increase the number of drivers and ensure they receive proper training, so riders aren’t left waiting for hours or put at risk due to improper securement.

When I’m Governor, if trains are hours late, riders will get their money back. I will hold up the $200 million per year that we pay Amtrak, which owns the rails NJ Transit uses, until it fixes the switches and catenaries. I will also add more NJ Transit train cars, buses, drivers, and routes to improve transit. And I’ll work to make sure our transit is more accessible and affordable for everyone, including by expanding service in South Jersey.

Ensuring that individuals with disabilities enjoy full access to our communities is critical to their needs. In too many cases, local communities have zoned housing and commercial spaces in ways that are not aligned with smart planning, with too little access to transportation, jobs, and community centers. Under my Affordability Agenda, I would work with municipalities to build a variety of housing options, including housing for those with disabilities. I am also supportive of transit-oriented development, which could allow those with disabilities better access to public transportation, particularly services like NJ TRANSIT’s AccessLink. I would also evaluate how the state can better support county-based transportation services for those with disabilities.

• Partner with existing private sector companies to provide transportation options that are specifically for people with disabilities. Fund the training for these departments.
• Look at successful county transportation models (i.e., Middlesex County Ride Program) and expand throughout the state of New Jersey.
• Tap into existing school bus companies to create a wide variety of routes, similar to public bus transit

Transportation for people with I /DD is too often a barrier to opening opportunities, seeking care and establishing independence. For both the people seeking the services, and those providing the services, I have heard the challenges and frustrations. There must be reliable, supportive, timely and safe transportation for people in the I /DD community.

We need to increase investment in the transportation system, including training and professionalizing the workforce in the sector so that they can provide the level of service and care required.

We need a full system evaluation of routes, services and needs in demand to make sure we have the right transit accessible where and when needed. And we need to better utilize technology to provide more timely services but also better communication when delays do occur (no matter how good the service, we all know New Jersey traffic can cause delays).

And we need to be flexible, so when the transit system fails to meet the needs of our riders, we provide alternatives. There are no quick or easy solutions but I know we can improve upon the status quo together.

As Governor, I will ensure the paratransit coordinating councils set up under Senate Bill 2517 are properly resourced. This issue is familiar to me; as Senate President, I addressed New Jersey Transit’s failures for I/DD. However, the mandated initiatives have not been fully implemented, and I will strive to improve transportation services for the I/DD community.

There’s a direct care workforce crisis in New Jersey that’s been ignored for too long—and it’s hurting individuals with disabilities, their families, and the providers who support them. Community-based direct care workers are essential to helping people live safely and independently. Our neighboring states pay caregivers much better, and we’re losing out on qualified and talented staff to places like New York. That’s unacceptable.

As Governor, I’ll work to improve retention and make sure workers have adequate pay and time off. I’ll also support creating a single curriculum and training for the direct care workforce in both institutional and community-based settings, with the goal of creating a workforce that can flow between both systems. I’ll also allow Certified Medication Aides (CMAs) to work in nursing homes, as are permitted in over 35 states nationwide, which will also help boost the community-based caretaker workforce. We also need to give more support to family caregivers. In Congress, I introduced the bipartisan Caregiver Financial Relief Act to waive early withdrawal penalties from retirement accounts for family caregiving expenses and the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act to help working family caregivers offset their expenses. As Governor, my “Family Tax Credit” will reduce the bottom line on the income tax form for every Jersey family with dependents to help ease the financial hardship many take on when caring for a loved one, and I’ll create a tax credit to help people respond to caregiving emergencies.

The direct-care workforce is a necessary resource for those in the IDD community and their loved ones to ensure that they can live full and fulfilling lives. The current workforce shortage is threatening access to that critical care and putting a strain on families. As governor, I would work to find innovative solutions to increase the workforce. I would bring together community partners to establish creative partnerships that boost recruitment and retention programs. This includes additional workforce development and advancement opportunities as well as improved employee benefits. I also know that the wages our direct care workers earn don’t reflect their value to our community and I am committed to finding ways that we can increase these wages to boost recruitment efforts.

We need to give individuals/families the ability to pay for and sustain self-directed staff, eliminate the 25/hour wage ceiling for self-directed employees and agency staff, create provider assisted self-direction to ensure sustainability of staff and self-direction.

Community based care workers do critical and demanding work that requires compensation commensurate with the responsibilities we expect of them. Under Governor Murphy we have made strides in raising wages but we know the sector lags behind. As a union leader, I recognize it is wages but also other benefits – including uptraining and opportunity for advancement – that can aid in retention. As we have recognized with the crisis in public school employment, in order to increase recruitment, we have to address retention. Beyond wages and benefits, sometimes it is in the small actions we can see big return. Respect and recognition that we can lead on from the Governor’s office is an example of ways we can lift up the workforce. Training opportunities and building a sense of community is another example. Recruitment and retention takes time and concerted effort, but this is an issue I’ve addressed as a labor leader and I am confident we can grow the workforce.

The workforce shortage stems from inadequate training and compensation. As Senate President, I created a Direct Support Professional Career Development program to address these issues. Direct Service Professionals care for our loved ones and need support akin to family care. Caring for those with developmental disabilities requires unique skills, warranting proper compensation.

To tackle the issue of accessible housing, I will establish a statewide clearinghouse where persons with disabilities can find information on how to modify their homes for independent living. I’ll also provide incentives to developers to incorporate universal design principles into new construction.

In order to make housing more affordable, we need to build more housing. Jersey is short more than 200,000 housing units, which drives up costs. I have a plan to lower property taxes by nearly 15 percent and provide rental rebates, but we must go further—especially for people with disabilities, who often face even greater barriers to finding accessible, affordable housing.

I’ll focus on building near mass transit hubs and repurpose abandoned office parks and government-owned land to expand supply. We also should push to modernize zoning laws, reduce unnecessary permitting delays, and encourage municipalities to build more affordable housing, especially with units that are built to be accessible for people with disabilities. I will look for ways to speed up the development process, cut red tape that’s holding up new construction, and find new, innovative models of home ownership and financing to help people who need it.

Many parents of individuals with disabilities face concerns over how their adult children will have access to safe and supportive housing, which can be unaffordable and lacking in accommodations for those with disabilities.

As governor, making New Jersey more affordable by bringing down the cost of housing will be one of my highest priorities. I would work with municipalities to encourage innovative zoning and redevelopment strategies to build a range of housing options, including workforce housing and “Missing Middle” units, while also incorporating transit-oriented development and housing for those with disabilities. It is critical that our communities are accessible and accommodating to people of all abilities. I would also oppose any budget diversions from the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which can be used to fund construction of supportive housing projects and projects serving people with special needs. Constructing a variety of new housing supply is critical to addressing the root causes of homelessness, and we must also continue to support programs and organizations that work to keep at-risk individuals and families from homelessness, including transitional housing services, emergency assistance, and wraparound services.

I will provide individuals/families more opportunities to develop their own homes/intentional communities in a variety of settings, eliminate the cap on the Supportive Housing Connection (SCH) Subsidies for individuals/families who want to direct their own housing.

New Jersey is facing a critical lack of affordable and accessible housing across the board. As Governor, I will expand on the work I did as Mayor of Montclair by driving state-level solutions that focus on the housing needs of our communities over the profits of developers.

Supportive housing and community homes belong in every community and as Governor I will work to partner with municipalities to expand opportunities for people with disabilities. Together we can dispel misplaced nimbyism and make the diverse housing offerings a point of pride in communities.

While we have a shortage of affordable homes, we also have too many homes off the market (our state still leads in foreclosures) that we should look to bring back on market and provide opportunities to diversify our housing stock. I would seek to activate state support for those wanting to develop these.

Our goal will be to provide housing for people with disabilities in the communities where they want to live in close proximity to their families, support systems and employment opportunities.

When my daughter was born, we were advised to sign her up for housing she wouldn’t need until adulthood. Even if we did, placement wasn’t guaranteed. I’ve advocated for better county analysis of housing demand and supply for individuals with developmental disabilities. Housing is scarce in New Jersey, especially for those with disabilities. As Governor, I plan to create communities where individuals with disabilities can live independently but remain close to their families and others with similar experiences.

Unlike Donald Trump, I believe diversity is a strength in our country, not a weakness. I also believe having a diverse administration makes us stronger, and that includes people with disabilities. My Administration will appoint qualified people who understand how policy impacts people with disabilities in a unique way. This is critical to have a better, more responsive government.

It is critical that state leadership and advisors reflect the populations they serve, and that includes individuals with disabilities and their advocates. It is impossible to truly serve residents with special needs to the best of our ability without including their perspectives and experiences in the policy-making process. I am committed to appointing qualified individuals to state boards like the State Council on Developmental Disabilities with input from stakeholders and advocates. I would also collaborate with the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus to advance policies and legislation that better serve residents with disabilities.

As we will throughout all aspects of our administration, we will partner with people who have real-world experience to make the policy decisions that are impacting a specific community. It’s just common sense!

My approach to governance will be all-inclusive and my style of leadership is inclusive. This is what I mean when I speak about our chance – our chance to a government that reflects the full diversity of our residents, to be in the seats where decisions are made rather than knocking on the doors of power for 30 minutes of attention. I am running a campaign powered by the people, for the people, not corporate interests and their profit margins.

My administration will rely on the input of organizations like NJCDD as we develop actionable solutions to problems that all New Jerseyans face. The vision I have for my senior administration officials is diverse in terms of lived experience and background – as stated above – I want to model and lead by example. As Governor, I will pledge to include people with lived experiences in my closest circle of advisors.

The position of ombudsman must continue and be empowered to be a voice for families and individuals with disabilities. I am not going to stifle constructive criticism. I will lead an administration that will not be afraid to tackle the challenges and to be focused on making progress. I will not pretend the solutions are always easy but I will commit to be your partner in improving the lives of all our residents with disabilities and their families. You have my full commitment as Governor.

Well if I am Governor, I am a member of a family with an individual with a disability and policies surrounding I/DD will be front and center. And having been a part of the community since the day my daughter was born, I know many people who can serve in the appropriate positions in my administration. It was experiencing the lack of services for my daughter that drove me to public service, it drove me to be Senate President, and it’s a major factor as to why I am running for Governor.