Priorities
“The cost to live and do business in California is out of control. We have lost our way, and the California Dream is quickly fading for middle-class families like yours and mine. As a mom, wife, and public servant, I’ve spent more than two decades standing up for our community and getting things done. Now, I’m going to Sacramento to fight to lower the cost of living, decrease our commute times, stand up against crime, and bring good-paying jobs to our district.” —Rhodesia Ransom
Affordability and Cost of Living
As a proud wife, mom, and decades long resident of San Joaquin County, I know how expensive it is to live and raise a family in the Central Valley. I’ll always stand with working families and I’ll fight to lower gas prices and the high cost of housing by standing up to greedy corporations and special interests.
I’m fed up with CEOs making record profits while everyday people struggle to pay for groceries and essential items. In the State Assembly, I’ll put people first and ensure people can continue to afford to live in California.
Housing and Homelessness
Everyday, Californians are being priced out of their homes. Many residents moved to the Valley in order to find more affordable housing. Now, those homes are also no longer affordable, resulting in many people leaving California all together. Notably, many college aged residents,like my children, are forced to move back home after obtaining a degree because they cannot afford to live independently.
This is an issue I’ve been working to solve for years. In 2017, I brought community members and government experts together to analyze San Joaquin’s housing market. The conclusion was clear - we need cooperative and competent elected leadership that will work with local leaders and the development community to create a proactive housing plan.
As your State Assemblymember, I will continue working with community members and government experts to make housing more affordable.
And it’s clear homelessness is a crisis. Unhoused residents face multiple challenges when trying to access temporary shelter and permanent housing.
As a Tracy City Councilmember, I led the fight to address homelessness. In 2018, I proposed a comprehensive plan, Project B.E.S.T Response, that sought to invest $1 million of federal and state grants into local nonprofits and community programs to assist the unhoused. This plan would not have cost local taxpayers a single extra cent. The mayor stalled and instead directed law enforcement - rather than social workers and faith leaders - to “fix” the issue, taking officers away from their posts. Still, I persisted and worked tirelessly until Tracy had enough additional funding and strong leadership to finally begin to address homelessness.
We need real leadership with the right experience to tackle homelessness. I’ll do exactly that as your next State Assemblymember.
Safer Communities
People deserve to feel safe within their own communities. Community members should feel comfortable contacting public safety agencies when necessary and police officers should have the resources necessary to keep our communities safe.
Public safety has always been a top priority for me. Prior to working in elected and appointed offices, I partnered with local nonprofits, public safety agencies, and faith groups to keep our youths safe and off the streets. As a Tracy City Councilwoman, I worked to help social workers and community leaders address the root causes of crime within the city. And I helped get hundreds of thousands of dollars to combat gang violence and provide more mental healthcare and mentoring. I’ve worked ensure that police officers, firefighters, and sheriff's deputies had enough resources and staffing to keep our communities safe.
As your State Assemblymember, I will continue working with nonprofits, safety agencies, and local leaders to ensure that Assembly District 13 remains a safe place to live for residents and local businesses.
Quality Education
As a former PTA mom, I have had the privilege of witnessing the diverse educational needs of our communities firsthand. I have seen firsthand the difference that community involvement, advocacy, and adequate funding can make in a child’s ability to learn. Funding for schools ensures that student have access to high-quality education, including a fully staffed faculty and access to up-to-date educational resources and technology.
Investing in education has long-term economic benefits. A well-educated workforce drives innovation, productivity, and economic growth. That is why I also support the funding of trade schools and programs. Not everybody’s educational journey looks the same and all students deserve to have access to training for well paying jobs that are vital to our society.
California's schools need a transformation – from early childhood to college and careers– our students deserve an equitable, first-class education. I've been on the frontlines and I’ve witnessed the impact of community involvement and adequate funding on a child's learning. We must invest in high-quality education, a fully staffed faculty, student safety and mental health, and modern resources. Let’s empower our students and prepare them to thrive.
Mental Health
I have been an advocate of mental health for decades. Mental health legislation plays a crucial role in shaping the well-being of families and communities. It can address specific needs and challenges such as ensuring access to essential resources and appropriate medical care. I will continue to support legislation that protects an individual’s dignity and rights.
Additionally, there is still a need to destigmatize mental health and promote early intervention, treatment, and counseling. I will speak out publicly in support of ending the stigma against mental health.
Transportation
Many residents in San Joaquin County have to commute to various parts of the greater Bay Area and Sacramento for work. Current conditions force commuters to spend several hours on the road rather than at home with their families and friends. This has also causes increases in congestion that leave less room for goods to be delivered around the district.
That is why I have historically advocated for funding modern and efficient transportation modes. As a Tracy City Councilwoman and Planning Commissioner, I supported connectivity programs such as Valley Link and ACE Rail. As your Assemblymember, I will continue to advocate for similar projects which aim to create newer, safer, and more environmentally friendly transportation modes.
Water
California has historically had a lot of concerns surrounding water. This includes both agricultural and residential concerns. Apart from droughts and water shortages, residents on both sides of the Altamont Pass have experienced contaminated drinking water. There is a clear need to invest in modern, efficient, and resilient systems that meet the needs of our communities while preserving our environment for future generations.
In the State Assembly, I will fight to upgrade aging water facilities, promote water conservation, invest in innovative technologies to optimize water usage, and advocate for equitable access to clean drinking water.