HOUSTON — A Houston-area woman is looking to make history as the nation's first female president.
Jade Simmons, of Kingwood, is running for U.S. president as an independent.
Simmons is a speaker, writer, minister and concert pianist, and has served as an advocate for mental health awareness and youth suicide prevention, having testified before Congress alongside Tipper Gore and author Danielle Steele on behalf of mental health funding.
KHOU got a chance to hear from Simmons about her platform, her vision for America and the road to the White House.
KHOU: You don’t have a political background. Why do you feel you are qualified to be president of the United States?
SIMMONS: Not having a political background and truly being an Independent candidate is exactly what makes me more qualified than ever in this current climate. Americans can trust I come to the table with no lopsided agenda, not beholden to either party. The nation will be my base. We're already securing a list of "America's Best and Brightest" experts that will play a role in making sure we have the most powerful information and intel from which to make my decisions. The country needs a truly nonpartisan Chief Visionary who speaks the language of transformation, is able to form purpose-based, mutually beneficial relationships between the public and private sectors, and has the ability to find uncommon common ground on our most divisive issues.
- In order to be in a position to stay economically viable, we need to earmark funds specifically to drastically increase the number of staff in state and local health agencies to test and trace those with the virus. That's about 30,000 new hires needed of which some could include community members who have been recently unemployed due to COVID-19. Because the need for this heightened number would decrease as the virus subsides, these temporary workers could choose to be cataloged as a part of a reserve force for future outbreaks.
- In the midst of the epidemic, we have a tremendous opportunity to create an entirely new industry based on the recycling and autoclaving of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which could train and employ those recently left jobless due to COVID-19. It would also decrease the amount of waste in our landfills.
- Incentivize companies receiving the largest bailouts to create job training and paid apprentice programs for those recently unemployed by COVID-19.
- Send the next stimulus to actual small businesses making less than $1 million in revenue and plug the loophole allowing multi-million dollar chains to register for funding through their franchises with less than 500 employees.
- Step 1: Power up our testing capability to 650,000 tests a day. The minimum recommended by experts is 500,000 and we currently average 150,000 a day. This is to assure we have the ability to do mass testing with an emphasis on determining who is asymptomatic and contagious so that they can be quarantined. We'd open the country in phases starting with the least affected areas.
- Step 2: Establish a new national protocol and regulation process within the Department of Health for COVID-19 (and future epidemics). They would establish a separate system for checking hygiene, social distancing and sanitation during a prescribed amount of time post-reopening. Those gathering places and businesses would be COVID-Certified for Conducting Business.
KHOU: What would you say to people who don’t know you? Why do you deserve their vote?
SIMMONS: It's not that I deserve their vote. They - the muted middle, the politically homeless, those with points of view and beliefs that do not fit neatly behind party lines - deserve vocal, powerful, positive representation. People who believe in the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb, Christians tired of seeing their faith hijacked on the right or people tired of having their gender and race hijacked on the left, those who want to see an end to the division between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and those ready to see our nation become “One Nation, Under God, and Indivisible” deserve a leader they believe in, not one they settle for. I aim to be the purpose-based solution for those looking for a common ground, common sense option on the ballot.
As a business owner who went from being a freelance artist to a sought-after entity in corporate America, I understand the complexity and the reward of attaining the American dream and will work to make sure more Americans have access to it. Creativity, collaboration, and a spirit of healthy competition are the qualities required to drive us out of these challenging times and those are all a part of my instincts. As a wife, a mother and a minister, I look forward to nurturing our nation into a more unified position and inspiring our citizens into a powerful new normal.
KHOU: Who would be an ideal vice president for you? Have you thought that far ahead?
SIMMONS: I have thought that far ahead, but would rather not say just yet. My partner in purpose will intentionally not be a carbon copy. We'll share the most important ideals, but we'll have different ideas on how to get to the same outcome. This way, we serve the most people possible on the way to the solution. They'll be known for not being beholden to either party, but they'll have the political savvy to work inside Washington.
KHOU: Have you reached out to any City of Houston or state elected officials? Does Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, etc. know that you’re running?
SIMMONS: Mayor Turner is aware that I announced my candidacy.
KHOU: Lastly, exactly HOW can citizens vote for you and will those votes actually count?
SIMMONS: I will be running in the majority of states as an official registered write-in, which means when people write my name on the ballot, their vote for me will count. In the nine states that do not allow write-in voting, we will be gathering signatures to be on the ballot as an unaffiliated Independent. In each state, I must submit a registered list of electors who will cast their vote for me in the electoral college upon winning the popular vote.
For more information on Simmons’ Operation Restoration 2020, and upcoming dates for the One Nation Listening Tour, visit www.operationrestoration2020.com.
