Priorities for Chili & Monroe County
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Law enforcement is for the community, and so it needs to be accountable to the communities it serves. Without dialogue between community members and law enforcement officials, there is no way that law enforcement can know if it is truly effective – or what it can do better. As a retired police sergeant and member of the Chili community, Marvin Stepherson is looking forward to starting this dialogue – so that the criminal justice system can better aid the people it serves.
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Law enforcement is intended to keep communities safe. However, due to a system that encourages over-enforcement of communities along racial and economic lines, it is often difficult for people to trust the officers who should be present to help them. But just as trust is broken, it can be mended. Marvin Stepherson is committed to reforming policing so that the direction law enforcement takes comes from within the community itself and recognizes its individual needs.
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Tension between law enforcement and community members can often come about through a disconnect in philosophies. Though a community often wants guardians – protectors who uplift them and prioritize their safety – law enforcement officers are often trained to think of themselves as warriors in a larger battle against crime. One of the first steps toward bridging the current gaps between law enforcement and communities is to change the idea of what being a law enforcement officer means. With over two decades of years of experience as a police sergeant and trainer – but also as a father and member of the community, Marvin Stepherson is ready to start the hard conversations necessary to make sure that everyone can feel safe with the officers meant to be their protectors.
Criminal Justice Transformation
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Law enforcement is demanding, and often dangerous work that asks a great deal of those who choose to serve. The emotional weight of the job can be just as heavy as the physical risks, yet many officers struggle in silence. Research shows that while police officers face elevated mental health risks, stigma and structural barriers too often stand in the way of seeking help.
With 25 years of experience as a police sergeant and trainer, Marvin Stepherson has witnessed firsthand the human cost of that silence. His commitment is rooted in care—for officers, their families, and the communities they serve. Marvin is dedicated to changing the culture of policing so that mental health support is normalized, encouraged, and accessible. He believes caring for the mind should be as important and as a matter of pride as training the body—and he is ready to help lead that change.
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To serve in the military is to give more than time—it is to place one’s life on the line in service to something greater than oneself. That sacrifice often carries unseen burdens. Veterans face unique challenges that can place them at higher risk for mental health struggles, yet too many encounter systems that are slow, impersonal, or difficult to navigate when they seek care.
As a retired veteran with service in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Coast Guard, Marvin Stepherson understands these challenges personally. His commitment is driven by respect for those who served and a belief that care should match sacrifice. Marvin is dedicated to ensuring that Chili becomes a community where veterans are supported, heard, and connected to timely, compassionate mental health resources—because honoring service means standing with veterans long after the uniform comes off.
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Mental health impacts all communities, but access to effective care is not equitable. In Monroe County, African American and Latin American residents—particularly men—face persistent barriers to culturally responsive mental health services. These gaps contribute to unmet needs, delayed treatment, and outcomes that disproportionately affect families and neighborhoods.
As a Monroe County Legislator, Marvin Stepherson is committed to advancing policies that expand access to culturally competent mental health care in the Chili community. His priorities include strengthening partnerships with trusted community-based providers, increasing funding for diverse and representative mental health professionals, and supporting outreach models that reduce stigma and improve early access to care. Marvin believes public policy must reflect the lived experiences of the people it serves, and he is focused on building systems that deliver respectful, accessible, and effective mental health support for all.
Mental Health Reform
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Food deserts are neighborhoods where residents have limited access to affordable, nutritious food close to home. On a household level, this often results in higher food costs, fewer healthy options, and reliance on convenience stores that lack fresh fruits and vegetables. Transportation barriers further deepen the challenge, especially for families without reliable access to a vehicle. While farmers’ markets offer fresh, affordable produce, they are frequently inaccessible by public transit. As a Monroe County Legislator, Marvin Stepherson would add stops on local bus lines for farmers’ markets—expanding community access to healthy food while strengthening demand for and investment in local agriculture.
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Community gardens are a proven way for households within food deserts to take charge of their health and create their own fresh and affordable produce. More than that, they allow neighborhoods to flourish around growing something that will last for generations! Marvin Stepherson is committed to the establishment of more community gardens throughout the Chili area – especially where there is limited access to fresh produce – in order to make certain everyone has access to healthy meals.
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Food access, environmental sustainability, and community health are deeply connected. Too much usable food waste ends up in landfills, while many families still lack reliable access to fresh, affordable produce. Composting and food-scrap gardening offer a practical solution to both challenges.
As your Monroe County Legislator, Marvin Stepherson will advance a kitchen-scrap compost and garden initiative in the Chili community designed to reduce food waste, strengthen local food systems, and empower residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables. This policy-driven effort will support community education, partnerships with schools and nonprofits, and access to composting tools and starter gardens—particularly in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh food. By turning waste into opportunity, this initiative promotes environmental responsibility, household food security, and healthier outcomes for families across Chili.
