The following is not an endorsement of the candidate. The March 2024 general meeting brought us a presentation by MARY LOU HENNRICH, who is campaigning to be our elected state representative from District 46. Ms. Hennrich has chosen for one of her mantras, “Mary Lou Gets Results”.
As a public health & school nurse, Ms. Hennrich served most of Multnomah County.
A strong supporter of labor, she was instrumental in persuading the Oregon Nurses Association to represent Multnomah County nurses.
When she was deputy director of the Multnomah County Health Department, she established the first school-based health center – at Roosevelt High School. No longer controversial, such health centers exist in most of Multnomah County’s high schools and middle schools (and in schools elsewhere in Oregon).
Ms. Hennrich also helped to partner Oregon Health Sciences University with federally-qualified health centers across Oregon, thereby founding CareOregon, which she led for its first ten years of operation. Nearly 30 years later, CareOregon is the largest Oregon Health Plan provider. It serves more than 500,000 low-income individuals and families in our metro area and around the state.
As director of the Oregon Public Health Institute, Ms. Hennrich spearheaded the passage of three important laws requiring:
- Reduced sale of junk food and sodas in schools.
- Adoption of first-ever physical education standards for schools.
- Labeling of calorie content of menus item by chain restaurants with 15 or more outlets (and provision of nutrition info if requested).
As for future issues pertinent to District 46, Ms. Hennrich named homelessness, inequities in health care, and drug use, among others. Ms. Hennrich regards drug addiction as a disease, and believes that a carrot and stick approach is most beneficial (that is, a choice between treatment and penalty).
You may find more information about Mary Lou Hennrich at her campaign website marylougetsresults.com. To repeat, this takeaway describes Ms. Hennrich’s accomplishments but does not represent an endorsement by the BDNA.