Margaret Ann Schiller

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Margaret Schiller completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Schiller's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading-bio-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am a mother of two grown children, a wife of 32 years. I am a fighter and a problem solver. I am trained as lawyer and have spent the vast majority of my career putting my legal skills to work protecting the rights given to everyone by the Constitution; I have been an advocate for among other things Public Education, Immigration Issues, and most importantly Voter Protection. I am currently the Team Lead for Voter Protection in Walton County and Vice Chair of the DEC.\r\n<p>After spending my childhood on the Space Coast of Florida, I have been lucky enough to live in some of the greatest places in the world. However, as my mother always said, I had sand between my toes and always longed to get back to Florida. When in 2013 circumstances brought my family back to the south the first thing we did was buy a home on the Panhandle in Florida's First District. Finally, I convinced my family to move to that house fulltime in 2019. I was home.\r\nI am looking forward to serving the people of the Panhandle and putting Florida’s First Congressional District First!\r\n</p>\n</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading-key-message-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>The life blood of our coastal communities are our beachs. We must wok to protect them from climate change and unregulated development. WE also need to ensure that they remain open to all not only the super wealthy who can afford beach front homes. Wto</li><li>We must care for our Veterans and our seniors who have given so much to our country. We need to assure them adequate medical care, housing and opportunities.</li><li>We must find a way to provide affordable housing in this district. We have to many people either suffering homelessness or being forced to move out of the district due to the growing lack of affordable housing here.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading1-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe lessons I took to heart while growing up from Sunday School through Law school were that everyone should have the right to life’s basic needs. These needs are food, shelter, safety, health care, and education. Further, we should all have equal access to life’s opportunities to work, to obtain higher education, and to the many extras that make life worthwhile. Sadly, I also learned that for far too many in our country their needs are not met and/ or their opportunities are not equal. After practicing corporate litigation in New York and running a small business in DC, I decided to put my legal training to better use and start advocating for “justice for all” <br/>\r\nI strongly believe by enacting strong and equitable public policy we can achieve this notion of “justice for all” We can regulate development in ways that protect our coastline yet encourage business and economic growth. We can put in place ways to stem the tide of climate change. It is good public policy to protect our seniors and our veterans and make sure they have access to food, shelter, safety and healthcare, the most basic of things that their dedication to us as a nation has surely earned them the right to. Finally good public policy makes sure all our children have access to those needs, so they can become successful citizens in the future. <br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading2-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI look up to my father. The son of political refugees from Austria during World War II, he joined the army when he turned 18 in order to help his new country bring democracy back to the world and particularly to Austria. After the war my Dad earned his Bachelors and Graduate degrees in electrical engineering and went on to spend many years in the space industry. He really was a \"rocket scientist\"!<br/><br/>\n<p>Dad passionately believed in the notion of duty to public service. The duty to give back,as such he ran for local office many times. Dad was a devoted Democrat, but as a small town politician he campaigned on and believed in the ideals of compromise, understanding that to get things done you had to compromise so all parties felt positive about the outcome. I'm proud to say that in the very Republican town we lived in, Dad garnered more votes than anyone on the ballot each time he ran. The people knew he cared more about the town than the party!<br/><br/>\nNear the end of his career, the Democrat that he was , my father was asked by the Reagan administration to be the Assistant Poster General for Technology a new position, tasked with developing the first technology department and advisory board needed to bring the Postal Service into the 21st century. Again my Dad showed his ability and belief in reaching across the aisle and putting country before Party.<br/><br/>\nIf he were alive today my father would not recognize the politicians of today. He would have no respect for those who consistently put their party over their country, and seem to behave as if they are in show business rather than the business of acting for and on behalf of the American people!<br/><br/>\n</p>\nIf elected I pledge to act only in ways my father would have been proud of by putting the needs of the people of Florida's first district first!\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading3-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe most important characteristics for elected officials are first and foremost honesty and integrity. If we cannot trust our elected officials we will not trust that their actions in regard to public policy are in fact what is best for us.<br/><br/>\n<p>Secondly elected officials must bring dignity to the business of legislating. They should not use the office as a stage for anything other than promoting the welfare of the people they represent<br/><br/>\nThird a good elected official, understanding the need for compromise will listen to all sides of an issue, and will take into account the needs and desires of all constituents before deciding on public policy.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nFinally it is incumbent on elected officials to consult and listen to experts in the field on any given issue of public policy. Clearly over the past two years of the pandemic we have seen the need for experts in the fields of medicine and science to guide those making public policy.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading4-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tOffice holders should bring dignity, honesty and integrity to the office they hold. They should be able to demonstrate a history of understanding the law and either abiding by it or trying to change it in lawful manners. Further they must show an understanding of their constituents needs and desires and a willingness to work to benefit of these constituents and to the greater good. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading5-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was the last song that got stuck in your head?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tBookends by Simon and Garfunkel<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading6-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tOf course it is beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics. As a law student I studied the US Constitution and its laws, as an attorney and public advocate I saw how these laws were applied. By appearing in Court and in the halls of state and federal governments while testifying before committees and speaking with individual representatives in order to influence the making of those laws, II learned how individuals and groups influence public policy. <br/><br/>\nHowever, there are many other things beyond previous political or governmental experience that go into making a good representative. Past experience in Infectious Disease for instance would certainly be beneficial to representatives making public policy decisions today! All of life's experiences can lead to benefits for life's future experiences, whether as a representative or not. What is most important as a person and a good representative is having a history of making good, well informed decisions in life as a whole and/ or learning from those that were not so good or well informed.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading7-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWithout doubt the biggest challenge to our nation and our democracy is the divide that has occured between our political parties. The fact that so many of us identify as a party member first and an American second, to label those in opposing parties as un American has got to stop. We need to listen to and cooperate with each other so we can once again be a united nation. We can and will continue to disagree with each other but we must all have the same goal putting our Nation and our Democracy first.<br/><br/>\nFrom a pure policy point of view the greatest challenge not only to the United States but to the world is preserving this precious planet we were given and developing ways to live on it prosperously without harming it and while preserving it for future generations.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-104613-2022-01-14\" id=\"heading8-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-104613-2022-01-14\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-104613-2022-01-14\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-104613-2022-01-14\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI believe compromise is the only way to move forward with policy making. <br/>\r\nWithout compromise we end up accomplishing very little for our towns , our states or our nation. What we are experiencing now is a nation divided by politicians who are steeped in party first dogma and are unwilling to put town, state, and or country over party. The sooner we get back to an atmosphere of listening to the other side and compromising the sooner our public policy will move forward. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1548351761485-0\"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(\"div-gpt-ad-1548351761485-0\"); });</script></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nMargaret Schiller completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Schiller's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I am a mother of two grown children, a wife of 32 years. I am a fighter and a problem solver. I am trained as lawyer and have spent the vast majority of my career putting my legal skills to work protecting the rights given to everyone by the Constitution; I have been an advocate for among other things Public Education, Immigration Issues, and most importantly Voter Protection. I am currently the Team Lead for Voter Protection in Walton County and Vice Chair of the DEC. After spending my childhood on the Space Coast of Florida, I have been lucky enough to live in some of the greatest places in the world. However, as my mother always said, I had sand between my toes and always longed to get back to Florida. When in 2013 circumstances brought my family back to the south the first thing we did was buy a home on the Panhandle in Florida's First District. Finally, I convinced my family to move to that house fulltime in 2019. I was home.\r\nI am looking forward to serving the people of the Panhandle and putting Florida’s First Congressional District First! Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? The life blood of our coastal communities are our beachs. We must wok to protect them from climate change and unregulated development. WE also need to ensure that they remain open to all not only the super wealthy who can afford beach front homes. Wto We must care for our Veterans and our seniors who have given so much to our country. We need to assure them adequate medical care, housing and opportunities. We must find a way to provide affordable housing in this district. We have to many people either suffering homelessness or being forced to move out of the district due to the growing lack of affordable housing here. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? The lessons I took to heart while growing up from Sunday School through Law school were that everyone should have the right to life’s basic needs. These needs are food, shelter, safety, health care, and education. Further, we should all have equal access to life’s opportunities to work, to obtain higher education, and to the many extras that make life worthwhile. Sadly, I also learned that for far too many in our country their needs are not met and/ or their opportunities are not equal. After practicing corporate litigation in New York and running a small business in DC, I decided to put my legal training to better use and start advocating for “justice for all” I strongly believe by enacting strong and equitable public policy we can achieve this notion of “justice for all” We can regulate development in ways that protect our coastline yet encourage business and economic growth. We can put in place ways to stem the tide of climate change. It is good public policy to protect our seniors and our veterans and make sure they have access to food, shelter, safety and healthcare, the most basic of things that their dedication to us as a nation has surely earned them the right to. Finally good public policy makes sure all our children have access to those needs, so they can become successful citizens in the future. Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why? I look up to my father. The son of political refugees from Austria during World War II, he joined the army when he turned 18 in order to help his new country bring democracy back to the world and particularly to Austria. After the war my Dad earned his Bachelors and Graduate degrees in electrical engineering and went on to spend many years in the space industry. He really was a \"rocket scientist\"! Dad passionately believed in the notion of duty to public service. The duty to give back,as such he ran for local office many times. Dad was a devoted Democrat, but as a small town politician he campaigned on and believed in the ideals of compromise, understanding that to get things done you had to compromise so all parties felt positive about the outcome. I'm proud to say that in the very Republican town we lived in, Dad garnered more votes than anyone on the ballot each time he ran. The people knew he cared more about the town than the party! Near the end of his career, the Democrat that he was , my father was asked by the Reagan administration to be the Assistant Poster General for Technology a new position, tasked with developing the first technology department and advisory board needed to bring the Postal Service into the 21st century. Again my Dad showed his ability and belief in reaching across the aisle and putting country before Party. If he were alive today my father would not recognize the politicians of today. He would have no respect for those who consistently put their party over their country, and seem to behave as if they are in show business rather than the business of acting for and on behalf of the American people! If elected I pledge to act only in ways my father would have been proud of by putting the needs of the people of Florida's first district first! What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? The most important characteristics for elected officials are first and foremost honesty and integrity. If we cannot trust our elected officials we will not trust that their actions in regard to public policy are in fact what is best for us. Secondly elected officials must bring dignity to the business of legislating. They should not use the office as a stage for anything other than promoting the welfare of the people they represent Third a good elected official, understanding the need for compromise will listen to all sides of an issue, and will take into account the needs and desires of all constituents before deciding on public policy. Finally it is incumbent on elected officials to consult and listen to experts in the field on any given issue of public policy. Clearly over the past two years of the pandemic we have seen the need for experts in the fields of medicine and science to guide those making public policy. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? Office holders should bring dignity, honesty and integrity to the office they hold. They should be able to demonstrate a history of understanding the law and either abiding by it or trying to change it in lawful manners. Further they must show an understanding of their constituents needs and desires and a willingness to work to benefit of these constituents and to the greater good. What was the last song that got stuck in your head? Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics? Of course it is beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics. As a law student I studied the US Constitution and its laws, as an attorney and public advocate I saw how these laws were applied. By appearing in Court and in the halls of state and federal governments while testifying before committees and speaking with individual representatives in order to influence the making of those laws, II learned how individuals and groups influence public policy. However, there are many other things beyond previous political or governmental experience that go into making a good representative. Past experience in Infectious Disease for instance would certainly be beneficial to representatives making public policy decisions today! All of life's experiences can lead to benefits for life's future experiences, whether as a representative or not. What is most important as a person and a good representative is having a history of making good, well informed decisions in life as a whole and/ or learning from those that were not so good or well informed. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? Without doubt the biggest challenge to our nation and our democracy is the divide that has occured between our political parties. The fact that so many of us identify as a party member first and an American second, to label those in opposing parties as un American has got to stop. We need to listen to and cooperate with each other so we can once again be a united nation. We can and will continue to disagree with each other but we must all have the same goal putting our Nation and our Democracy first. From a pure policy point of view the greatest challenge not only to the United States but to the world is preserving this precious planet we were given and developing ways to live on it prosperously without harming it and while preserving it for future generations. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? I believe compromise is the only way to move forward with policy making. Without compromise we end up accomplishing very little for our towns , our states or our nation. What we are experiencing now is a nation divided by politicians who are steeped in party first dogma and are unwilling to put town, state, and or country over party. The sooner we get back to an atmosphere of listening to the other side and compromising the sooner our public policy will move forward.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}]