27 Apr Clara “Claire” Thomas
Clara “Claire” Thomas
Democrat
for
AD 17
Campaign Contact Phone: 7022909327
Website: www.electclairethomas.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claire.thomas
Twitter: @cithom11
2022 Questionnaire
Please share briefly what inspired you to run for this office and why you feel you’re qualified for the position.
I am running for re-election to continue to be an advocate and voice for Assembly District 17; to represent the concerns of the community with education, healthcare, affordable housing, and Veteran’s affairs as these issues matter not only in AD 17 but with all Nevadans. I live in the community that I represent, my family lives in AD17 they attend school, church, community activities here and our friends, neighbors love living in this diverse community. As you can see this is a vested interest for me, the growth in beautiful North Las Vegas is phenomenal and I wish to continue this positive growth to include education, healthcare, economic equality, veterans' issues. Proud to represent Assembly District 17
Would you support allocating more state funds to help DACA recipients to help with higher education?
My due diligence is to read any and all proposed bills brought before me in the Assembly to ascertain support or opposition to addendums or deletions regarding standards set forth. I look forward to hearing more about DACA and higher educational needs.
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?
It is necessary for all stake/shareholders to be a part of the solution to the homelessness issue. This is not a quick answer nor a one answer solution there are many moving parts to the crisis. We need to have our homeless experts sit with local/state government, community advocates, our clergy to identify what works and what doesn't. The funds must be used advantageous that creates wrap around services that addresses this enormous community of people in need to include every walk of life.
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?
I support the right for a woman to choose. I also support healthcare for all and to include all areas that are of concern to all Americans.
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?
When it comes policy, I believe it is required that I read, review and listen to all shareholders as it pertains removing or adding to policies that are in our Statues. I look forward to reading and hearing stakeholders assessment of APCs as additional healthcare providers.
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?
I look forward to doing my due diligence to rectify any policies that evoke systemic racism. I am an advocate for equitable access to healthcare for all.
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?
During the 81st Session there was a vote to abolish the death penalty in the state of Nevada, I voted in the affirmative.
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?
I will reiterate my previous statement regarding homelessness in our state: It is necessary for all stake/shareholders to be a part of the solution to the homelessness issue. This is not a quick answer nor a one answer solution there are many moving parts to the crisis. We need to have our homeless experts sit with local/state government, community advocates, our clergy to identify what works and what doesn't. The funds must be used advantageous that creates wrap around services that addresses this enormous community of people in need to include every walk of life.
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?
I also support healthcare for all and to include all areas that are of concern to all Americans.
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?
I am an advocate for rent control. I hope and advocate to see a Rent Control Board to be enacted in Nevada.
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?
In regard to state policy, I believe it is required that I read, review and listen to all stake/shareholders as it pertains to removing or adding to policies. I look forward to reading and hearing stake/shareholders along with our congressional delegation's assessment of our state's role in federal land designators.
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?
The purpose of the Conservation Bill was to make and create an appreciation of the Land that we have neglected for centuries. It's never too late to save and invest in our planet and be a part of loving where we live.
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?
I would and do advocate for healthcare for every citizen of our state and country and we do need cultural competency education and community engagement in our diverse state of Nevada.
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?
In all the work as an Assembly member it is always at the forefront to center my thoughts on Assembly District 17 as we have an enormous diverse community which includes people of color and those that are the working poor. It is my responsibility to ensure that equity is being a part of my everyday thoughts and work towards making AD17 and Nevada better than how I found it.
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?
It will take our collective due diligence to ensure that our Nevada students and their families are protected from predator's that seek to exploit them. We have an educational savings system that works well, and this system should be at its height of publicity as it will prevent our students and their families from going into debt upon seeking higher education.
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?
Water conservation continues to be an immense concern for all western states. We will need to continue to work policies as we did in the 81st Session, the removal of grass is medians of our roadways and sidewalks i.e., unnecessary areas in the community that require water usage. AB356 is a profound state in water conservation.
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?
We do live in a food desert and during the 81st Session AB343 does address the need to ensure that citizens that live in urban areas of the state have healthy food sources within walking distances from their living areas. AB343 will assess different areas and present the findings to the health department which will generate local and state governments to address these food desert areas in need of services.