As a CASA volunteer I have had the opportunity to work with Mary Shea, candidate for Idaho House, on cases in both Power and Bannock County. First, Mary's command of the law is second to none. Mary is committed to her clients and empathetic to the underlying cause(s) contributing to the Child Protection Action. While these cases often originate for reasons of abuse or neglect -- once more layers of the onion are peeled back, below the layers of substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, and possibly other criminal behavior, unaddressed mental health issue(s) is/are often at the core.

As our schools become less safe and suicide rates continue to rise, mental health can no longer sit on the back burner. I have every confidence in Mary's ability to help Idaho do better and be better for advocating for mental health services for all Idahoans.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Camile Thomsen,

Pocatello