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As a longtime District 10 resident who has held elected office both as a Riverbank, Calif. city council member and as a delegate for Bernie Sanders, Nygard understands the electoral process and is connected to a political network that can help her score a victory. She is running a "clean money" campaign without the use of corpo- rate donations. And as a dedicated environmentalist who has traveled to care for Native American protesters at Standing Rock, an RN, a mother, a grandmother, and an educator, Nygard is the kind of humanist who understands the problems the working class faces and has the integrity to battle corporate power for equitable solutions. She is a fierce supporter of a Medicare-for-all healthcare system, and win- ning single-payer is a central feature of her platform. Nygard recalled that just the other day, she cared for a breast cancer patient who broke down in tears because she had used her rent to pay for the ER copay. Thinking through the idea to run for Congress with her family and friends in the union, Nygard decided to go for it. "I have to do this. I couldn't sit idly by and watch what was happen- ing," said Nygard, referring to how the current administration was installing corporate billion- aires to dismantle government and strip away the rules and reg- ulations that protect regular Americans from the drive for profit, as well as the extent of corporate domination over our natural resources, education systems, and healthcare. "I have three grandsons, and it's our moral obligation to provide every opportunity for the next generation. We're not going backward." Nygard grew up in Danville, Calif., the fifth of six children. She thinks growing up in a large family and dealing with many different personalities and situa- tions pushed her to be a critical thinker and problem solver. "I'm always looking for a solution, or to be part of a solution," reflected Nygard. She inherited her father's green thumb and love of gardening, originally studying horticulture at California Polytechnic State Uni- versity, San Luis Obispo. But a side job at the local hospital helped her realize her "true calling" as a registered nurse. "I think, like most nurses, that we have an innate ability to want to help, to heal, to relieve that difficult time when you're faced with illness or suffering," said Nygard. She switched majors to nursing, moved back up to the Bay Area to finish her studies, and graduated in 1988. She credits her attraction to emergency nursing to that same problem-solving mindset of "loving challenges" and "wanting to always be one step ahead." In between working full time, raising kids, serving on the River- bank City Council, and running to be a Bernie delegate, Nygard also managed to set up a certified organic community garden with some local schools, create a city fitness and nutrition program, and coordi- nate her local farmers' market, health fairs, and Earth Day in her area. She faces a fairly crowded Democratic primary field, but believes that with her nurse power mobilizing people power, she can win. "This is our democracy," said Nygard. "That was Bernie's message. You want to get involved? This is your moment. Join the fight." Lucia Hwang is editor of National Nurse. J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 19 Help elect a bedside registered nurse union activist to Congress! To donate to Dotty Nygard's Congressional campaign, please visit https://secure.actblue.com/ contribute/ page/ dottyforcongress. Consider making a monthly donation to sustain her campaign for the long run, but any contribution is greatly appreciated! Dotty Nygard, RN, volunteered through RNRN to provide medical care at Standing Rock.