Let’s build a Tompkins County where we can all live and thrive

As the next District 16 representative for Tompkins County, Rachel will bring her lived experience as a lifelong resident, a small business owner, an entrepreneur, a parent and a connected community member. She lives in Jacksonville with her partner and two young children - a 5 year old who attends Trumansburg Elementary School and a 2.5 year old.

Rachel cares deeply about building an inclusive, resilient and joyful community wherever she goes. Her politics can be distilled down to the following - she believes every person has the right to the expression of their full humanity.  This is only possible when people are getting their basic needs met consistently and with dignity. There are enough resources for everyone if we are willing to think creatively and expansively.

    • Affordable, safe, stable housing for all residents 

    • Jobs that pay a living wage 

    • Affordable childcare 

    • Clean air and water, and the preservation of natural areas around Tompkins County 

    • Preservation of agricultural land, and ensuring and supporting responsible agricultural practices that protect the land and water 

    • Reliable, affordable public transportation

    • Affordable and affirming healthcare that respects bodily autonomy, including the right to safe and legal abortions

    • Opportunities and places for youth to be supported, loved, and allowed to flourish 

    • A resilient and vibrant local food system, ensuring that people throughout the County have access to affordable, fresh, healthful and culturally appropriate food, and that farmers and farmworkers are compensated fairly for their work

    • Equitable education

    • The rights of community members who are currently under attack by the federal government — in particular, the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, and immigrants (including documented, undocumented and underdocumented people, as well as asylum seekers and refugees)

    • The right to live free from oppression and violence in all its forms

    When we are looking at solutions to these issues - are the solutions presented actually alleviating the problems we and our neighbors are facing? Are they addressing underlying problems, such as poverty? Or are the solutions offered only a temporary fix? 

  • The first step is always to gain knowledge and insight of the problem from those with lived experience.  So often solutions are presented from the top down, with little input from those on the receiving end.  Sometimes what seems like a good idea in theory is not what people actually want or need. 

    I believe one of my most important jobs as a legislator would be to talk directly to people affected by an issue, in order to bring those perspectives back to the legislature.

    • The ability to respectfully listen to a variety of perspectives before coming to conclusions or making decisions

    • A willingness to be open minded and to approach problems creatively

    • Long standing relationships with many people from a wide variety of communities around Tompkins County - this is important because being integrated into the community is essential for connecting with people who have lived experiences with particular issues (be it running a farm or owning a small business, struggling to find or pay for housing, lack of access to appropriate healthcare services, hunger etc…), so that those perspectives can be brought back to the legislature

    • Many years of experience both running her own businesses and working for many small businesses around the County

    • A deep commitment to the present and the future of Tompkins County, with the goal of building a welcoming, inclusive, livable, affordable, safe and vibrant place for every single person who lives here

Connect with Rachel

Please fill out this form if you’d like to find a time to meet up with Rachel in person, ask questions, or if you’d like to receive updates!