Prioritizing Access to Local Foods
Our district has rich agricultural traditions, deep soils and abundant rainfall. In addition, our district has more than 170,000 acres of important agricultural lands (LUPAG IAL). All of these assets provide an opportunity for our district to produce local food and jobs for our families. I will work to ensure land use planning and infrastructure are prioritized to support sustainable diversified agriculture and value-added products.
Ensuring Adequate Infrastructure
I also want to ensure our communities have adequate infrastructure and services needed for local businesses to thrive. The towns and villages in our district are blessed with police and fire service, county park gyms and parks. I will prioritize the needed repairs and maintenance for these assets that have been neglected. Unfortunately, our district also has infrastructure challenges, such as adequate municipal water and wastewater, and roads-in-limbo that need to be improved and maintained. I will work to prioritize funding these infrastructure needs for our communities.
Protecting our Environment and Addressing Climate Change
I want to ensure our unique and valuable ecosystems and water resources are protected, nurtured, and resilient. These resources are essential to providing a healthy environment and recreational opportunities for our residents. I will work to partner with our community groups and private landowners who utilize these resources to study the capacity of these resources and ensure they are responsibly managed in a sustainable manner. Our island is being impacted by a changing climate that will make resource management even more important. I will prioritize climate change mitigation and adaptation actions that reduce our carbon footprint and make us more resilient.