Candidate Spotlight: Lisa Willner - Democratic Candidate for State Representative District 35

Candidate Spotlight

Lisa Willner

Democratic Candidate for State Representative District 35

About Lisa:

Lisa Willner is a graduate of Yale University and received her PhD in Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology.

Lisa and her husband John Scruton have lived in the 35th House District for 24 years where together they have raised their two children, Ben and Eliza. They are members of First Unitarian Church, where Lisa formerly served as Director of Religious Education.

Lisa is a strong advocate for mental health issues and serves as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Psychology Association. Lisa is also a long-time faculty member in the Psychology Department at Bellarmine University.

In 2014, Lisa was elected to the Jefferson County School Board where she has been praised by educators, mental health professionals and her constituents for advocating for our public schools, and for her focus on mental health issues, advancing Fairness efforts, standing up for student voice and for greater labor/management collaboration. She was elected Vice Chair of the School Board and is known for her hard work, listening to all voices, and bringing board members together.

Lisa has been recognized by the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression for her work for racial justice, and has received awards from both the American Psychological Association and the Kentucky Psychological Association for her advocacy on behalf of psychology and mental health. She remains committed to standing up for all people.

Lisa was honored to win her primary election in May to become the Democratic nominee for Kentucky House District 35. Lisa is passionate about children’s rights, labor rights, human rights, environmental rights, women’s rights, Fairness, economic justice, and standing up for those who need a voice.

Lisa is committed to expanding economic opportunities and delivering positive change for the working people of the 35th District. 

Q: With everything that has been going on locally and in our nation, how would you encourage people, especially in your district, to stay positive and to not give up?  

These are anxious times for our nation and our state. There has never been a more important time for strong and steady progressive Democratic leadership.  We need to stay focused on turning out the vote this November, and to elect people who represent the values and the needs of the people they represent.  Here in the 35th district, we had the highest primary voter turnout in the county.  We need to continue to build on that grassroots movement in order to help increase Democratic performance up and down the ticket, not just this year, but in the years to come.   

Q: Why should Kentuckians vote for your over your opponent? 

I have a record of public service in the district, having represented the 6th school board district since 2015. In that role, I have championed our public schools and public school teachers, have stood firm against attacks on public education from a right wing governor and his administration, and have been an effective advocate on behalf of our most under-served students.  With 35th district State Rep Jim Wayne -- a licensed clinical social worker --  retiring, I would be the only licensed mental health professional in the entire Kentucky Legislature, and would bring an important perspective on policies affecting our most vulnerable Kentuckians.    

Q: In what areas do you think Kentucky has succeeded in the past, and where has it fallen short or failed? How can we do better? 

In 2013, 640,000 Kentuckians had no health care insurance coverage.  As the only southern state to adopt Medicaid expansion, that number dropped sharply and quickly as 505,000 Medicaid expansion members were insured, many of them for the very first time.  Kentucky was recognized nationally for the profound difference our progressive Medicaid policy made in the lives of so many hard working families.  The Bevin administration's rollback of Medicaid expansion, and its efforts to put in place illegal work requirements for Medicaid recipients had an immediate and devastating effect on many, many families. As a state with a notoriously poor public health record, we need to strenuously oppose the Governor's Medicaid waiver, and to accept federal Medicaid dollars in order to provide coverage to more of our hardworking families. We need to submit public comments, apply pressure on the current administration, and elect a progressive Democratic Governor in 2019.  

For more information on Lisa Willner and how to help her campaign, please visit her website or Facebook page.