Mihaela Plesa

Mihaela Plesa was born in Dallas, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree from University of North Texas in 2006. She earned a graduate degree from Southern Methodist University in 2012. Plesa's career experience includes working as a legislative director with the Texas House of Representatives. She has been affiliated with the Young National Organization for Women (Young NOW) and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law (NORML).[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

North Texas is my home and where I grew up. After years of marching, protesting, and advocating with little felt results, I decided to leave my leave my job at a small business to serve as a staffer at the state legislature. Five years later, I am now the Legislative Director for State Representative Ray Lopez. My extensive experience at the capitol has provided me with the knowledge and tools needed to help make a difference for the people of Collin County. I have a BA from University of North Texas and s Masters Degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

After the horrific events of Winter Storm Uri last February, people in Collin County do not believe that the State of Texas has done enough to keep them safe from widespread power failures in the future. I believe that it is critical that we invest in our state’s infrastructure, especially when it comes to fixing Texas’ inadequate power grid. No one should die because of the negligence of their state government.We are still in the midst of a raging pandemic, and access to quality and affordable healthcare is now more important than ever. As healthcare costs in this country continue to rise, it is crucial that we pass legislation to ensure that any unexpected trips to the hospital do not bankrupt Texas families. I believe that one important way that we can improve healthcare is expand to expand Medicaid eligibility in the state of Texas to all low-income adults. This measure is supported by a significant number of Republicans in the state legislature, and I look forward to working with them to make this a reality.All of our kids deserve the best education we can give them, especially given the academic setbacks our kids have faced as a result of remote learning. As we return to classrooms, we need to ensure that all of our state's teachers receive a living wage so that they can better do their jobs. I am also in favor of reforms to the way in which we finance our public schools. The state does not provide enough transparency on how the funds collected through recapture are used to support education. Texas needs to be transparent about the its recapture money and ensure that it goes fully to education. That’s what the taxpayers are expecting of us.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Some of the areas of public policy that I am particularly passionate about include education, healthcare, women’s rights, infrastructure, and voting rights. Texas children are the future of our state, and we need to invest in them. I will continue to work with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and local school districts to ensure we have adequate resources and funding to address the academic setbacks and mental health challenges from surviving a global pandemic has had on our youth. All Texans deserve to have affordable and quality healthcare, and it should not be about the bottom lines of insurance companies. I will always fight for women and their constitutional right to body autonomy, as well as for fertility access and preventing pregnancy discrimination. Fixing Texas’ electric grid and expanding water infrastructure is essential to public safety and will ensure that this state remains attractive for relocating businesses. Instead of making it harder to vote in our state, we should be making it easier for disabled persons, our veterans, and our senior citizens to participate in our democracy.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Dorothy Ann Richards. Her relatable story has always been an inspiration to me. As Governor of Texas, Ann Richards appointed record numbers of women and minorities to state boards and agencies, attracted new business to Texas, passed ethics reform legislation, and is credited with resolving the crisis in our state’s public schools and prison system at the time. I am inspired by all of those things. But what I most admire about Dorothy Ann Richards is how everyone who ever met her felt seen by her. She made people see themselves in her. She was relatable and that is why she inspired so many to follow her leadership. Ann Richards was not without her flaws and there are many that like to point them out when given the opportunity. I hope to be a leader like Ann. An honest Representative. “We’re not going to have the America that we want until we elect leaders who are going to tell the truth, not most days but every day.” It is easy to make promises on campaign trails. It is harder to hold yourself and others accountable for failure. Courageous leadership looks like accountability. When I first started interviewing for a job at the Texas Capitol it was not without its stresses and let-downs. There were many times when I didn’t hear that I got the internship or job that I wanted. Any time I felt any imposter syndrome or self-doubt I would go to the Capitol rotunda and sit under Ann Richards portrait among the portraits of Governors. I would think of the doubt she must have felt in her leadership, and I recognized her courage. I could relate to her and was then able to recognize the courage in myself. I also recognized that quitting the fight for what we know is right caused more pain than hearing the world no. If I was still hearing no, it meant I was still out there fighting for change.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe that elected officials need to be honest, hardworking, and constantly look after the needs of their constituents. Any politician that acts otherwise is doing a huge disservice to the people that voted for them. Throughout my five years working in the Texas Legislature, I have noticed that the most effective legislators are the ones who have extensive knowledge of how the legislative process works so that they can get more of their bills passed. I already have this knowledge. My experience and track record as a staffer at the capitol speaks for itself. In the 86th legislative session, my boss Representative Lopez was serving his first session in the Texas Legislature. He had just won a special election and had been sworn in the Legislature after the bill filing deadline. This meant that he would not be able to file any bills that legislative session. I suggested that we ask the body to suspend house rules to allow him to file bills. This had only been done once before in Texas history. No one ever suspends the bill filing deadline rule and even if they would there would be no way to pass a bill in only 6 weeks. Most bills take years to pass, let alone the 140 days we have every two years to pass bills. This is just one example that demonstrates my knowledge of how the Texas House of Representatives operates, my strong work ethics, and my commitment to do whatever it takes to pass important pieces of legislation.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Members of the Texas House of Representative have many important responsibilities. Before the legislative session even starts, members draft and file bills that align with their priorities. During session, House members participate in committee meetings and hearings in which they often need to come prepared with questions to ask witnesses and bill authors. After bills are voted out of committee, members come to the House floor to vote on bills. All of this involves negotiations with other members about potentially supporting each other’s bills as well as changing bill language. Regardless of whether the House is in session, members must constantly meet with their constituents to ensure that their voices are heard and needs are met.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I am less concerned about leaving a legacy than I am about making a difference in my community. Throughout my life, I have been involved in activism for issues I care about. While working with grassroots organizations and everyday citizens who push for change has been incredibly inspiring and has motivated me to get to where I am today, I feel that the most effective way that I can help bring about change is to run for office. Even if future generations of Texans do not know my name, I hope that they benefit from my work to provide them with a better life.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Great Expectations. It is a fully satisfying read. It has a strong engrossing plot, is a well developed romance, and has a lot to say about the human condition and in particular class struggles and corruption. It is Dickens at his most mature and yet still desperate for signs of fairness and justice in the world.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

I believe that the biggest challenge that my community currently faces is the efforts by Texas GOP lawmakers working to take away their voting rights. Making it harder for the people of Collin County to cast a ballot will also make it harder for them to have their voices heard on other issues too, including gun reform, women's reproductive rights, protecting the environment, and public education funding, etc. Every eligible Texan should have an opportunity to participate in the most meaningful democratic process known as voting. As a first generation born American and Texan, I can’t imagine a more meaningful right. My family fled Communism for our right to participate civically. Our democracy works best when people are not deterred from voting and are instead empowered to engage civically and think critically about who they want to represent them. Access to the polls has been obstructed as a result of legislation passed last session. When elected, one of my first bills filed will be to counteract those laws. Instead of making it harder to vote in our state, we should be making it easier for disabled persons, our veterans, and our senior citizens to participate in our democracy.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, our legislative sessions are only 140 day every two years. That is simply not enough time to learn on the job and be an effective legislator. As a Legislative Director currently working for the Texas House of Representatives, I have the most relevant experience to be an effective member of the state legislature. I do not anticipate that Democrats are going to take the Texas House or any major statewide seats. This means that key chairmanships of key committees are in jeopardy of being controlled solely by Republicans. This puts our ability (as Democrats) to coordinate and be effective at risk. I am deeply concerned about the priorities that Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick will set for the next legislative session, and I think we need to elect candidates who are serious about protecting the civil rights of all constituents but also have a working knowledge of the rules of the House of Representatives. Next session isn’t just going to be about who can file the best bill and get it passed though both chambers and on the Governor’s desk. As we have seen from this last legislative session, we need members on the floor of the Texas House who know how to call points or order and argue them to the parliamentarians. We need to elect members who know how to kill a bill just as much as they know how to pass one. No other candidate in my race has that institutional knowledge.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely

What process do you favor for redistricting?

I believe in an independent third party redistricting committee.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Public Heath Committe

Defense and Veterans Affairs Committe

State Affairs Committe

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I want to be an honest and transparent Representative.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Knock knock…

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes absolutely.