WINTHROP — Ann Diamond said she decided to run for the state House of Representatives because she didn’t think her representatives were listening to her. Diamond, an independent, is running for the 12th District seat, Position No. 1. She is running against Keith Goehner, the Republican candidate.

Diamond is a physician, currently practicing with Columbia Valley Community Health. She said she wanted to discuss concerns about state health policy that affected patients, but in her opinion the representative “was not interested in discussing health policy concerns.”

She said she decided to run as an independent because in her opinion the current political divisiveness makes it difficult for government to function well. If elected, she would evaluate each issue and then would decide which way to vote, she said.

Originally she wanted to talk to her legislators about healthcare issues, she said, and healthcare would be an important focus if she was elected. She cited prescription drugs as an example – the system wastes money, and little attention is paid to finding ways to save money and pass it on to patients. And the overall healthcare system is too complicated – in Diamond’s opinion, sometimes intentionally complicated – and should be more transparent. She said she would look for ways to expand health insurance coverage, which in her opinion is good for both patients and the healthcare system.

Diamond said two economic sectors are growing in the 12th District, health care and construction. She said she would work to encourage additional industry and economic development. But a lack of housing makes it harder to recruit business, she said, and fixing that will be crucial to improving the district’s economy.

Diamond said land management also is an important issue, especially in the wake of massive fires in the district in the last few years. Diamond said district residents she has talked to would support additional logging and more prescribed burns. She is encouraged that federal and state agencies and private landowners are working together to improve land use management. “That good neighbor policy is something that needs to be encouraged.”