Upcoming 3rd Congressional District elections are putting the pressure on candidates Jessica Morse and Kevin Kiley.
Morse’s campaign centers around reproductive rights and wildfires, but she also highlights many other problems in the public sphere. These include the housing crisis, environmental issues, and mental health.
Morse is dedicated to bringing a youthful voice to the government sphere. As there are so many of the stereotypical representations of government, namely old, white, Protestant males, Morse wants to bring a new perspective and generation to light.
“Most elected are boomers, I am a millennial so I get it,” she said. She claimed that what voters actually want to see and experience is essential to her campaign.
It is essential for people in our country and district to understand the importance and necessity of education. Morse says that reforming the cost of education and improving non-traditional pathways of post secondary education is essential. Working toward “free community college and trade schools” is also part of Morse’s mission regarding education.
She continued to speak on opportunities that the communities in the district should focus on. Many of these are high priorities in Truckee like building more affordable housing for workers. This would allow more people to “live and work in their own communities,” Morse said.
Morse stressed the importance of “rebalancing the cost of living” and making the housing market affordable. Possibly the solution to this issue would be building more housing opportunities.
She mentioned the Truckee Railyard that is now the Artist Lofts. According to the Mountain Housing Council of Tahoe Truckee, this development of 77 units is to “satisfy the Railyard Master Plan requirement to meet the Town of Truckee Inclusionary Housing Requirement that 15% of the units must be affordable.”
Housing costs in Truckee and around the state are astronomically high. According to Zillow, “The average Truckee home value is $1,009,276, down 0.4% over the past year and goes to pending in around 25 days.”
Another pressing concern for Morse, is how young people are involved in her campaign and decisions. Morse claimed that there are “lots of kids and teenagers on our campaign.” Being politically engaged in any capacity is so important for the future of the country. There is opportunity for new ideas and a new face in the district. “Right now we have an extremist representing us,” Morse said in reference to her opponent, incumbent Kevin Kiley.
For the campaign, it is essential that new ideas and points of view are brought to the table for voters. Additionally, it is important to have someone representing the district that people can trust and feel they are being heard by.
Morse’s background includes ten years in national security and humanitarian aid. In regards to foreign conflicts, she claims her commitment to “advocate and support Ukrainians,” and to also “give tools [to the country], then to directly engage.” Morse’s goal is to view these conflicts with a ‘’human lens”. Seeing the horrors that occur, the candidate wants to “hold allies in check and get help because the United States can’t do this alone.”
According to Morse, children pay the highest price in conflicts. In finding clear objectives, resources and plans to help, there is the possibility of “working toward a safe homeland.” Morse said.
Jessica Morse’s campaign for the 3rd Congressional District Representative in California supports a new generation of voters and brings new goals to the state and Congress. She has been focused on the housing crisis, wildfires, education, and environmental issues.
