My name is Pamela Swartz and I am a California native and small business owner.   

I was lucky to grow up with parents who were educators. They encouraged us to speak our truth, question authority and be independent thinkers. After attending Sequoia Middle School and Shasta High School in Redding, I graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor’s of Science in Forestry with an emphasis in Wildlife Management. Among many lessons, my university education taught me the fragility of native habitats and the intertwined relationship between these habitats and human influence. Wisely managing our natural resources is essential for a healthy and safe future and I believe, this is best accomplished by developing private-public partnerships. This creates local jobs and improves our rural economy. 

As true with many entrepreneurs, my business venture started from a personal need . . . for a safe, effective and long-term treatment for my persistent skin blemishes. I possess the true entrepreneurial spirit of having a strong work ethic, perseverance and a desire to help others. Owning a successful business for over 30 years has taught me that authenticity and honesty count just as much as understanding smart finances and adhering to budgets. Our District needs an advocate who insists that state policies and budgets don't forget us in the North State. Our tax dollars need to return to our communities. We need increased rural infrastructure, expanded funding for education and affordable housing to create more opportunity and well paying, local jobs. With these in place, our region will be able to attract new, and much needed medical facilities, colleges and trade schools as well as support online businesses that are a perfect fit for our rural area. 

Striking a balance between growing our economy and maintaining our region's natural beauty is important to me. I have a strong love of our land and natural resources. I am an avid equestrian, riding and training for long distance events with my 2 horses. I also enjoy hiking and mountain biking in our beautiful wild lands. 

I am truly a fresh voice in North State politics. I am running for State Senate because I believe our District has been under-served and not strongly represented for too long. I believe the only purpose of forming a government is to serve the needs of the people. As your elected official, I will make decisions and policies that are solely based on the interests of my constituents, not on outside or special interests.

A government that works for everyone means:

• Provide single payer healthcare to all Californians
• Increase the number of healthcare facilities in our District 
• Support programs to reduce fire danger and improve public safety and awareness
• Assist our farming and tourism economies as they implement new strategies to adapt to the changing climate  
• Provide affordable housing; no one should be homeless
• Fully fund education to include free college, trade schools, apprenticeship programs, invest in teachers and schools 
• Build crucial infrastructure projects including Internet access and improve dangerous rural roads and highways