Joy Stanford

4 hours ago

Samantha is a lifelong community member and wrote a letter to the editor on a topic important to her. Link and text are below.

As a lifelong community member in the 26th legislative district, I have been disappointed by Representative Michelle Caldier.

As a dentist, Caldier took the Hippocratic Oath and despite this oath, Caldier continues to do everything in her power to oppose dental therapy; an evidence-based, workforce and preventative care focused solution to the oral healthcare crisis.

Authorizing dental therapy is a policy solution that remains budget neutral and dental therapists are already working on tribal lands across Washington state, delivering innovative, high quality, community-based healthcare but Representative Michelle Caldier would have you believe something different. In the 2019-2020 session, She put up 15 amendments in an effort to gut and halt the movement of a statewide bill that has strong support from over 40 health related organizations, including dental hygienists.

For these reasons, this November I am voting for Joy Stanford.

Joy Stanford has strong connections within our community, a firm understanding of the unmet need for oral healthcare, and a long standing history working in healthcare. She understands that our oral health and overall health are interconnected and she will fight to help pass this common-sense solution that will expand access to care without costing taxpayers more money.

Samantha Wells

Port Orchard

www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-opinion/article246586018.html ... See MoreSee Less