Not only are the richer getting richer through pay-to-play politics; they are also robbing us of our natural resources and long-term health. I'm the only candidate in this race to sign the #NoFossilFuelMoney pledge to ensure that our residents can pursue a just transition to a clean energy future without the interference of large, multinational oil companies who want our resources but don't want to pay to clean up their mess. I will work tirelessly to make sure that we are prepared for the future and truly energy independent.

This year has proven that climate change is already a daily challenge for our community. Invasive species and scorching weeks of summer heat threaten our entire way of life, whether you're a farmer or an outdoors enthusiast. Instead of living in fear, we need to lean into our potential to lead the world in clean energy production, ecosystem and agricultural renewal, and water conservation. We can protect the environment while growing our economy and we owe it to future generations to make this a priority.

Here's what I would like to do:

• Protect Adams County's oil and gas regulations from corporate interference, reinstating a 2000-foot setback for homes and schools, limiting oil and gas exploration when it interferes with agriculture and housing development.

• Regulate datacenters so that they produce at least 50% of electricity on-site, minimize water usage within a closed-loop system, mitigate sound pollution, and minimally disrupt both neighborhood and wildlife activity.

• Continue to invest in renewable energy, vehicle electrification, and other technologies that will fight climate change, grow our economy, and provide thousands of good-paying, union jobs.

• Prioritize water conservation and preservation, making sure that our residents and the land that sustains us are higher priorities than the needs of multinational corporations.

• Aggressively monitor and manage invasive species in agricultural land and open spaces while promoting biodiversity and native species.

• Fight for the public transportation options that Adams County has consistently voted for and paid for in taxes.

• Incentivize development that reduces waste, integrates local ecosystems, and encourages pedestrian and recreational activity.

• Utilize my background as a social scientist to make land-use and policy decisions grounded in peer-reviewed, consensus science rather than profit-seeking, politics, or public relations.