Rep. Plesa, Mihaela - District 70

Mihaela is a lifelong Texan. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, and a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University.

Mihaela previously served as a legislative director for San Antonio State Representative Ray Lopez. She owned and operated a fashion merchandising and designing business.

Mihaela Elizabeth Plesa is a state representative in State House District 70. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term.

Candidate website

Supports the Texas Jobs & Security Act (HB5) to attract businesses with tax incentives for creating high-paying jobs.

Supports increasing funding and developing broadband and telecommunication services to provide high-speed internet statewide.

As a member of the Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services Committee, supported a cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers and worked to increase pensions for local police and firefighters.

Supports the budget's historic property tax relief, increased local school tax dollars, and investments in broadband and transportation infrastructure.

Supports "pro-senior housing policies, tough penalties for elder fraud, and crack down on misleading advertising and deceptive trade practices that target senior citizens."

Believes the Texas Legislature should "crack down on big insurance companies who leave Texans hanging in their hour of need."

As a state representative, filed bills to regulate assisted living facilities.

- Supports the Texas Jobs & Security Act (HB5) to attract businesses with tax incentives for creating high-paying jobs.
- Supports increasing funding and developing broadband and telecommunication services to provide high-speed internet statewide.
- As a member of the Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services Committee, supported a cost-of-living adjustment for retired teachers and worked to increase pensions for local police and firefighters.
- Supports the budget's historic property tax relief, increased local school tax dollars, and investments in broadband and transportation infrastructure.
- Supports "pro-senior housing policies, tough penalties for elder fraud, and crack down on misleading advertising and deceptive trade practices that target senior citizens."
- Believes the Texas Legislature should "crack down on big insurance companies who leave Texans hanging in their hour of need."
- As a state representative, filed bills to regulate assisted living facilities.

Economy

Supports rehabilitation over punishment, believing the criminal justice system should be "efficient, compassionate, and fair."

Believes in preventing crime by creating economic and educational opportunities.

Supports providing educational opportunities and mental health, trauma, and grief counseling to incarcerated youth.

Believes criminal sentences should "match the severity of the crime and harm inflicted."

Believes individuals accused of breaking the law should be guaranteed all constitutional protections, including the presumption of innocence, due process, and a speedy trial.

Supports increasing penalties for human traffickers who target vulnerable persons.

- Supports rehabilitation over punishment, believing the criminal justice system should be "efficient, compassionate, and fair."
- Believes in preventing crime by creating economic and educational opportunities.
- Supports providing educational opportunities and mental health, trauma, and grief counseling to incarcerated youth.
- Believes criminal sentences should "match the severity of the crime and harm inflicted."
- Believes individuals accused of breaking the law should be guaranteed all constitutional protections, including the presumption of innocence, due process, and a speedy trial.
- Supports increasing penalties for human traffickers who target vulnerable persons.

Public Safety

Supports increased funding for women's health programs and expanding insurance coverage for reproductive care.

Supports HB 916, which mandates insurance companies to cover a 12-month supply of birth control.

Supports HB 1490, which mandates doctors to prioritize saving the mother's life in medical emergencies.

Supports requiring health insurance to cover fertility preservation treatments and services.

Supports expanding access to emergency contraception.

Supports abortion and cosponsored HB 1953, which would allow abortion in cases of high-risk pregnancy or if the pregnancy resulted from in vitro fertilization.

As a state representative, co-sponsored HB 1953, which would allow abortion in cases of high-risk pregnancy or if the pregnancy resulted from in vitro fertilization.

- Supports disability rights.
- Supports increased funding for women's health programs and expanding insurance coverage for reproductive care.
- Supports HB 916, which mandates insurance companies to cover a 12-month supply of birth control.
- Supports HB 1490, which mandates doctors to prioritize saving the mother's life in medical emergencies.
- Supports requiring health insurance to cover fertility preservation treatments and services.
- Supports expanding access to emergency contraception.
- As a state representative, co-sponsored HB 1953, which would allow abortion in cases of high-risk pregnancy or if the pregnancy resulted from in vitro fertilization.

Healthcare

Supports increasing funds for special needs toddlers.

Supports increasing funding for early childhood education.

Supports enhancing financial literacy in Texas public high schools.

Advocates enhancing financial literacy in Texas public high schools.

Supports SB 629, which provides Narcan on school campuses to prevent overdoses.

Supports reforming the school finance system so that Plano ISD does not run deficits, ensuring teachers are paid fairly, and protecting public education by stopping school vouchers.

Prioritizes reforming the school finance system so that Plano ISD does not run deficits, ensuring teachers are paid fairly, and protecting public education by stopping school vouchers.

- Supports increasing funds for special needs toddlers.
- Supports increasing funding for early childhood education.
- Advocates enhancing financial literacy in Texas public high schools.
- Supports SB 629, which provides Narcan on school campuses to prevent overdoses.
- Prioritizes reforming the school finance system so that Plano ISD does not run deficits, ensuring teachers are paid fairly, and protecting public education by stopping school vouchers.

Education

Supports diversifying energy sources, investing in renewable energy, and strengthening grid reliability and consumer protections.

Believes "we all have a right to enjoy the beauty of our state’s vibrant nature and wildlife."

Supports addressing foreign air contamination by requiring the state to implement a plan to address foreign emissions of air contaminants.

Supports investing in climate-friendly initiatives such as water infrastructure, park protection, and energy security.

Supports legislative action on water policy to address historic droughts and rising temperatures.

Prioritizes legislative action on water policy to address historic droughts and rising temperatures.

- Supports diversifying energy sources, investing in renewable energy, and strengthening grid reliability and consumer protections.
- Believes "we all have a right to enjoy the beauty of our state’s vibrant nature and wildlife."
- Supports addressing foreign air contamination by requiring the state to implement a plan to address foreign emissions of air contaminants.
- Supports investing in climate-friendly initiatives such as water infrastructure, park protection, and energy security.
- Prioritizes legislative action on water policy to address historic droughts and rising temperatures.

Energy & the Environment

Believes removing Texas from the Electronic Registration Information Center will enable voter fraud.

Believes elections should be "fair, free, secure, and accessible" and that every eligible citizen should be able to vote without "bureaucratic red tape or burdensome voter suppression policies."

- Believes removing Texas from the Electronic Registration Information Center will enable voter fraud.
- Believes elections should be "fair, free, secure, and accessible" and that every eligible citizen should be able to vote without "bureaucratic red tape or burdensome voter suppression policies."

Voting & Elections

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Mihaela Elizabeth Plesa

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Steve is from Dallas, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree in international studies from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in business administration from the George Washington University. He is married to his wife Kate, and they have 3 children.

Steve is the president of the AI Innovation Association. He has experience in blockchain technology and financial services.

Ballotpedia, Steven Kinard

Steve Kinard's campaign for state representative is his first run for public office.

Opposes the implementation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Supports the passing of the Texas CHIPS Act, which allocates funding towards the manufacturing of semiconductors and future technology.

- Opposes property tax increases.
- Opposes the implementation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
- Supports the passing of the Texas CHIPS Act, which allocates funding towards the manufacturing of semiconductors and future technology.

Plans to address "the lawlessness and human trafficking exacerbated by the border crisis."

- Plans to address "the lawlessness and human trafficking exacerbated by the border crisis."

As of September 7, 2024, Steve Kinard’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports school choice and increased public investment into education.

Opposes government-mandated tests like the STARR.

Advocates parental involvement in their children's education.

- Supports school choice and increased public investment into education.
- Opposes government-mandated tests like the STARR.
- Advocates parental involvement in their children's education.

Supports investment in energy sources like natural gas and nuclear in order to fix the electrical grid.

Advocates the adoption of cloud computing technology in energy consumption to help lower costs.

- Supports investment in energy sources like natural gas and nuclear in order to fix the electrical grid.
- Advocates the adoption of cloud computing technology in energy consumption to help lower costs.

Supports a 12-year limit for federal and state politicians.

- Supports a 12-year limit for federal and state politicians.

Steve Kinard

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws. 
- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
- State representatives are elected to two-year terms during even-numbered years. There are no term limits. 
- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.