Jolian Kangas

[{"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>Jolian Kangas completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kangas' 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-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading-bio-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-207353-2023-11-02\" 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-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-207353-2023-11-02\" 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'm Jolian Kangas. I'm a small business owner and foster dad living on the North Coast. I'm running for office because I'm tired of the partisan games that are causing dysfunction in our federal government while ordinary people struggle. I support individual liberties: the right to express oneself, to make one's own reproductive health decisions, to protect and defend one's family, and to live a life free from want. Government should serve two primary functions: resource allocation, and conflict resolution. Everything else should be decided on a local, community-oriented scale. \r\nWe need to quit our addiction to funding needless conflicts around the world, and focus our resources on supporting fellow Americans who have fallen through the many tears in our social safety \"net.\" We need to prioritize the health and welfare of our nation, not by interfering in personal healthcare decisions, but by expanding access to nutrition and medicine. Let's steamroll the obstacles to accomplishing what the rest of the developed world has by defeating the partisan duopoly, and making the government work for the people.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading-key-message-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-207353-2023-11-02\" 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-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Eliminate hunger by expanding EBT, in breadth and scope, to cover more Americans with a more generous grocery allocation.</li><li>Defund all overseas military \"aid\" and divert the savings to paying down the deficit and expanding health and wellness initiatives.</li><li>Legalize cannabis on a federal level so that producers have access to financial products and interstate trade.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading1-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-207353-2023-11-02\" 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=\"heading1-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tWe need to pivot away from interfering with international politics, and focus on promoting the interests of Americans at home. We should expand our popular conception of \"infrastructure\" to extend to hospitals and clinics, in order to bring access to healthcare to the many regions in our district and our country where it is sorely lacking. And we need to guarantee a right to privacy by passing a constitutional amendment specifying as such, so activist judges from either end of the political spectrum cannot infringe upon our rights as Americans.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading2-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tInvisible Man by Ralph Ellison\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading3-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-207353-2023-11-02\" 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=\"heading3-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tTransparency, directness, compassion, and the ability to listen and communicate effectively.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading4-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-207353-2023-11-02\" 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=\"heading4-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tAs a business owner and automotive industry professional, I am well versed at negotiation, and considering the multiple options and effects of each decision I make in order to make the best one.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading5-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-207353-2023-11-02\" 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 believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tTo be ethical, to hold oneself accountable for making decisions that affect the lives of all Americans, and to be forthright about which policies are best suited to serve the nation's interests. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading6-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is your favorite book? Why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tInvisible Man by Ralph Ellison. It peels back the layers of identity to get to the core nature of what makes an individual. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading7-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-207353-2023-11-02\" 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=\"heading7-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tConfusion by New Order\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading8-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is something that has been a struggle in your life?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tFinding stable housing. As a renter, I have often found myself having to forcibly relocate every time a landlord wishes to remodel or sell the home in which I'd been living. Yet the financial system is stacked against people like myself when it comes to being able to qualify for a home loan. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading9-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-207353-2023-11-02\" 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=\"heading9-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tNo, on the contrary, having fresh perspectives from outsiders is vital to the continued functioning of the democratic process.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading10-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse10-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-207353-2023-11-02\" 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=\"heading10-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse10-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tOur national debt is growing at an unsustainable pace, and will need to be addressed soon if we don't want to face economic ruin.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading11-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse11-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-207353-2023-11-02\" 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 two years is the right term length for representatives?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading11-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse11-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tTwo years is a reasonable term length, if we can implement meaningful campaign finance reform, so members of Congress are not having to constantly focus on fundraising over advocating for their constituents. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading12-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse12-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat are your thoughts on term limits?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading12-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse12-207353-2023-11-02\" 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 support term limits for legislative and judicial offices.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading13-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse13-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading13-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse13-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tCharles Lindbergh Sr.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading14-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse14-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-207353-2023-11-02\" 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=\"heading14-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse14-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tYes, but compromise shouldn't be at the behest of the highest bidder. We need to get money out of politics, and focus on policies that benefit all Americans.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading15-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse15-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tThe Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading15-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse15-207353-2023-11-02\" 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 reason I'm running for this office is to help get our financial priorities straightened out, and my priorities reflect this.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse16-207353-2023-11-02\" id=\"heading16-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse16-207353-2023-11-02\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse16-207353-2023-11-02\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tHow should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading16-207353-2023-11-02\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse16-207353-2023-11-02\" 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\tInvestigations should be conducted into issues of pressing public concern, not to exact revenge on political opponents. \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>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nJolian Kangas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kangas' responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I'm Jolian Kangas. I'm a small business owner and foster dad living on the North Coast. I'm running for office because I'm tired of the partisan games that are causing dysfunction in our federal government while ordinary people struggle. I support individual liberties: the right to express oneself, to make one's own reproductive health decisions, to protect and defend one's family, and to live a life free from want. Government should serve two primary functions: resource allocation, and conflict resolution. Everything else should be decided on a local, community-oriented scale. \r\nWe need to quit our addiction to funding needless conflicts around the world, and focus our resources on supporting fellow Americans who have fallen through the many tears in our social safety \"net.\" We need to prioritize the health and welfare of our nation, not by interfering in personal healthcare decisions, but by expanding access to nutrition and medicine. Let's steamroll the obstacles to accomplishing what the rest of the developed world has by defeating the partisan duopoly, and making the government work for the people. 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? Eliminate hunger by expanding EBT, in breadth and scope, to cover more Americans with a more generous grocery allocation. Defund all overseas military \"aid\" and divert the savings to paying down the deficit and expanding health and wellness initiatives. Legalize cannabis on a federal level so that producers have access to financial products and interstate trade. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? We need to pivot away from interfering with international politics, and focus on promoting the interests of Americans at home. We should expand our popular conception of \"infrastructure\" to extend to hospitals and clinics, in order to bring access to healthcare to the many regions in our district and our country where it is sorely lacking. And we need to guarantee a right to privacy by passing a constitutional amendment specifying as such, so activist judges from either end of the political spectrum cannot infringe upon our rights as Americans. Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy? Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? Transparency, directness, compassion, and the ability to listen and communicate effectively. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? As a business owner and automotive industry professional, I am well versed at negotiation, and considering the multiple options and effects of each decision I make in order to make the best one. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? To be ethical, to hold oneself accountable for making decisions that affect the lives of all Americans, and to be forthright about which policies are best suited to serve the nation's interests. What is your favorite book? Why? Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. It peels back the layers of identity to get to the core nature of what makes an individual. What was the last song that got stuck in your head? Confusion by New Order What is something that has been a struggle in your life? Finding stable housing. As a renter, I have often found myself having to forcibly relocate every time a landlord wishes to remodel or sell the home in which I'd been living. Yet the financial system is stacked against people like myself when it comes to being able to qualify for a home loan. Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics? No, on the contrary, having fresh perspectives from outsiders is vital to the continued functioning of the democratic process. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? Our national debt is growing at an unsustainable pace, and will need to be addressed soon if we don't want to face economic ruin. Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives? Two years is a reasonable term length, if we can implement meaningful campaign finance reform, so members of Congress are not having to constantly focus on fundraising over advocating for their constituents. What are your thoughts on term limits? I support term limits for legislative and judicial offices. Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after? Charles Lindbergh Sr. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? Yes, but compromise shouldn't be at the behest of the highest bidder. We need to get money out of politics, and focus on policies that benefit all Americans. The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected? The reason I'm running for this office is to help get our financial priorities straightened out, and my priorities reflect this. How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers? Investigations should be conducted into issues of pressing public concern, not to exact revenge on political opponents.\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."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Kangas’s campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b><u>IT’S TIME TO MOVE BEYOND PARTISAN POLITICS. LET’S ADDRESS REAL PRIORITIES.</u></b>\nMY POSITIONS AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE:<br/>\n</p>\n<ul><li>End all funding for foreign wars. Killing innocent civilians does not further the interests of our nation.</li>\n<li>Revoke the federal leasing of offshore waters for experimental wind farm development. It’s too much risk for too little gain.</li>\n<li>Protect and expand reproductive health rights.</li>\n<li>Defend press and publishers, both off- and online, from repressive attempts at censorship.</li>\n<li>Empower HUD to regulate institutional-investor and foreign owned rental properties.</li>\n<li>Expand EBT benefits in both scope and breadth and eliminate childhood hunger by implementing universal free school lunch, year-round.</li>\n<li>Reform financial regulations so prospective homeowners can more easily qualify for loans.</li>\n<li>Make the wealthy pay their fair share by more aggressively taxing unearned income.</li>\n<li>Legalize cannabis on a federal level and give our local producers a fair shot at the national marketplace.</li>\n<li>Protect all liberties afforded to us by the bill of rights and oppose efforts to curtail constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.</li></ul>\n<p><b>PEACE IS PROFITABLE</b><br/>\nBeyond the basic fact that we cannot afford to be financing foreign wars, we are risking global relationships and putting our troops in harm’s way by way of our interventions. We have nothing to gain, and everything to lose.<br/>\n<b>WAR IS A WASTE OF LIFE AND MONEY.</b><br/>\nJoe Biden has asked Congress to authorize funding in excess of $100 billion to spend on arming foreign countries that are currently engaged in long-running conflicts. That money is not chump change; it represents funding that could otherwise be spent on programs to combat food insecurity and climate change, and improve public safety.\n</p><p>Jared Huffman has expressed his full support for the President’s request to steal from the American Taxpayer to fund these forever wars. It appears that the Republican-controlled Congress is willing to authorize some of this ludicrous and wasteful spending. Which begs the question: what is the difference between D and R, when both parties completely disregard the well being of our People?\n</p><p>There are atrocities being committed around the world on a regular basis. The ongoing civil war in Myanmar is one of those humanitarian disasters that is not being mentioned in the media. Pro-Democracy forces are rallying to defeat the military dictatorship that has seized power yet again. Are we rushing to send billions of dollars worth of guns and bombs to support their cause? No, because the elites don’t have a dog in that fight. \n</p><p>We cannot maintain our delusion of being the “World’s Policeman.” Not when our national debt is quickly approaching $30 Trillion. Rather, we need to lean on our allies to intervene and resolve these conflicts that are closer to them, in both proximity and causality. \n</p><p>Beyond the basic fact that we cannot afford to be financing foreign wars, we are risking global relationships and putting our troops in harm’s way by way of our interventions. We have nothing to gain, and everything to lose. \n</p><p>I propose a different track. Let’s stop underwriting endless bloodshed, and start advocating for peace. I promise you it will be far more lucrative for the US to prioritize ceasefires, and provide American businesses the opportunity to sell the tools and supplies to rebuild infrastructure in former conflict zones. Doing so will restore our reputation and provide a positive counterbalance to China and other emerging powers on the world stage.\n</p><p>In the grand scheme of things, our planet is just a small blue marble in space that we all must share. \n</p><p><b>SUSTAINABILITY TODAY</b><br/>\nSustainability to me means the intersection between Humanity and the environment. Finding a balance where we can live and thrive while minimizing our negative impacts is crucial.<br/>\n<b>LET’S THINK ABOUT THIS</b><br/>\nSustainability to me means the intersection between Humanity and the environment. Finding a balance where we can live and thrive while minimizing our negative impacts is crucial.\n</p><p>By contrast, Rep. Huffman seems to stick to his dogmatic view of “environmentalism” to the detriment of the public interest. The legacy of “zero carbon” has a problematic history, particularly here in Northern California. Two prominent examples come to mind:\n</p>\n<ul><li>The Humboldt Bay Nuclear Power Plant, a decommissioned plant that was foolishly constructed atop an active fault zone, and where high-level waste remains to this day.</li>\n<li>The proliferation of hydroelectric dams that led to catastrophic impacts to local riparian environments, and contributed to the collapse of salmon stocks.</li></ul>\n<p>With this track record, projects like the proposed offshore wind farm deserve the highest level of scrutiny. Yet it would appear that it’s a done deal, as Rep. Huffman pats himself on the back for selling a swath of our coastal waters to a private startup that’s already had publicly visible issues with its leadership. \n</p><p>The Redwood Region Audubon Society recently hosted a presentation on the multiple negative impacts the wind farm may have, not just on bird populations but on all marine life and Human users of the sea. The few examples of offshore wind development that can be studied have demonstrated serious impacts to marine mammals, including Whales, by disrupting the electromagnetic fields these majestic creatures utilize for navigation. Marine traffic, both pleasure craft and commercial fishing vessels, can expect outages of critical communications channels, which can be catastrophic in an emergency. \n</p><p>All of these negative effects will result from a project that provides precious little benefit to the North Coast. The power being generated won’t be consumed locally, but instead will be transmitted hundreds of miles to the South, losing charge through resistive heat loss along the way. Few if any long-term jobs will be created in the Humboldt Bay Region, as the developers will rely upon contractors from out of the area, and make every effort to minimize ongoing maintenance needs. \n</p><p>Friends, I recognize the vital importance of moving away from fossil fuels. The economic and environmental costs are prohibitive. Yet I am also a strong advocate of “Local Production for Local Consumption.” Gargantuan projects such as this wind farm are inefficient and untested, and can lead to unseen consequences down the line. Instead, we should focus on “Microgrid” technologies that improve resilience in the face of natural disasters and translate to greater power conversion efficiency. \n</p><p>We need to take the long view of the situation at hand, and work on well-reasoned and researched solutions, not simply a knee-jerk response that throws money at untested and unproven technologies. \n</p><p><b>IMMIGRATION NOT EXPLOITATION</b><br/>\nYes, our borders are broken. But it’s not the fault of the people who want to live and work in our Country.<br/>\n<b>PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE BORDER</b><br/>\nYes, our borders are broken. But it’s not the fault of the people who want to live and work in our Country. \n</p><p>This “crisis” has been completely manufactured by a longtime refusal by our policymakers to tackle comprehensive immigration reform. Meanwhile, state governments have been filling the void created by federal inaction. Governors in Texas and Florida have been grossly overstepping their roles, torturing migrants and using the issue to score political points with their base. The result is an absolute disaster. \n</p><p>First, we need to recognize that there is both a large supply and a strong demand for migrant labor. During the last few years of record-low unemployment in particular, many sectors have been struggling to fill all their available jobs. America has always relied upon migrants to pick up this slack; yet we have remained completely in denial about this reality. \n</p><p>Second, we need to acknowledge the fact that the vast majority of foreign nationals who are seeking a better life in the United States are not presenting a threat. Unfortunately, the Republican party seems infatuated by the delusion that migrants pose the biggest challenge to national security. Coupled with complete and utter inaction and incompetence by the Democrats, this toxic rhetoric has created an absolute quagmire on the southern border.\n</p><p>Third, we need to come to terms with the economic upheavals of the past decades. The industrial workforce that created the American Middle Class in the mid-twentieth century is now of a bygone era. In its place, we have become reliant upon a service/consumption economic model. Severely restricting and penalizing immigration is not going to magically result in factories returning to our shores. Diversification is our best, and only, pathway for sustained growth, and migrants will have a key role to play in that goal.\n</p><p>Let’s start by shoring up the regulatory failures that have led this ongoing humanitarian failure that is the border. Instead of offering “asylum” as the easiest option to enter the country, we need to rapidly scale up worker visas, particularly for unskilled labor. And this should be coupled by a reasonable fee for admission. Migrants already pay thousands to unscrupulous “coyotes” who abuse, rob, and leave them for dead out in the desert. The federal government could better use that money, to implement a comprehensive background check to ensure that that few bad actors attempting to gain entry are cut off at the pass. \n</p><p>Fully authorizing migrant workers would then have the added benefits of reducing identity theft, and improving tax recovery by ensuring that these workers are on payroll. This would greatly improve transparency and protect the public’s and the migrants’ interests. \n</p><p><b>LEGALIZE IT NOW</b><br/>\nThe “Emerald Triangle” region has a well-deserved reputation for producing the finest cannabis on the planet.<br/>\n<b>REMOVE BARRIERS FOR GROWERS.</b><br/>\nThe “Emerald Triangle” region has a well-deserved reputation for producing the finest cannabis on the planet. Yet as the era of legal, regulated marijuana has quickly advanced over the past few years, federal policy is seriously lagging. How can it be that pot is still considered a “Schedule I” substance?\n</p><p>The DEA continues to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on locating and eradicating cannabis plants. How is this still being funded when the majority of Americans live in a state with some form of legal marijuana? \n</p><p>Cannabis can and should be taxed and regulated in the same manner as alcohol. Although its effects can lead to physical and mental health concerns, and it should not be freely accessible to children, pot is no more of a threat than booze.\n</p><p>If elected, I will join the Cannabis Caucus to push for descheduling and full legalization on a national basis. Our producers in the North Country deserve a fair shot at having their products being made available to adults across the country. The scattershot patchwork of state-level regulations that currently exist provide no legal means for interstate commerce to boost our local economy. Our district deserves representation that reflects this reality.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_2-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-2\">[2]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Jolian Kangas’s campaign website (2024)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-3\"><a href=\"#cite_note-3\">[3]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>", "answer_text": "Kangas’s campaign website stated the following:\n“ IT’S TIME TO MOVE BEYOND PARTISAN POLITICS. LET’S ADDRESS REAL PRIORITIES. MY POSITIONS AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE: End all funding for foreign wars. Killing innocent civilians does not further the interests of our nation. Revoke the federal leasing of offshore waters for experimental wind farm development. It’s too much risk for too little gain. Protect and expand reproductive health rights. Defend press and publishers, both off- and online, from repressive attempts at censorship. Empower HUD to regulate institutional-investor and foreign owned rental properties. Expand EBT benefits in both scope and breadth and eliminate childhood hunger by implementing universal free school lunch, year-round. Reform financial regulations so prospective homeowners can more easily qualify for loans. Make the wealthy pay their fair share by more aggressively taxing unearned income. Legalize cannabis on a federal level and give our local producers a fair shot at the national marketplace. Protect all liberties afforded to us by the bill of rights and oppose efforts to curtail constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. PEACE IS PROFITABLE Beyond the basic fact that we cannot afford to be financing foreign wars, we are risking global relationships and putting our troops in harm’s way by way of our interventions. We have nothing to gain, and everything to lose. WAR IS A WASTE OF LIFE AND MONEY. Joe Biden has asked Congress to authorize funding in excess of $100 billion to spend on arming foreign countries that are currently engaged in long-running conflicts. That money is not chump change; it represents funding that could otherwise be spent on programs to combat food insecurity and climate change, and improve public safety. Jared Huffman has expressed his full support for the President’s request to steal from the American Taxpayer to fund these forever wars. It appears that the Republican-controlled Congress is willing to authorize some of this ludicrous and wasteful spending. Which begs the question: what is the difference between D and R, when both parties completely disregard the well being of our People? There are atrocities being committed around the world on a regular basis. The ongoing civil war in Myanmar is one of those humanitarian disasters that is not being mentioned in the media. Pro-Democracy forces are rallying to defeat the military dictatorship that has seized power yet again. Are we rushing to send billions of dollars worth of guns and bombs to support their cause? No, because the elites don’t have a dog in that fight. We cannot maintain our delusion of being the “World’s Policeman.” Not when our national debt is quickly approaching $30 Trillion. Rather, we need to lean on our allies to intervene and resolve these conflicts that are closer to them, in both proximity and causality. Beyond the basic fact that we cannot afford to be financing foreign wars, we are risking global relationships and putting our troops in harm’s way by way of our interventions. We have nothing to gain, and everything to lose. I propose a different track. Let’s stop underwriting endless bloodshed, and start advocating for peace. I promise you it will be far more lucrative for the US to prioritize ceasefires, and provide American businesses the opportunity to sell the tools and supplies to rebuild infrastructure in former conflict zones. Doing so will restore our reputation and provide a positive counterbalance to China and other emerging powers on the world stage. In the grand scheme of things, our planet is just a small blue marble in space that we all must share. SUSTAINABILITY TODAY Sustainability to me means the intersection between Humanity and the environment. Finding a balance where we can live and thrive while minimizing our negative impacts is crucial. LET’S THINK ABOUT THIS Sustainability to me means the intersection between Humanity and the environment. Finding a balance where we can live and thrive while minimizing our negative impacts is crucial. By contrast, Rep. Huffman seems to stick to his dogmatic view of “environmentalism” to the detriment of the public interest. The legacy of “zero carbon” has a problematic history, particularly here in Northern California. Two prominent examples come to mind: The Humboldt Bay Nuclear Power Plant, a decommissioned plant that was foolishly constructed atop an active fault zone, and where high-level waste remains to this day. The proliferation of hydroelectric dams that led to catastrophic impacts to local riparian environments, and contributed to the collapse of salmon stocks. With this track record, projects like the proposed offshore wind farm deserve the highest level of scrutiny. Yet it would appear that it’s a done deal, as Rep. Huffman pats himself on the back for selling a swath of our coastal waters to a private startup that’s already had publicly visible issues with its leadership. The Redwood Region Audubon Society recently hosted a presentation on the multiple negative impacts the wind farm may have, not just on bird populations but on all marine life and Human users of the sea. The few examples of offshore wind development that can be studied have demonstrated serious impacts to marine mammals, including Whales, by disrupting the electromagnetic fields these majestic creatures utilize for navigation. Marine traffic, both pleasure craft and commercial fishing vessels, can expect outages of critical communications channels, which can be catastrophic in an emergency. All of these negative effects will result from a project that provides precious little benefit to the North Coast. The power being generated won’t be consumed locally, but instead will be transmitted hundreds of miles to the South, losing charge through resistive heat loss along the way. Few if any long-term jobs will be created in the Humboldt Bay Region, as the developers will rely upon contractors from out of the area, and make every effort to minimize ongoing maintenance needs. Friends, I recognize the vital importance of moving away from fossil fuels. The economic and environmental costs are prohibitive. Yet I am also a strong advocate of “Local Production for Local Consumption.” Gargantuan projects such as this wind farm are inefficient and untested, and can lead to unseen consequences down the line. Instead, we should focus on “Microgrid” technologies that improve resilience in the face of natural disasters and translate to greater power conversion efficiency. We need to take the long view of the situation at hand, and work on well-reasoned and researched solutions, not simply a knee-jerk response that throws money at untested and unproven technologies. IMMIGRATION NOT EXPLOITATION Yes, our borders are broken. But it’s not the fault of the people who want to live and work in our Country. PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE BORDER Yes, our borders are broken. But it’s not the fault of the people who want to live and work in our Country. This “crisis” has been completely manufactured by a longtime refusal by our policymakers to tackle comprehensive immigration reform. Meanwhile, state governments have been filling the void created by federal inaction. Governors in Texas and Florida have been grossly overstepping their roles, torturing migrants and using the issue to score political points with their base. The result is an absolute disaster. First, we need to recognize that there is both a large supply and a strong demand for migrant labor. During the last few years of record-low unemployment in particular, many sectors have been struggling to fill all their available jobs. America has always relied upon migrants to pick up this slack; yet we have remained completely in denial about this reality. Second, we need to acknowledge the fact that the vast majority of foreign nationals who are seeking a better life in the United States are not presenting a threat. Unfortunately, the Republican party seems infatuated by the delusion that migrants pose the biggest challenge to national security. Coupled with complete and utter inaction and incompetence by the Democrats, this toxic rhetoric has created an absolute quagmire on the southern border. Third, we need to come to terms with the economic upheavals of the past decades. The industrial workforce that created the American Middle Class in the mid-twentieth century is now of a bygone era. In its place, we have become reliant upon a service/consumption economic model. Severely restricting and penalizing immigration is not going to magically result in factories returning to our shores. Diversification is our best, and only, pathway for sustained growth, and migrants will have a key role to play in that goal. Let’s start by shoring up the regulatory failures that have led this ongoing humanitarian failure that is the border. Instead of offering “asylum” as the easiest option to enter the country, we need to rapidly scale up worker visas, particularly for unskilled labor. And this should be coupled by a reasonable fee for admission. Migrants already pay thousands to unscrupulous “coyotes” who abuse, rob, and leave them for dead out in the desert. The federal government could better use that money, to implement a comprehensive background check to ensure that that few bad actors attempting to gain entry are cut off at the pass. Fully authorizing migrant workers would then have the added benefits of reducing identity theft, and improving tax recovery by ensuring that these workers are on payroll. This would greatly improve transparency and protect the public’s and the migrants’ interests. LEGALIZE IT NOW The “Emerald Triangle” region has a well-deserved reputation for producing the finest cannabis on the planet. REMOVE BARRIERS FOR GROWERS. The “Emerald Triangle” region has a well-deserved reputation for producing the finest cannabis on the planet. Yet as the era of legal, regulated marijuana has quickly advanced over the past few years, federal policy is seriously lagging. How can it be that pot is still considered a “Schedule I” substance? The DEA continues to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on locating and eradicating cannabis plants. How is this still being funded when the majority of Americans live in a state with some form of legal marijuana? Cannabis can and should be taxed and regulated in the same manner as alcohol. Although its effects can lead to physical and mental health concerns, and it should not be freely accessible to children, pot is no more of a threat than booze. If elected, I will join the Cannabis Caucus to push for descheduling and full legalization on a national basis. Our producers in the North Country deserve a fair shot at having their products being made available to adults across the country. The scattershot patchwork of state-level regulations that currently exist provide no legal means for interstate commerce to boost our local economy. Our district deserves representation that reflects this reality. [2] ” —Jolian Kangas’s campaign website (2024) [3]"}]