ELIZABETH A. WHITE FOR PHELPS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT ONE 

Hello my name is Elizabeth White. My pronouns are she/her. Many of you know me by my nickname, Lizzy. I am a 2002 Rolla High graduate who moved here in the second grade. By trade I am a licensed nurse, cosmetologist and tattooist at my downtown business , Bliss. Throughout my life I was exposed to the political world with open conversation in my family and expected to use our right to vote. My husband works for the university & I have two daughters who are 16 and 6. My oldest daughter was born when I was 20 years old, going to college and working as a single mom. I was surviving at that time yet now I am able to contribute back to my community. Rolla for Progress is an organization that has introduced, educated and empowered me to make change by becoming involved in local politics.
 In January 2020, I sat in my car outside of a Bernie phone banking event and decided I was going to get uncomfortable. Growth is uncomfortable. Learning you’ve stayed in your bubble at the expense of others’ suffering is uncomfortable. To me, the honorable thing to do is to step into your power and utilize your platform to advocate for those being pushed aside. This organizing group encouraged involvement in local politics to make a change and several of us stepped into that role.
Life experience is immeasurable. Exposure to many different social classes and cultural differences allows you to see more than just your own bubble. I am a person who faced my child sexual abuser on my own, accepted self awareness into my life , managed mental illness, raised a child as a young single mom while working and going to school, graduated college, opened my own business with no loan or guidance and am prepared to now reach to others to listen, represent and bring an improved quality of life to our community. I am still a growing person and will continue to learn on this journey.
The people I’ve met the past year are incredibly uplifting, courageous, educated and driven. I’m beyond grateful I decided to walk into the phone banking event to meet my now, friends, and to experience all we’ve made happen since then. I’m even more thrilled to see what we can do by working together and organizing for our community in the future! Thank you to each person I’ve met getting involved in this movement! You all are incredible!