You may have recently seen the local news outlet’s list of candidates and their campaign spending information. My name, at the end, indicates I had not met the threshold for reporting.  I have received no contributions.

I want to explain why. This is in addition to my choice to be mindful of my environmental impact by Campaigning with a Lighter Footprint.

I have been offered many campaign contributions, and I have turned them down. Every one of them.

That decision comes directly from my core beliefs and values about public service, due process, and, most importantly, the voice of the people.

It’s not because I don’t appreciate the people who support me and believe in me. I do, and I’m incredibly grateful for their support. But if I’m going to say that I want to represent my neighbors independently, I believe I have to live that commitment all the way through.

For me, this isn’t really about money.

It’s about independence.

I want to walk into every meeting knowing I’m free to listen to every side of an issue, ask questions, consider the facts, and allow due process to take place without anyone wondering whether a campaign contribution has influenced my position.

I want to use my voice to raise the voices of my neighbors and my community, not to speak over them.

After more than 25 years as a registered nurse, I’ve learned that advocacy begins with listening. You don’t advocate for someone by deciding what they need before you hear them. You listen, ask questions, consider the whole picture, and make sure the person in front of you has a voice.

I believe public service should be no different.

Every resident deserves to be heard, every issue deserves a fair process, and every decision deserves to be considered on its merits with an open mind.

I know candidates make different choices about campaign contributions, and I respect that. This isn’t about judging anyone else’s decision. This is about mine.

I chose not to accept contributions because I want my neighbors to know that when I speak, I’m speaking from my convictions and what I hear in our community, not because someone contributed to my campaign.

Until we have meaningful campaign finance reform that changes how local campaigns are funded, this is the approach I believe best reflects my values.

So, when you see that I did not spend money on my campaign, I hope you see more than a number on a page.

I hope you see a choice.

A choice to remain independent.

A choice to protect due process.

A choice to listen.

And a choice to use my voice to help make sure the voices of the people in our community are heard.

-Heather Horgan, South Lake Tahoe City Council member and candidate