Steve Sisolak

Please share briefly what inspired you to run for this office and why you feel you’re qualified for the position.

I moved to Nevada 46 years ago, put myself through school, raised two incredible daughters as a single dad, and started my own communications business. I know firsthand that supporting a family isn’t easy or cheap, which is why I decided to run for governor in 2018. I’m focused on lowering the cost of living for Nevadans, and will continue efforts to make our state more affordable during a second term.

Through hard work and perseverance, we’ve revived our economy after being one of the hardest hit states by the pandemic, strengthened Nevada’s public education system, improved access to affordable health care, taken charge in the fight against climate change, protected reproductive freedom, and expanded access to the ballot box. Now, I’m running for reelection to keep Nevada strong and moving forward.

What policies would you propose for dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our state’s economy?

Despite being among the hardest hit states by the pandemic, Nevada’s economic recovery has been one of the most resounding. Last year, Nevada had the highest unemployment rate decrease and largest increase in nonfarm payroll employment in the nation. We also distributed over $100 million to support nearly 9,400 businesses during the pandemic.

Small businesses are the backbone of Nevada’s economy, which is why I recently announced two new initiatives to support small business owners across the state: a bipartisan task force to further reduce red tape when it comes to occupational licensing, and the first ever nationally-ranked small business accelerator program to support startups in our state.

Moreover, we need to lower the cost of living for Nevadans. I recently announced a $160 million investment in childcare to make care more affordable for parents and keep childcare staff on the job and an allocation of $5 million to explore ways to make community college and apprenticeships free to more Nevadans by 2025. Additionally, Nevada is joining the
Northwest Prescription Drug Consortium, along with Oregon and Washington, to reduce prescription drug prices for Nevadans.

The impressive progress we’ve made bodes well for our state’s future, but the work continues to diversify our economy and support Nevada families.

With rent prices having increased over the last year, what do you think should be done to make rent affordable for more Nevadans?

I recently announced the “Home Means Nevada” initiative, the single largest investment in affordable housing in Nevada’s history. This $500 million commitment to lower the cost of housing, help people stay in their homes, and create good-paying jobs. The plan will invest $300 million towards affordable housing multifamily development; $130 million to preserve affordable housing; $30 million to increase homeownership opportunities across Nevada; and $40 million for land acquisition for future affordable development.

This will create up to 1,700 affordable units across the Silver State; preserve up to 4,000 affordable units for an additional 30 years; assist with homeownership and supply available to middle income Nevadans; and help over 7,000 seniors with accessibility and home repairs to lower their costs and ensure they can remain in their homes.

We will continue finding new, innovative ways to ensure all Nevadans can afford to call our state home.

With Nevada’s growing population, what policies and mitigation measures would you propose to protect water?

Nevada is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and it is incumbent upon us to effectively manage our water supply for our growing population and future generations of Nevadans. Last year, I signed into law legislation that outlawed about 40% of the grass in the Las Vegas area. This is an important step in helping our state conserve more water. My commitment to Nevada residents is to continue my efforts to best manage our state’s limited water resources while preventing the unnecessary destruction of fragile ecosystems.

Nevada has historically protected the right to abortion, including protecting the right in statute 30 years ago by a vote of the people. However, there remain barriers to access in the state. Do you support not only the right to abortion but policies that improve equitable access to abortion care?

While states around the country are limiting reproductive rights, I signed legislation to decriminalize abortion in our state and prevent discrimination against recipients of state family planning dollars. I support a woman’s right to choose and I will always stand up for reproductive freedom.

The state of Nevada is facing an unprecedented shortage of health care providers – a problem that impacts every area of medicine, including the provision of sexual and reproductive care. Do you support removing the physician-only requirement and allowing advanced practice clinicians (APCs) to provide this vital care to patients with training and certification?

Yes.

Comprehensive, age and developmentally appropriate, medically-accurate, inclusive sex education has been proven to improve students’ long-term health outcomes, yet it is not required that students be provided with this information in their sex-ed programs. Do you believe that public school sex-ed programs should be comprehensive, medically accurate, and inclusive?

Yes.

It is well documented that patients of color face greater obstacles to obtaining sexual and reproductive health care than non-Hispanic white Americans – a pattern that results in worse health outcomes overall for BIPOC patients. Do you not only acknowledge systemic racism’s role in public health disparities but will you pursue policies that seek to rectify the historical harm of systemic racism and advance equitable access to health care?

Yes. Institutional and systemic racism adversely affect the health of minority communities, and my administration is working every day to make our state more equitable for all Nevadans.

In August 2020, I formally declared racism to be a public health crisis in Nevada, and under my leadership, Nevada became the 12th state to implement the CROWN Act, outlawing race-based hair discrimination that disproportionately affects Black women. Furthermore, data shows COVID-19 disproportionately impacted communities of color. We made unprecedented investments in our people and small businesses during the pandemic to support the most vulnerable Nevadans.

I will never waver in my commitment to combating all forms of racism and working to ensure all Nevadans have access to the care they need.

Knowing that the death penalty is exorbitantly expensive, racially discriminatory, and does not promote true healing for victims family members, do you support its abolition and do you think ending the death penalty is a crucial part of criminal justice reform?

I do not support abolishing the death penalty in its entirety but I do believe it should only be reserved for the most heinous crimes.

Changing the law deserves feedback from the public, robust conversation and debate. We need to hear from those impacted by the death penalty, especially the victims impacted by heinous crimes.

True Colors United, a national organization that implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ young people continues to rate Nevada as critically low, for its State Index on Youth Homelessness (in collaboration with the National Homelessness Law Center) that ranks and scores laws and policies related to preventing and addressing youth homelessness in the United States. What is your office’s plan to help fund and provide oversight regulations to youth homelessness services now that there is an abundance of housing dollars to address affordable housing and other housing needs?

It is critically important that affordable housing dollars be administered in a manner that prioritizes equity and protection for our vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ+ youth. According to the Human Rights Campaign, Nevada ranks as one of the top states in the nation when it comes to protections for LGBTQ+ youth, but more must be done. I welcome any oversight proposals that would enhance protections and assistance for Nevadans children and LGBTQ+ communities.

What is your commitment to housing as a basic human right? Do you support the implementation of rent control policies as part of this commitment? Yes or no, and why?

Housing is a human right. That’s why my administration is making the single largest investment in affordable housing in Nevada’s history. The “Home Means Nevada” initiative is a $500 million commitment to lower the cost of housing, help people stay in their homes, and create good-paying jobs. The plan will invest $300 million towards affordable housing multifamily development; $130 million to preserve affordable housing; $30 million to increase homeownership opportunities across Nevada; and $40 million for land acquisition for future affordable development.

This will create up to 1,700 affordable units across the Silver State; preserve up to 4,000 affordable units for an additional 30 years; assist with homeownership and supply available to middle income Nevadans; and help over 7,000 seniors with accessibility and home repairs to lower their costs and ensure they can remain in their homes.

We will continue finding new, innovative ways to ensure all Nevadans can afford to call our state home.

What do you plan to do to protect and help workers in Nevada from continued significant job loss projected in the next 10 years due to automation?

Economic diversification is one of my top priorities. Since I’ve taken office, I’ve prioritized the creation of clean energy jobs, and it’s an encouraging sign that Nevada has the #1 solar economy in the nation. Northern Nevada has a thriving tech ecosystem, and the Las Vegas Valley is quickly attracting high-tech job creators as well.

To minimize reliance on the tourism and gaming industries, we are also prioritizing workforce development and retraining. I recently directed my Workforce Development Committee to explore ways to make community college or other apprentice and training programs free for more Nevadans by 2025, and we have already allocated $5 million towards the initiative.

To protect against job losses stemming from automation, we will continue diversifying Nevada’s economy and preparing Nevadans for the jobs of the future.

Would you support removing pepper spray from our schools given that CCSD has been unable to verify the ingredients used in the pepper spray currently being used on students in CCSD?

I will evaluate any proposal brought to me that makes our schools and our students safer.

Following the distribution of COVID-19 test kits, what are the policies you will implement that will ensure the recovery of Nevada’s community and economy after the pandemic?

The resilience of Nevadans coupled with effective COVID-19 mitigation measures allowed our state to safely reopen and make a strong economic rebound. To better protect ourselves against future pandemics, it’s crucial that Nevada continue diversifying its economy. My administration is laser focused on doing this, and will continue to prioritize economic diversification during a second term.

Filipinos and Filipino Americans make up just 4% of registered nurses in the U.S., but account for nearly a third of all COVID-related deaths among registered nurses. What is your plan to help support our burdened healthcare system and support healthcare workers?

Last year I signed into law SB 342, which authorized the Nevada Higher Education System Board of Regents to enter into agreements with medical facilities to promote medical education, and in turn help recruit more medical professionals in the state. Additionally, in January, I encouraged nearly 900 nursing students to pursue apprenticeships to help fill our state’s nursing shortage. I will continue efforts to ease the burden on our state’s health care system and look forward to working with the legislature during the next session to address this important issue.