Michael Shepard

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

We can’t have strong communities if people don’t feel safe in their neighborhoods and in our cities and towns, both during the day and night. I do NOT support “defund the police”. I believe that law enforcement needs more resources, not less. We must work together in partnership toward a shared goal of keeping Whatcom County safe. Learn more

Education

All students deserve a high-quality education, no matter the zip code where they are from or the color of their skin. In Olympia, I’ll champion increased funding for K-12 education and affordable early childhood education. After students graduate, we need to ensure there are pathways to family-wage jobs, either by providing access to affordable college tuition that doesn’t leave them with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, or through apprenticeship programs in the trades and other skilled labor. I’m a Professor at Western Washington University, and I know the importance of a good education. Learn more

As a father with two young children, I hear from so many families about how expensive childcare is - some of my friends are paying 2,500 a month per child! Our economy depends on safe, quality, affordable childcare. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Washington’s natural beauty is an economic and cultural treasure. I’m committed to working with Tribal Governments to protect and educate the public to recover our stocks of salmon, trout, and other fish for generations to come. Learn more

Companies move here because of our access to natural beauty, clean air, and water to drink, and outdoor recreational opportunities like hiking, boating, biking, and fishing. Climate change is real, and we must continue to lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as voters have mandated. I support sustainable energy and conservation policies that create jobs, reduce utility costs, and protect our way of life — without loading extra costs on families. Learn more

Healthcare

Too many families delay care because it costs too much, which ends up costing all of us due to expensive emergency room visits. This is especially true now that the Affordable Care Act Subsidies were cut by President Trump and Congress. I support measures to lower prescription drug prices, expand affordable health coverage options, and strengthen access to preventive care so Washingtonians can get the care they need without financial fear. Learn more

Housing

Homelessness has touched every community in the state, and through my work as a Port Commissioner, I’ve worked with local governments and community partners focused on addressing housing instability and supporting those experiencing homelessness. When we invest in housing affordability, we invest in efforts to reduce homelessness. We must also expand resources for homelessness prevention, so people don’t end up on the streets in the first place, and finally deal with our mental health and substance abuse crisis. Learn more

I will fight to lower the cost of living by expanding access to housing that working people can afford, reducing the cost of healthcare, and ensuring basic needs don’t break a family’s budget. Housing costs in Washington are too high, requiring effective solutions like incentivizing construction of workforce housing, encouraging responsible density near transit, and cutting red tape to get housing built faster. I believe that when people can afford to live and work here, our communities thrive, businesses have both customers and employees, and our economy keeps moving. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

Strengthening workforce training, supporting our public schools, and making sure wages keep pace with the costs of living will help families stay in their communities and support local economies. Too many skilled workers in Washington are struggling because of unnecessary red tape and regulations standing in the way of projects our communities need. Learn more