Interview With Representative Maxine Dexter, MD – Democratic Incumbent Nominee For Oregon House District 33
Representative, House District 33 – Dr. Dexter serves as the incumbent today, after being appointed in June to the seat formerly held by Mitch Greenlake (deceased).
Washington County Democrats: What inspired you to run for local office?
Dr. Dexter replied that she had been “hoping since college to serve in political office,” and that “The Kavanaugh hearings incited a reluctance to wait.” The following week she submitted an application to Emerge Oregon, a program that that teaches pro-choice, progressive women how to run for Democratic office, graduating in June, 2019. Additionally, she was motivated by “serious concerns for kids in a world where racial and social inequities have become intolerable”, exacerbating problems in the areas of healthcare, affordable housing, transportation & infrastructure, and the environment.
WCD: How do your values and those of the Democratic Party align?
Dr. Dexter’s political service focuses on policies addressing working families, education, the environment, and healthcare. These policies support accessibility for every citizen to a “foundation to be economically competitive.” She views this approach as “a compassionate, supportive way of giving everyone a shot, in a way that Republicans and the Republican agenda cannot.”
WCD: What are your highest priorities?
Dr. Dexter lists her top three priorities as, “Working families, the environment, and healthcare,” while pointing out that racial and social inequity impact all these issues. Noting that, “Healthcare is irrelevant if people are underwater,” she called attention to the links between many of the seemingly unrelated issues affecting Washington County citizens. “Suburban sprawl (such as what we’re experiencing in Washington County) has led to a deemphasis on policies in transportation and housing and degrade our environment.”Dr. Dexter intends to “lean in to” the development of policies that support equity and positively impact these priorities.
As a practicing physician, Dr. Dexter is acutely aware of how America’s existing fee-for-service healthcare delivery model has stressed the treatment of disease and neglected wellness, especially among those who are unable to pay. She has witnessed firsthand the “disproportionate instance of COVID because of the dense living conditions” forced upon disadvantaged and minority households due to the lack of affordable housing.
Dr. Dexter stresses that the lens through which public policy is formed must change to ensure that “everyone’s voice is being represented,” so that “labor unions can organize more robustly,” and that “healthcare should work to help keep everyone well.” Dr. Dexter’s campaign website, maxinefororegon.com, observes that kids are growing up with an existential crisis, concerned the Earth won’t be healthy enough to raise their own children. Endorsed by many prominent individuals and organizations, the site reminds voters that “We all have a right to healthy lives, healthy communities and a healthy environment”, and urging everyone to vote on November 3rd.
A Personal Message from Dr. Maxine Dexter:
I want to make an impact. I want to make sure everyone in Oregon has the same shot I got in life. I am the first and only person in my family to graduate from college. The support and resilience of my community helped empower me to achieve my dreams through hard work and dedication. Such resilience and support is much harder to find in working communities today.
In my job as a doctor, I see every day how people are struggling – hard-working people, doing all they can to take care of themselves and their families, still can’t get to a place of stability. We must change that. Everyone deserves the same shot that I got. I’m dedicated to making an impact on a bigger scale than I can as a doctor. I will bring my frontlines knowledge of the issues with our healthcare and social support systems and apply them at the state level with the goal to make life a bit better for everyone, especially our most vulnerable Oregonians. This pandemic has made it clear: we need more than just healthcare reform. We need public health reform as well. This means not just lowering the cost of care, but investing in a clean and healthy environment. This means ensuring our children have access to the best education possible. This means ensuring no Oregonian is left behind.
A Small Selection of Dr. Maxine Dexter’s Endorsements:
“No candidate is better equipped to ensure every Oregonian has access to affordable, comprehensive, high-quality care, including preventive and mental health services.” – Gov. Barbara Roberts
“Oregon is going to need Dexter’s passion, decisiveness and perspective in the coming years. We thank her for what she’s doing in ICU wings. And we suggest you send her to Salem.” – Willamette Week”
Read more endorsements and learn more about Dr. Maxine Dexter at her campaign website.
