27 Apr Cecelia Gonzalez
Cecelia Gonzalez
Democrat
for
AD 16
Campaign Contact Phone:
Website: ceceliagonzaleznv.com
Facebook: @ceceliagNV
Twitter: @ceceliagNV
2022 Questionnaire
Please share briefly what inspired you to run for this office and why you feel you’re qualified for the position.
I decided to run for office for many reasons. First, I identify as a Thai-Mexican American LGBT+ woman. Asian Americans are one of the fastest ethnic demographics in the Silver state. Yet, we are without much representation in the Nevada Legislature. I am also running for office because I am a Nevada Educator. I am living proof that when we invest in high quality education, students excel and follow their dreams. Every child deserve access to high quality/engaging education. I am running for office because I am directly impacted by the criminal justice system. When I was two years old, I watched my family be ripped apart by the inhumane prison industrial complex. I will fight and give it my all to make real impacts in criminal justice reform. I am running for office to protect women’s health and to make sure Nevadans do not go through this traumatic experience. When I was in college, I became pregnant by an abusive partner. Ashamed, scared, and without health insurance, I was lured into a “crisis center.” Crisis centers are facilities, often ran without medical licenses, that attempt to scare women away from electing to have an abortion. I am running for office because I am a dedicated public servant who is bringing real life experiences to represent our community.
Would you support allocating more state funds to help DACA recipients to help with higher education?
Yes.
How will the state fight the growing issue of homelessness that is increasing in our communities and use funds to expand on shelters for these community members?
Policies that can be implemented in its stead can include ensuring that a certain percentage of land gets allocated to affordable housing units each year and/or until we reach an amount that fits the needs of our state. Nobody in our community should have to choose between sleeping on a sidewalk or sleeping in a jail cell.
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?
Yes.
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.
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.
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?
Yes.
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. Are you willing to support legislation that helps to fund and provide oversight regulations to youth homelessness services?
Yes.
Anti-transgender bills are being introduced across the United States that attempt to prevent trans people from having access to health care, gender reassignment surgery, and access to sports in schools. Do you support transgender equality and access to healthcare and an athletic school experience?
Yes.
We have seen rental rates increasing at a very alarming rate, in some instances upwards of 30%. How do you see the Nevada Legislature taking action to keep Nevadans in their homes and not being priced out?
This is an issue that I would like to work on with all stakeholders and state leadership to find a solution.
Nevada has one of the largest shares of federal public land of any state in the country, providing important wildlife habitat, places to hunt, camp, fish and hike, and acting as the foundation of a billion dollar outdoor industry. Even so, some lawmakers have promoted policies that seek wholesale transfer of federal ownership of our national lands to states. A) Would you support or oppose these land transfer policies? B) Would should the State of Nevada’s role be in the management and ownership of federal land?
A) Would need to see legislation proposal.
B) Would need to see legislation proposal.
State investments in conservation provide resources for a wide range of public benefit, like the management of wildlife and state land, and the creation and maintenance of trails and other recreational facilities. In 2019, the Legislature approved $217 million of bonding authority for conservation purposes, including for the acquisition of land for new state parks. A) Do you support or oppose state investment in conservation? B) Has Nevada’s investment in land conservation been too little, too much, or about right, and how would you change it?
A) Would need to do more research on this topic and work with stakeholders and state leadership to find solution.
B) Would need to do more research on this topic and work with stakeholders and state leadership to find solution.
Would you support addressing public health disparities in Nevada’s diverse Spanish speaking population by funding a “Promotores de Salud” program through the Nevada Office of New Americans that provides year round, culturally competent education and community engagement in Spanish on public health issues?
Yes.
What are you doing to center communities of color and low-income communities in your work, and how do you ensure that equity is part of every decision you make?
I am at the center of being someone from a community of color and low-income. I identify as both of these categories. My identities and experience bring these backgrounds and insights to the legislature. I also work my best to include all parities in the decision making process.
The APIA community faces the largest unmet financial needs when it comes to higher education. Nevada has the highest student loan default rate in the country. In Nevada, there are 333,100 student loan borrowers, $11.5 Billion in student loan debt, and $34,700 in average debt per borrower. What policies can we implement to ensure students and families are protected from predatory lenders and undue financial burdens?
Would need to do more research on this topic and work with stakeholders and state leadership to find solution.
Latinx communities are extremely concerned about the drought and ongoing water shortages. What would you do to ensure our families have a sustainable water supply, not just now but also future generations?
Would need to do more research on this topic and work with stakeholders and state leadership to find solution.
One out of seven people in Clark County are food insecure. What policies would you propose to ensure people are not residing in food deserts and have access to healthy food and water sources?
Would need to do more research on this topic and work with stakeholders and state leadership to find solution.