Stephen Wright

Stephen Wright was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Air Force from 2010 to 2014. Wright pursued his undergraduate education at Oklahoma Community College, Oklahoma State University, the University of Hawaii, Evergreen State College, Edmonds Community College, and South Puget Sound College. His career experience includes working as an agrobiologist.[1]

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased February 23, 2020

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a Progressive Independent Native American Father, Disabled Veteran of the US Army and the US Air Force, Agrobiologist, Botanist, Mycologist, Commercial Medical Marijuana Grower and Medical Marijuana Patient.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

#ClimateChange is a global emergency#MedicareForAll is needed to stop money from killing people. #LegalizeCannabis I believe cannabis is medicine and I believe it should be legalized and those locked up for marijuana offenses should be released, their voting rights restored, and their time compensated

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm passionate about ending poverty, addressing climate change, and creating a better future for the next generation. I believe we need to end poverty and homelessness, expand social services for those in need, create job guarantee programs, provide Medicare for all, reform criminal justice and immigration, end student debt, and make college free.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Standing Bear, Martin Luther King, and Bernie Sanders because they spent their life putting the needs of others first. Someday I hope I can help as many people as they did.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Bernie Sanders Guide to Political Revolution

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Having empathy and the interest to listen to people. I strongly that principles of integrity and being the change are necessary for the political revolution about to occur.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I grew up in poverty, with 2 siblings that had terminal illnesses they succumbed to before maturity. I've had family die from lack of medical care because they couldn't afford it. I've been homeless because the VA doesn't care for it's vets. I've been hungry because I couldn't afford food. I'm in debt because I took out student loans, and I may never make enough to get out of debt. I've lived the life of most Americans, I know what we are and why we are struggling. I understand we need a government that works for everyone, not just the wealthy. I know we need to listen to our people to see how we can make that change occur without degrading their quality of life. I posses the best quality there is in a rep, the willingness to listen.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibility of any rep is to act in the best interest of their constituents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A livable planet and equal future for the next generation.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical account I can remember is the federal building bombing. Our school felt the boom, I remember my teacher telling us it was a sonic boom from one of the aircraft coming from Tinker.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a carpenter's apprentice at Treasure Lake Job Corps. I held that position for about 7 months until graduating from the work program.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Because it opened my eyes to the world of food, and how capitalism is creating dangerous food.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Captain Planet

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

We can work it out - The Beatles

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I struggle to understand why we have homeless and starving people in our country and then we judge our economy based off the stock market.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Congress is unique because it is co-equal to the president.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe it is beneficial to have representatives who act on behalf and of their constituents, not just the ones that can afford to donate money to them.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The greatest challenge we have is making our needs second to the next generation. We need an economy that works for the everyone, is sustainable, and doesn't destroy the planet.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes, because I believe that long terms lead to inadequate representation.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe there should be term limits on all government positions and appointments.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I would be interested in joining leadership, however the 2 party system will insist that their party remains in control.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Bernie Sanders

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Yes, one in particular from a homeless man I bought lunch for and sat down with. He told me he wasn't always living on the street, and he had a place and a job right before a traumatic event happened. That event set off a series of other events which ended his ability to afford a residence. He told me all it took was 1 thing and he was homeless. He told me more about how tough it was to transition to becoming homeless, and how dangerous it is. He told me there are a lot of mentally ill people and that they makeup a large amount of the homeless, and that it scared him. He told me about sleeping outside at night and getting robbed at knife point. The amount of pain in the man's eyes was evident as he cried.

There are an estimated 553,742 people in the United States experiencing homelessness on a given night, according to the most recent national point-in-time estimate (January 2017). This represents a rate of approximately 17 people experiencing homelessness per every 10,000 people in the general population.

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