Greene-Placentia, Bernadette

Running For:

U.S. House of Representatives

District:

8

Political Affiliation:

Democrat

Age:

52

Occupation:

Solo long haul trucker & small fleet owner

Education:

College

Family:

Married, one adopted child

Religion:

Catholic

Biographical Info:

Raised in rural Nebraska, multi-sport varsity athlete, and active in theater, on the speech & debate teams, a Congressional Youth Scholar assigned to the Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, Miss Nebraska Teen Coed Pageant finalist, co-editor of the High School newspaper, 4 years Who’s Who Among HS students and awarded multiple full-ride college scholarships including Army & Air Force ROTC. Attended University of AZ on army scholarship until a car accident ended my military career. While in college I waited tables at a truck stop and loved the camaraderie and shared experiences of the patrons- regardless of party or where they were from. I embarked on what would become a 27 year, 4 million mile career that included building up my own small fleet trucking company until I retired in mid 2024. I realized that average Americans, the blue collar and working class amongst us, had no true representation. Someone that shopped for car insurance, had medical debt, college loans, and had to take things out of the grocery cart. I watched my Vietnam Veteran dad struggle to get timely care at the VA due to ongoing budget cuts and lack of staff, culminating in an 8 month delay for an appointment that was eight days too late. Six months later I found my mother on the floor. She’d been rationing her insulin. My husband and I still have to travel to Mexico to buy affordable medications and now the ACA is unaffordable for us on a fixed income. My Mexican-American husband and now 21 year old Chinese adopted daughter have to carry their passports and she has less rights than her mom. When my grandparents escaped the Russian invasion of Hungary in 1956 and waited months to come to America, and when I was leaving Chinese airspace after adopting her, neither my grandparents nor myself could ever imagine e a time when we feared the government we were going towards more than the one we were leaving behind.

Statement:

It’s time regular folks had not just a voice, but a seat at the table. And I will fight to reestablish Congress’s equal status with the Executive Branch as well as fighting for our Veterans, Seniors, protecting our natural resources, women’s rights, voting rights and the rights of the LGTBQ community while working to reform our broken immigration system by Securing our borders without sacrificing our humanity and recognizing the contribution of immigrants to America. I want to strengthen our country’s commitment to providing quality healthcare and a solid education for future generations. We need universal pre-k and to encourage and fund more trade and vocational programs as well as lower the cost of a college education. It’s time the wealthy pay their fare share- no more tax loopholes that allow a billionaire to pay less in taxes than a waitress. Corporations must be held accountable financially and environmentally and we must decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil. No more needless wars, reestablish ties with our Allies and work to strengthen the guardrails that protect our Democracy. I strongly support Term Limits and I want new Leadership and representatives that are more reflective of the electorate they serve.