Ellyn Hefner

Biography

Ellyn Hefner is seeking re-election for House District 87. She supports increasing education funding, raising teacher pay and benefits, and empowering local school boards and administrators to make the best decisions for their students. She also knows that parents deserve to have choices when it comes to their children’s education. Hefner wants to make the State Legislature operate under the Open Meetings and Open Records Acts, ensure that the budget process is fair and open, and enact stronger anti-corruption measures. She also understands how access to quality mental health Care is important to families. She believes that caregivers need to have support in caring for their family, co-workers and friends when they are in crisis. She will work with legislators to support Oklahomans and find solutions to the state’s growing mental health crisis.

Survey Issues

Public Health

What do you feel should be the government’s role in public health and welfare?

I believe the government should protect public health and welfare…I have a child with an Intellectual disability and I know that he needs help with support and protection because of his disability. This is the government’s job to assist with these programs.

What are your views on individuals being able to safely and securely access sensitive medical procedures in privacy and without state control?

Medical health care should be private between a patient and their doctor. Safety has to be in the same sentence with my health and the health of all.

 Voting

What changes would you make to ensure every Oklahoman has the chance to participate meaningfully in the electoral process?

Encourage an understanding of voting and helping those understand the process to be able to vote and not take undue steps to take away someone’s vote. It takes a conversation after or before to help encourage the democratic process.

Currently, only one political party in Oklahoma allows Independent voters to participate in primary elections. What will you do to ensure that all registered voters are able to fully express their political preferences?

I believe that with the right policy in place,  both parties should have open primaries and it would benefit all Oklahomans.

Research from Pew Research Center indicates that “the role of money in politics” is consistently one of the top concerns of American voters across the ideological spectrum. What will you do to address this growing issue?

I believe we have to answer for our actions and be held accountable by our voters. We cannot allow the influence of big money to determine our service. We serve the people of our community and I will stand by that no matter what kind of money is involved.

Discrimination and Civil Rights

Many Oklahomans experience discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and other factors; how would you address these problems as an elected leader?

I believe discrimination on any level is a major problem and not something I stand for- as a Legislator it is my job to represent all Oklahomans no matter who they are or what they believe or look like.  As a Leader, I remain committed to voting for an inclusive policy that does not discriminate against any Oklahomans.

How will you ensure that First Amendment rights to freedom of religion, speech, protest, and press are protected from infringement?

I believe everyone has the right to the First Amendment and I will stand up for it always.

Criminal Justice

What issues do you see in our criminal legal system that could be reformed to be more equitable and efficient?

There are so many issues here in our criminal system that I could talk about but I believe one thing that I am particularly interested in is prevention and post-incarceration assistance. We have to do more to prevent crime from happening. We know that crimes often happen due to a bad circumstance in an individual’s life.  We need to do more to intervene in the beginning.  Secondly, we have to provide assistance when folks are re-entering society. We need to ensure folks understand their voting rights, have transportation, housing, access to work, etc. We have much more work to do.

Anti-Poverty

What measures would you take to address food insecurity in Oklahoma?

Expanding support for food banks, mobile pantries, and community-based food distribution programs would be critical. Oklahoma could significantly reduce food insecurity, especially for rural communities, seniors, and people with disabilities with collaboration between the state, local nonprofits, and the private sector, ensuring that resources are used effectively and sustainably. In district 87 there are food pantries that work very well to serve the increased need for food, especially this summer as the state did not continue the US Agriculture’s Summer EBT program put pressure on these great services that serve so many. Creating a dedicated state fund to ensure food banks and pantries have a steady stream of financial support, particularly during economic downturns, natural disasters, or pandemics when demand is high like this last summer. Higher wages, affordable housing is also parts of this larger planning piece that coulld be sustainable for families.

How would you protect people renting in Oklahoma from predatory landlords and expand affordable housing options in our state?

Protecting renters in Oklahoma from predatory landlords and expanding affordable housing by considering a combination of policy reforms like increasing funding for legal aid programs that provide representation for tenants facing eviction or harassment and incentives for affordable housing development by working with cities and local governments to increase collaboration on housing initiatives by pooling resources to maximize the impact on affordable housing construction and renter protections.