Growing up, I remember the nights spent at our kitchen table, working on my homework alongside my father, who was pursuing his own education. He would say that life isn’t always easy and often unfair, but you can do anything you put your mind to if you work hard. He instilled in me the belief that with hard work, there are no limits to what we can achieve. That’s why I’m running for Assembly – to ensure there is plenty of opportunity for people who work hard and want to get ahead.

During my first year in high school, my life took an unexpected turn when I was involved in a serious car accident that required me to be life-flighted to Oakland Children’s Hospital. It was a challenging time, and the experience gave me an in-depth understanding of our broken healthcare system and a well of compassion for those facing health problems or injuries.

After years of surgery and recovery, I graduated from CSU Fresno with a degree in Agricultural Business. In my early twenties, I put my degree to the test, farming corn, oat hay, and alfalfa while also running a water drilling business. I encountered a maze of unfair laws, regulations, fees, and taxes that make life impossible for the average farmer and their family. I watched the ‘water wars’ that stripped the value of my friend’s land. Despite my best efforts, I lost the farm - a heartbreaking experience shared by too many hardworking farmers in the Valley.

I landed back on my feet, pursuing a career as a tax auditor for the California Employment Development Department. During this time, I met my husband working at his small business in Merced. We started a family, and my life seemed to return to "normal." However, watching my husband’s retail business struggle through challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic made me realize something was wrong with California. I became increasingly concerned about our state’s direction, discovering that the politicians in Sacramento were a big part of the problem. That’s when I decided to run for State Assembly, determined to be a part of a new generation of Californians willing to start working to turn our state around.

Growing up, I remember the nights spent at our kitchen table, working on my homework alongside my father, who was pursuing his own education. He would say that life isn’t always easy and often unfair, but you can do anything you put your mind to if you work hard. He instilled in me the belief that with hard work, there are no limits to what we can achieve. That’s why I’m running for Assembly – to ensure there is plenty of opportunity for people who work hard and want to get ahead.

During my first year in high school, my life took an unexpected turn when I was involved in a serious car accident that required me to be life-flighted to Oakland Children’s Hospital. It was a challenging time, and the experience gave me an in-depth understanding of our broken healthcare system and a well of compassion for those facing health problems or injuries.

After years of surgery and recovery, I graduated from CSU Fresno with a degree in Agricultural Business. In my early twenties, I put my degree to the test, farming corn, oat hay, and alfalfa while also running a water drilling business. I encountered a maze of unfair laws, regulations, fees, and taxes that make life impossible for the average farmer and their family. I watched the ‘water wars’ that stripped the value of my friend’s land. Despite my best efforts, I lost the farm - a heartbreaking experience shared by too many hardworking farmers in the Valley.

I landed back on my feet, pursuing a career as a tax auditor for the California Employment Development Department. During this time, I met my husband working at his small business in Merced. We started a family, and my life seemed to return to "normal." However, watching my husband’s retail business struggle through challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic made me realize something was wrong with California. I became increasingly concerned about our state’s direction, discovering that the politicians in Sacramento were a big part of the problem. That’s when I decided to run for State Assembly, determined to be a part of a new generation of Californians willing to start working to turn our state around.