Why I’m Running
As a lifelong Alachua County resident and as an environmental engineer, I am running to protect our water and environment, provide good planning for climate change and growth, and to maintain our current infrastructure.
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Current and Former Board Positions:
- Utility Advisory Board Member for City of Gainesville (current member and former Chair)
- Alachua County Code Enforcement Board (engineer)
- Alachua County Environmental Advisory Board (former Chair)
- United Way of North Central Florida (board member)
- Florida Defenders of the Environment (executive board member)
- United States Green Building Council, Heart of Florida Chapter (President, LEED for Homes Chair)
- Cultural Arts Coalition (board member)
- NAACP Environmental Justice Committee Member
- Sequential Artists Workshop (board member)
Through my work, experience, and education I have become an expert in sustainability, utility, housing, environmental and energy issues and I have been honored to serve on many local and state boards.
I am pleased to announce that I will be running a carbon-neutral campaign. Please consider this when making donations.On Facebook
Family fish fry. I’m so lucky that multiple generations of my family are all practically in my back yard.
The repercussions of underfunded behavioral health care reach deep into our community. You can see it in the lines of people waiting for meals at shelters. You can see it in the emergency rooms. You can see it in the prisons (especially). You can see it in the suicide numbers and you can see it in the illegal drug use numbers as people seek to self treat their pain. We are paying for these repercussions - and we are paying at a greater cost than quality care and treatment would cost.
What is behavioral health? Behavioral health is the scientific study of the emotions, behaviors and biology relating to a person’s mental well-being, their ability to function in every day life and their concept of self. “Behavioral health” is the preferred term to “mental health.” A person struggling with his or her behavioral health may face stress, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, addiction, ADHD or learning disabilities, mood disorders, or other psychological concerns. Counselors, therapists, life coaches, psychologists, nurse practitioners or physicians can help manage behavioral health concerns with treatments such as therapy, counseling, or medication.
Please contact Senator Perry, (850)487-5008, and Representatives Clemmons (850)717-5021 and Watson (850)717-5020. Urge them to support SB 706 and HB 939. These bills would enforce a federal law (known as parity). This law requires any insurance company doing business in FL (including Medicaid) to treat behavioral health patients just the same way they treat all other patients.
Point of View: Time to end treatment of behavioral health patients as second-class citizens is now
www.palmbeachpost.com
Why is it more difficult to find mental health and substance use care than to find any other type of care, such as primary health, cardiology or cancer?Good planning is planning for 50 years out - not the next election cycle. If we want to protect the best parts of Alachua County and be resilient in the face of climate disruption we must act now.
Where America's Climate Migrants Will Go As Sea Level Rises
www.citylab.com
13 million U.S. coastal residents are expected to be displaced by 2100 due to sea level rise. Researchers are starting to predict where they’ll go.I really enjoyed meeting small business owners committed to a better community- where givers gain! Thank you Cody Yelton for the invite!
On Twitter
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REMINDER: If you want to vote in the Florida Democratic Presidential Primary on March 17, you need to be registered to vote as a Democrat by tomorrow. Independents, Republicans and others are not allowed to vote as Democrats in Florida.
https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home
It’s sad to see the county has decided to decrease Grace’s funding. Grace has served as a lifeline & safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. Enough is enough. It’s time to do the right thing. The county should live up to its agreement & fully fund their share of Grace.
City commissioners are asking county officials not to reduce funding for the local homeless shelter. https://www.gainesville.com/news/20190905/city-asks-county-to-equally-fund-grace-marketplace
I'm a 6th generation Floridian, born and raised in Alachua County, and environmental engineer running a #CarbonNeutral campaign for Alachua County Commission, District 1! 🏳️🌈 Please support my campaign below!
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mary-alford-for-alachua-county-commission-district-one-1