Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31) will face Republican George V. Forakis on the November ballot, but she did not face him in last week’s debate because he did not attend.
Great Falls Citizens Association still gave her three minutes to give introductory remarks and asked her questions about her stance on taxes, tree canopy and other issues.
“I bring experience and caring leadership, and I ask for your vote,” she said.
Favola said she supports an increase in the minimum wage, wants to act to reduce income disparity, and wants to make college and higher education affordable and accessible.
She is a proponent of designating an increase in the tobacco tax for Medicare patients and hospital procedures and discussed her efforts in the past Assembly to combat sexual assaults on college campuses while protecting victims’ rights.
She is advocating for opportunities for high school students to be able to graduate with necessary skills and credentials to be armed with an associate’s degree along with their high school diploma.
“If we don’t have enough students pursuing and getting a college degree, we will all suffer,” she said.
“I am proud to say I’m an effective state senator by other people’s estimation, and I believe they are correct,” she said.
She is working on a bill currently to address the tree canopy issue that is of major concern to Great Falls and McLean residents.
“I’ve been named a hero by the Sierra Club,” she said.