Freshman Orientation: Heidi Kasama

As in periods earlier, The Nevada Independent is publishing a sequence of profiles featuring all the new lawmakers in the point out. This is the eighth installment of much more than a dozen. Test back again in the coming times for further tales on new legislators’ backgrounds, interests and plan positions.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN HEIDI KASAMA

• Freshman Republican who replaces termed-out Assemblyman John Hambrick (R-Las Vegas)
• Signifies District 2, which lies at Las Vegas’ western boundary in Summerlin
• District 18 leans Republican (36 p.c Republican, 33 percent Democratic, and 24 {14cc2b5881a050199a960a1a3483042b446231310e72f0dc471a7a1eddd6b0c3} nonpartisan in the 2020 election for energetic voters)
• Kasama received a crowded Republican most important, carrying 47.9 p.c of the vote 
• She then defeated Democrat Radhika “RPK” Kunnel in the common election with 54.3 p.c of the vote
• She sits on the Commerce and Labor, Judiciary and Earnings committees

Loved ones AND Training

Kasama was born in New York City but grew up in Seattle and graduated from Central Washington College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She and her husband have a put together spouse and children of five daughters.

Profession

Kasama is the taking care of broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Homes and manages Kasama Home Administration. Prior to turning out to be an assemblywoman, she served as the president of the Nevada Realtors. Ahead of she joined the authentic estate neighborhood, she labored as a accredited community accountant.

PROFILE

Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Norwegian immigrants, Kasama explained she remembers understanding English for the initial time when she began attending community school as a kindergartner.

Neither of Kasama’s dad and mom could browse or publish English perfectly, and as she grew older, Kasama remembers supporting her dad and mom fill out sorts and navigate language obstacles. 

Money was restricted, but Kasama said her moms and dads in no way gave up, and she is grateful for their case in point.

“A single of the finest presents I been given from my moms and dads was a really hard perform ethic,” she explained. “They did not have any cash, but they gave me the equipment I needed, which was the really hard operate ethic, being ethical, getting truthful, dealing with most people rather. It sounds like cliches, but it was just … a lovely daily life.”

Although numerous people today might not realize she is a 1st generation American, Kasama explained that escalating up in an immigrant home has affected her worldview.

“I remind people today that there ended up blonde boat people today too,” she mentioned with a chortle. “Men and women from all around the entire world arrived right here as immigrants with the hope of the American desire, which is great. And we want to guidance that since our state is more robust from all the tips and range that have been introduced listed here.”

The district in Brooklyn where by Kasama was born consisted of a lot of other immigrant family members. Continue to, in advance of Kasama turned 7, most of the individuals living there experienced moved to other regions — some still left for Norway, other people headed to New Jersey and continue to many others, her parents among them, moved to Seattle.

Seattle had a huge immigrant population, and Kasama spent the vast majority of her lifestyle in the metropolis. Following graduating from high college, she attended nearby Central Washington College, functioning 3 employment to find the money for the instruction and schooling necessary to become an accountant.

When she finished her degree, Kasama commenced working as a CPA. By her get the job done, she fulfilled her spouse, and the two have a blended spouse and children of five daughters.

From there, Kasama acquired her authentic estate license in Washington state and jumped into the true estate company.

As a self-explained “workaholic,” Kasama reported that it could be difficult to find absolutely free time. Nonetheless, she loves paying out time with her spouse and children and generally appreciates how being familiar with they are when she needs to volunteer or get started a new place or operate for office environment.

In 2002, Kasama and her husband traded Seattle’s rainy temperature for Las Vegas’ sunshine and two decades later on, she opened her very own true estate corporation.

The Las Vegas realty community gave her a initially flavor of working in the political arena.

“[Legislating] was hardly ever on my radar,” Kasama reported. “I labored extremely a great deal in the authentic estate marketplace. And then I was fortunate ample to have my friends elect me as president for the Las Vegas Realtors … and I started there on their finance committee and other committees and they mentioned you really should run for the board, you must operate for an business office.”

Ultimately, she became president for the Nevada Realtors, which has about 18,000 members. As she received extra involved in plan discussions, Kasama explained she felt politicians had been not wondering critically adequate about earnings or establishing the finest methods to help enterprises.

“You are not able to complain if you never phase up. And so I stepped up and I ran a key in an open seat and won. And below I sit these days,” Kasama claimed.

In the more than two a long time she has lived in Las Vegas, Kasama reported she has fallen in like with the city. She and her spouse, who is Japanese-American, on a regular basis try to eat out at dining establishments in Chinatown and delight in observing baseball online games and exploring special neighborhoods..

Even though she’s a new lawmaker, Kasama explained she is looking ahead to the rest of the session and designs to carry her business enterprise and accounting working experience to her committee do the job to help Nevada.

“I have been in leadership roles just before and I’m used to managing organizations, so you will find no trepidation there,” she claimed.

ON THE Troubles

Economic enhancement

As she develops and assessments charges, Kasama claimed that she hopes to move legislation that will incentivize organizations to appear to Nevada. 

She pointed to the outcomes of new enterprises in Reno and Sparks that have helped the financial state in the North and said that she would like to even further diversify the full point out.

“We see the devastation whenever the hospitality industry is afflicted and we have long gone by way of it in advance of,” Kasama explained. “So continuing to glance to diversify that economic system with some financial incentives for organizations to arrive right here.”

Green power

As the point out appears to be to entice new enterprises, Kasama claimed that she supports seeking towards the renewable strength marketplace.

“I assume diversification with inexperienced strength is a very good factor,” Kasama said. “We’ve bought the electric vehicles, we are supporting them up right here in the Reno current market, with the Tesla cars and setting up the batteries … and I believe our condition is as well poised to be strong in that location.”

Home tax cap

Kasama reported that she desires to assess the property tax cap that was put in put when costs had been escalating in 2005 and 2006.

Caps or exemptions for small-money citizens or seniors on a preset money need to be preserved, but the sector has arrive up to pre-economic downturn amounts and legislation must reflect that, Kasama claimed.

“Our populations are expanding. Our require for expert services are expanding,” she claimed. 

Election integrity

Nevertheless she has not seen proof of widespread fraud, Kasama stated that there is constantly fraud in elections and she needs to bring forward laws to decrease the probable for it.

“What we have right now is a absence of voter self confidence in our method. And that is the difficulty we have to offer with because no one should go to the polls and come to feel like their vote is not counted,” Kasama said. “So we have to make positive that all those processes are managed the right way, that we have to mitigate all voter fraud.”

To restore self confidence in the voting process, Kasama claimed she is functioning on a monthly bill concentrated on sustaining voter records and guaranteeing that individuals who have passed away or moved to a distinctive state are adequately eradicated so no accidental ballots are sent out.

“We have to make absolutely sure we develop the self-assurance,” she mentioned.