Shondra Summers-Armstrong

Name

Occupation

Retired

Political Office

Nevada Assembly District 6

Political Affiliation

Democrat

How would you describe yourself to voters?

I am a 32-year resident of Nevada and have lived in Assembly District 6 (AD6) for 23 years. My husband, Karl Armstrong and I have been married for 27 years. We built a home in AD6 where we raised three sons, who all attended local public schools.

I am a legal secretary by trade and training. I worked in civil law firms in Las Vegas from 1990 to 1993. My career in public service began in July 1993, when I was hired as the judicial assistant to the Honorable Addeliar D. Guy, III (deceased) in Department XI of the Eighth Judicial District Court. I was employed with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) for 26 years. During my tenure with the RTC, I worked as an executive assistant, small business outreach coordinator, accounting technician, and finished my career there in the Streets and Highways Division as a Management Analyst. That division administers the Capital Improvements Program for the five participating public entities in Southern Nevada. This charge includes but is not limited to determining each entity’s proportional fiscal share of the sales and gas tax, maintaining a project list and identifying available resources in the current fiscal year, preparing agenda items for submission to the RTC Board for approval, and overseeing interlocal contracts and timely payment of invoices.

My life experience also includes being a small business owner. I had a medical transcription business in the early 90’s and designed and manufactured a line of plus-size women’s tennis apparel in the early 2000’s.

I was elected to the Nevada State Assembly in November 2020. During my first term, three of the five bills I carried were signed into law. I sat on the Judicial, Growth and Infrastructure and Health and Human Services committees during my first term. I believe my record reflects that I worked hard during the 81st Legislative Session, did not shy away from hard issues, and represented the needs of my community to the best of my ability.

I believe my varied experience, both civically and professionally, along with my prior legislative service, make me uniquely capable to represent the citizens of Assembly District 6 in the Nevada Legislature.

What do you see as the top issues in this campaign?

Not necessarily in order of importance, I believe the top issues facing Nevada are lack of affordable housing, jobs and job readiness, criminal justice reform and education. I will continue to work with community members, advocacy groups, government agencies, industry, and subject matter experts to learn how the legislator can support efforts to improve outcomes on these issues.

In your opinion, how would you rate the state’s response to the pandemic? Why?

I believe our state was responsive. The COVID-19 pandemic presented us with a once in a lifetime global crisis. Our state leaders acted quickly and with the best information available at the time to save lives and protect the most vulnerable members of our community.

Education and local government officials have long asked lawmakers to change the way the state assesses property taxes. That includes raising the current tax threshold. Should lawmakers consider raising those thresholds? If not, what is the best way for governments to raise money for local programs?

I am not an expert in this area. However, I believe we must continue to modernize our tax base to ensure broad-based revenue to fund our community’s basic needs such as education and healthcare. We need to have broad-based and bi-partisan conversations with business owners as well as voters and make sure that whatever the ultimate solution, the burden does not fall on the backs of working families.