Here’s Nicole’s story, straight from her website:
In January 2015, my friend and colleague Dr. Michael Davidson was shot and killed by the disgruntled son of a former patient while in his clinic at one of the best medical centers in the country. This was the same hospital where I cut my teeth as an academic dietitian, met my husband, and had my first child.
Dr. Davidson was a talented cardiac surgeon who had devoted his life to tirelessly caring for the sickest patients, and was known for his humble nature and compassionate bedside manner. When the doctors were unable to save Michael, they had to deliver the news of his death to his wife, also a physician, who was seven months pregnant with their fourth child.
This tragedy affected me deeply, not only because Michael was someone I knew and respected, but because my husband has similarly devoted his life to caring for the sickest patients. As a transplant surgeon at Beaumont Health, he works countless hours to save the dying through the gift of organ donation, and this process can be emotionally charged for patients and their families. With the current state of firearms culture and laws in our society, there is nothing in place that might prevent this tragedy from happening again -- possibly even happening to my family.
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Like you, I can clearly see how the state is failing Michigan families. From our crumbling infrastructure to the Flint water crisis, the lack of leadership is staggering. We need representatives who are willing to fight for our kinds and our community. And as a mother of two young children, I am committed to building a bright future for our next generation. As a mother of two young daughters, I'm committed to building a community where they are protected and respected.
These concerns are why I would like to share with you the issues that most move me to run for office:
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Gun Violence Prevention: The data is clear. 91 Americans are killed every single day in America, and we citizens need to take action to change the gun culture around us. I will fight to enact evidence-based legislation to keep our communities safer. I believe loaded firearms should not be carried by civilians in sensitive areas like schools, bars, stadiums, and hospitals. I also believe that universal background checks should be required for all firearms purchases.
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Public Education: I believe we need to provide adequate funding to promote excellence in public schools, and should provide equitable resources to all districts. Children should not be educationally-disadvantaged based on where they live. Higher education should be affordable, and students attending college should not graduate with crippling debt. Those who do not go to college should receive the support that they need to enter a skilled trade.
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Women's Health: I believe that women should be able to make their own decisions about their reproductive health, and should be allowed the access to healthcare that they need to make these decisions.
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Support for Working Families: I believe that new parents should be allowed time to bond and nourish newborn infants without financial stress of unpaid family leave. I support paid sick days for all employees, because families shouldn't have to choose between their health and their paycheck.
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Water: The crisis in Flint raised our awareness about the health and safety of our drinking water. Our children are especially at risk, which is why I support testing the water in all of our schools for lead and other contaminants. Our kids are worth it.
Nicole and I met about 6 months ago when we both decided to run for office; since then, I’ve come to consider her a friend, and I think she’d do an amazingly good job in the Michigan state house.
Nicole Bedi’s AceBlue Page
So, what are her odds? Well, about 70% of Nicole’s and my own district overlap; we both cover Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township (which is about 2:1 GOP, as I’ve noted before)...but her district also includes about half of West Bloomfield as well, which is much more left-leaning.
As a result, while my district is roughly 65/35 GOP, I believe hers is more like 56/44. It’s still a tough district, but with Trump at the top of the ticket, the MI GOP legislature having botched everything they’ve touched over the past 5 years, a very strong candidate on the ballot and a helping hand from folks like you guys, she has a real chance of winning.
Michigan Dems only need to pick up 9 state House seats to retake it and stop the madness in the Wolverine state. You guys can help make that happen.
