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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • BA, Astronomy; Geology, Amherst College
  • MA, Geosciences, Brown University
  • PhD, Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science, Brown University

Professional Experience

  • BA, Astronomy; Geology, Amherst College
  • MA, Geosciences, Brown University
  • PhD, Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science, Brown University
  • Data Scientist, Brown University

Political Experience

  • BA, Astronomy; Geology, Amherst College
  • MA, Geosciences, Brown University
  • PhD, Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science, Brown University
  • Data Scientist, Brown University
  • Senator, Rhode Island State Senate, District 5, 2019-present
  • Candidate, Rhode Island State Senate, District 5, 2020
  • Candidate, Rhode Island State Senate, District 5, 2018

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Commerce

Member, Housing and Municipal Government

Policy Positions

Rhode Island State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- We need to codify Roe v. Wade into Rhode Island law by passing the Reproductive Health Care Act.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Rhode Island's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- We need to repeal the tax cuts for the rich to fund bold investments in schools, roads, and healthcare.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- No

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Do you support a criminal penalty of up to life in prison for drug dealers in cases of fatal overdoses?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Rhode Island?
- Yes

7. Do you support offering state tax incentives to attract businesses to Rhode Island?
- No

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Rhode Island?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Rhode Island high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Rhode Island's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- I support a single-payer long-term vision, and I am working to try to roll back some of the Medicaid cuts.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Rhode Island's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Rhode Island's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by Rhode Island state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- Repeal the tax cuts for the rich so we can invest in our roads, our schools, and our healthcare programs. Codify Roe v. Wade into Rhode Island law to protect a woman's right to choose. Reform our economic development programs to move away from corporate welfare towards real investment.

Events

2020

Nov. 11
Reception in Honor of Senator Bell

Wed 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST

Federal Hill Pizza (Providence, RI) Providence, RI

Aug. 12
Reception in Honor of Senator Bell

Wed 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT

Federal Hill Pizza (Providence, RI) Providence, RI