FOR CONGRESS
MEET
Patricia Ackerman
At age 15, my mother was forced to be slave labor for the Nazis. My father was almost starved to death in a concentration camp, but escaped. Their voices were silenced by Soviet oppression, until they fled to America – to a little town in Pennsylvania called Ambridge.
I am the product of their fierce will to live free.
My father worked very hard to go from a dishwasher at The Red Bull Inn to starting his own successful business in electronics. With both parents scarred from a brutal war and dealing with post-war trauma, patriarchy and domestic violence had a stranglehold on our household. I fled from home at age 15. Without a school district that would accept me due to lack of a residence, I enrolled in community college and received my GED.
My story is “everywomans” who grew up in the prevalent culture surrounding 1975, especially in a steel mill town culture. Most women had to swim hard against the tide of inequality and subjugation that ultimately brought us to todays #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.
Whether it's racial, class, or income disparity, the time is up for politicians who support promulgating the worst mass inequality America has experienced since the Great Depression. Our economy isn't working for the middle and low income.
It's time for women to be at the forefront of policies that will help families, not just corporations. It's time for regular people, not lawyers, career politicians or wealthy corporate CEOs, to lead.
A strong will and a desire to be independent inspired me to start my first successful business at age 21 as an interior landscape designer. A variety of jobs and successful careers followed, all the while following the values I knew in my heart were the only values that truly mattered – honesty, decency, integrity, empathy and compassion. These values are being spat upon by not only our current president but many politicians whose times are truly up – like the man I'm intending to retire, with your help – Mark Amodei.
My husband Todd, a retired math teacher and I live a modest, comfortable life, with our Friesian horse Barbelo and our Maine Coon cat Sophia in Minden, Nevada. I've lived in the same home for 18 years. We grow vegetables, fruits and make our own rich soil from compost. And hike a lot.
Even though I had never been involved in politics, in 2018 I ran a strong, professional campaign that garnered praise from all over the state - even the Governor - for State Assembly in District 39, Nevada - a very conservative district with 2:1 Republicans to Democrats.
We won many hearts and crossover votes but came up short. Undaunted, I was in full swing for a rematch for the Assembly seat, until community members in Northern Nevada encouraged me to run for Congress instead. It became clear, this was the race I needed to be in.
I owe no one and cannot be bought, never have been. As a retired high altitude mountaineer, I know the necessity of teamwork and understand it's not about me, it's about WE. Success is sweeter when we all gain.
I pledge to support actions and policies that safeguard freedom, healthcare, education, women's rights and protect people and the environment. Immigrants built America, and yet today, so many feel threatened. I cannot sit in silence when I witness racism, inequality and hate being promoted. It must stop. This is why I'm running.
Please visit my page often to learn about the policies and plans I intend to bring to northern Nevada.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT PATRICIA
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Patricia ran for Nevada State Assembly, District 39 in 2018, and knocked on well over 10,000 doors. She learned the needs of her constituents the best way possible. Eye to eye. Heart to heart.
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In February 2017, Patricia created the only Huddle (an offshoot support group of the Women’s March) when she discovered there wasn’t one anywhere south of Reno. The Northern Nevada Huddle brought dozens of women and men together who felt deeply threatened by the new Trump presidency and its future effect on women’s rights.
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Patricia is a proud “Emergista” – she graduated in 2018 from Emerge Nevada – a leadership training and development program with the goal of increasing the number of Democratic women in public office.
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She has volunteered and rallied for scores of local issues – from NARAL Pro-Choice, healthcare, public education, gun safety, unions, immigration, non-action of our elected officials and many more.
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During Legislative sessions, Patricia is frequently attending hearings to stay on top of the issues most affecting her constituents. She is a recognized community activist.
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In August 2019 she spearheaded and directed the successful “End the Cruelty at the Border Rally” in front of the Capitol to protest the cruel and inhumane separation of children from their families.
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Patricia and her husband Todd host the Human Rights Campaign at their home to bring awareness to the LGBTQ issues in northern Nevada and especially in conservative Douglas Co.
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Patricia’s strongest driving force to run for office comes from being her mother’s primary caregiver for almost 7 years (2007 – 2013) in Patricia and Todd’s home. Her mother died prematurely because she couldn’t find a doctor locally who would take a Medicare patient in a timely manner. Her mother had to wait weeks. Her mother died the day before her appointment. Patricia’s drive to produce a healthcare system that works in ways that won’t bankrupt a family and is accessible is what drives her every day. She won’t let anything stand in her way.
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The Ackerman family is dedicated to sustainability and rolling back the damages our fossil driven lifestyle has induced. Since 2007, they are a 2 Prius household, their home is solar driven, grow their own organic vegetables and fruits in soil they make through composting, buy re-used clothes at every chance, and are committed to absolute minimal air travel. They walk the walk.
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Patricia studied the Vedic sciences under Dr. Deepak Chopra and staff – 2011 - 2014. She is a Chopra certified teacher of the holistic/wellness lifestyle, which includes Meditation, Yoga, and Ayurveda. She and her husband thrive on a plant-based diet and their active, healthy lifestyle.
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Patricia graduated from the Douglas Co. Search and Rescue academy in 2004 and was an active field member for 3 years. She also became a certified tracker – the skills needed to track a lost individual.
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Patricia’s life choices demonstrate her desire to help people and support those who do – she was member of the Long Beach Mounted Police from 1994 – 2002 and served the Altadena Posse from 2000 - 2002 before moving to Minden in 2002.
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In 2000, Patricia launched and developed Thin Air Outfitters, a high-altitude mountaineering and trekking company, to benefit a poverty-stricken Quechuan family she came to know through her climbs in Peru. This fortunately is a common practice amongst climbers who feel they want to give back to the less fortunate who try to survive off the climbing industry. TAO, and Patricia personally taught people how to reach their own “personal Mt. Everest”.
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In 1998, Patricia joined the Peruvian American Medical Society, along with volunteers from across the world to help a desperately needed medical mission for the indigenous people of Peru. Patricia also filmed a documentary about the mission to help recruit future volunteers. Patricia went on to join medical missions in Mexico.
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Patricia’s passion, from the age of 8 was her art and talent as a storyteller through acting. As a fat child, she was mercilessly teased, so she developed a creative world “within” to shield her heart. She left her home state of Pennsylvania in 1988 to move to Pasadena, Ca. to live briefly with her father and stepmother so she could follow her dream of being a stage actor. In 1996 Patricia received two Dramalogue Awards as one of best stage actors in theatre in California. She also worked successfully in TV, film and commercials.
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Patricia was chosen as one of “Pittsburgh’s Finest Single Women” in 1982 – an award given to 100 - an array of strong women - city councilwomen, lawyers and women who were successful in business. Patricia discovered she had a passion and gift of designing interior jungles for malls, hotels, businesses etc. She started “The Interior Landscape Design Company” and became a sought-after designer, which brought the attention to her for the award.
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As a child, Patricia’s favorite things to do was be with her horse, her dog, her cat, helping her mom garden and exploring the hills. Not much has changed. Except at 62, she knows her rich, varied life experiences has given her the skills to be your Congresswoman.