WORKING
for us
I have been advocating for fairness in Chesapeake for over twenty years. What began as concerns about student educational opportunities soon extended past school buildings into our communities.
While fighting for workers' and students' rights, I realized a major obstacle to sustained progress in Chesapeake is our at-large voting system. Until we are represented in single-member districts, any progress we make are singular events that cannot point to any real trend toward improved representation.
As a member of city council, I will work tirelessly to bring services into our communities and propose policies that will improve infrastructure and public safety. Further, I will explore avenues to provide financial relief for our taxpayers and our small businesses.
The place to start the process is in our various communities. I frequently attend civic league meetings around the city, so I can learn about citizen concerns and local issues.
As a city council member, I pledge to continue what I believe is the vital practice of face to face contact with our civic leagues.
I will also provide citizens information about upcoming topics and council votes via social media and a dedicated website.
Citizen Access
After studying the numerous obstacles to representation some folks face, Jennifer came to understand that Chesapeake's at-large voting system must be changed to a ward system.
Otherwise, not all of our citizens will ever have a consistent voice in City Council's decisions.
Chesapeake's at-large voting system has worked for years to disenfranchise voters, especially voters who live in our northern boroughs. By establishing a single-member district system for voting, citizens will gain the ability to elect a representative who represents their community specifically.
Jennifer believes it's time for all of us to be heard, not just folks who live among the huge voting blocks in our city's southern boroughs, and she speaks on the topic frequently.
Workers' Rights
Fire fighters, police officers, teachers, and other city workers devote their careers serving the citizens of Chesapeake. Jennifer knows it is past time for City Council to acknowledge our city's working professionals understand their needs better than the Council does.
Allowing employee representatives to enter into contract negotiation on employee behalf will improve workers' quality of life through improved benefits, trainings, and other opportunities.
Jennifer was advocating for teachers to earn collective bargaining rights before the Virginia House and Senate passed HB 582 allowing contract negotiation in 2021. She will support the right for city workers to collectively bargain until they have secured that right.