Venicia Considine

Venicia Considine

Venicia Considine


Democrat


for


AD 18


Campaign Contact Phone:


Website: www.VeniciaForNevada.com


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeniciaForNevada


Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nv18Venicia


2022 Questionnaire

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

 

My experience moving around the country throughout high school and as a Legal Aid Center consumer protection attorney inspired me to run for office. Prior to my first session in the Legislature in 2021, I worked on consumer protection legislation, testified in prior sessions, and have learned from incredible mentors.

Would you support allocating more state funds to help DACA recipients to help with higher education?

I support more funding for higher education for DACA students, if the funding and budget is available.

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?

 

The use of marijuana taxes and federal funding to create a functional homeless resource center is currently in the works, but we must tackle the issue from several angles - some of which can stop a person/family from the trauma of becoming homeless in the first place; mental health resources, addiction resources, affordable housing, good paying jobs, and diversion courts to stop criminalizing homeless people which often makes it harder to find employment and housing.

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?

 

I support this idea, but would need to see the bill language and details.

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?

 

Systemic racism has exacerbated public health disparities for centuries. I supported bills in the last session to promote equitable access to quality healthcare and will continue to do so if re-elected.

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 the death penalty.

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 support legislation to prevent and address youth homelessness, if the funding is available and after reviewing the bill.

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?

The Legislature does not meet until early 2023 and typically a law will go into effect in July or October, which is more than a year away - I think that is too long to wait. I would like to see action at the local level, even if it just a bridge until the Legislative session. I believe the interim committees are looking into this for potential bill drafts.

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?

Public lands for recreation are a central part of our state and a continuing way we can diversify our economy. Nevada cannot afford the cost to responsibly manage all of the federal lands in our state, but land transfers to state ownership should be done for the common good and not add to our water and climate issues or harm the environment.

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?

 

I support investment in conservation. I believe we can do more, but it depends on the funding and budget.

 

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 support this idea.

 

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 reach out to members in my community, host 'office hours' at my local recreation center twice a month, attend 'conversations in the community' to ensure I am providing what the community needs instead of assuming what the communities need, and reach out to members of different communities to ensure that a variety of voices are included in ideas and decision-making. My work at Legal Aid Center keeps me aware of civil needs in low-income communities as well.

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?

We can pass the Student Loan Bill of Rights from last session that Assemblyman Watts introduced and I co-sponsored, as a start. AB382.

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?

 

Work to sustainably manage the Colorado River with other western states for the long term. Continue conservation goals. Require new development to show net zero water requirements while we are in a drought. Work with experts in this field to learn more ways to protect our water.

 

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?

 

Encourage local jurisdictions to incentivize grocery stores to open in food desert locations (along with banks). Promote inclusive zoning and multi-use development that incorporates grocery stores with apartment buildings. Support local, community grocery stores. Work with groups to plant trees and urban gardens in urban heat islands and open spaces to provide locally grown, fresh produce.