NC House District 41
Maria Cervania
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. Do you support the use of incentives for the attraction and retention of employers?
Yes
5. Do you support the use of incentives for the attraction and retention of employers? Why or why not?
In my time on the Wake County Board of Commissioners and as Chair of our Economic Strength committee, the use of incentives has been important to ensure we have a bright future in Wake County. While incentives are provided to employers, our community also receives so much in return.
Wake County Economic Development has announced more than 9,000 new jobs and nearly $4 billion in investments, since launching its five-year strategy in 2019.
Major companies are coming to our state in droves because we have built a community with the talent, infrastructure, and quality of life that businesses need to compete successfully on a global scale. Among the big-name companies coming here are Apple, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and Amgen — all because we have put Wake County and North Carolina on the map as the leading location in the nation for technology, biotech/life science, advanced manufacturing, and cleantech.
These businesses bring good-paying jobs and investment in our strong talent pipeline through our public schools, community college, and universities.
6. Do you support Medicaid expansion?
Yes
Do you support Medicaid expansion? Why or why not?
When health care is tied to a person’s quality of life and life, many would answer that health care is a basic human right. Medicaid expansion is needed because:
1. People are dying because they have access to health care, especially those uninsured and diagnosed with terminal illnesses.
2. People need health care. In North Carolina, there are about one million nonelderly uninsured people. That is about the same amount of people in Wake or Mecklenburg County.
3. People in North Carolina need to be indigent to receive Medicaid. To qualify for Medicaid coverage in North Carolina, as an adult, you have to be below 42 percent of federal poverty, which equals approximately $7,300 a year. Not a month…a year.
4. People need us to close the gap. You do not qualify for Marketplace subsidies until you earn $21,000 a year. Meaning…you cannot get coverage if you make between $7,300 and $21,000 a year.
Here is some context: People who work full-time minimum wage jobs in North Carolina fall squarely into this gap. The State minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, so someone working 40 hours a week would bring home $14,500 before taxes.
So, the reality is that most uninsured people are working; they are our working poor.
5. People need Medicaid Expansion. If the state expanded Medicaid, between 400,000 and 626,000 people would become eligible for coverage. That is about the same amount as all the people that live in Raleigh.
6. Overall, the community benefits from Medicaid Expansion by being a job creator and strengthening its economy, especially in the existing healthcare industry and new business activities associated with healthcare.
7. How do you intend to collaborate with your partners at the municipal and county level to create a better environment for our region?
Collaboration is most successful through relationship building and finding common ground. As a community advocate and as an elected official, it has been honor to already have these relationships and teamwork on significant projects in the areas of clean water, air and environment; sustainability; parks, open space, and greenways; transportation and housing affordability with leaders from government, non-profits and private industry throughout the region and state.
8. How will you work to support Wake County’s public education needs, including our public schools, community colleges and public universities?
The North Carolina Public Education System was national renown for being one of the best school systems in the country. Now, we rank in the bottom quarter in the United States. We have a responsibility to provide students with the best possible future. We cannot let the political environment continue to underfund public education. Not every child is the same, but every child deserves the same access to sound basic education and a good, high-quality education.
We on the as a Board of Commissioners have served as the stopgap for the inadequate state funding provided by the NCGA and it is over 55% of our budget. This puts a significant impact on the other services we are required to provide our community. I am hoping for the opportunity to be part of the solution in the NCGA to fully fund public education at all levels.
9. How will you help North Carolina to be more competitive regionally, nationally, and internationally?
We need to have a North Carolina that strives for the highest quality of life for all its people, especially in public education, healthcare, housing affordability, thriving wage/income equity, transportation, broadband for all, food security, criminal justice, clean water, air and environment, sustainability, and parks, open space, and greenways.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the state for ongoing growth.
I believe in achieving the desire to be a global leader, be economically prepared for North Carolina’s future, and reach our ultimate goals for the environment. The state must invest in an integrated transportation system.
We would better connect depending on the economic growth desired in that part of the state; no one size fits all exists. We would work with local government, major companies and industries, and local communities on what that connectivity would look like.
Ideally, it would be multi-modal with bicycle and pedestrian elements integrated with commuter rail, light rail, low-emission micro-transit, and bus/bus rapid transit stops within walking or biking distance.
Rail would be the key to better connecting different parts of the state. We could use existing tracks or build the infrastructure through funding partnerships. Depending on the type of transportation, funding would be through bond referendums, Federal and State taxes, public/private partnerships, and (possibly, after thoughtful exploration) a gas consumption tax.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
For North Carolina to keep being a leader in Economic Development, we must have every resident has opportunities to succeed and thrive in North Carolina's economic prosperity, support economic development efforts to bring diverse jobs, talent, businesses and visitors to North Carolina, ensure that all households have affordable, high-speed internet access; support, promote, and celebrate arts and culture, and strengthen services and policies that support agribusinesses.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
Stable, affordable housing is critically important to the quality of life . Housing environments play a crucial role in the social determinants of health, while housing costs dictate the amount of family income available for food, education, or other investments. Rising housing costs increase the risk of housing instability, eviction, and homelessness. Housing programs will minimize the number of residents experiencing homelessness and unstable or transient housing using the 'Housing First' model. We will work together with partners to increase the number of affordable housing units and protect existing affordable housing stock.
Great Government - Promote a vision of a city government that partners with all levels of government to empower, protect and serve its citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation
We must engage our community to envision the cities, county and state's future, embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, improve customer experiences through efficient, high-quality service delivery and continuous innovation, and strengthen governance structures and processes that preserve ethics, accountability, and effective decision-making.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
I will:
- prioritize our initiatives surrounding social determinants of health, especially with food security, housing affordability and preservation, multi-modal transportation, and environmental (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.) quality.
- work with our municipalities to understand their current Land Use Ordinance regarding trees, stormwater management, connectivity, open space, and mixed land use to help in decision-making.
- collaborate in the implementation and planning of regional transportation initiatives with Federal, State, and local leaders.
- develop better lines of communication between our government entities and community so that they may voice their opinion.
- mobilize the neighborhoods to provide input regarding transit, traffic, and road improvements.
- actively advocate against the development of the RDU Quarry by appointing new representation to the RDU Authority, educating the community on the public health implications, speaking out at state-level public hearings, and working with organizations on the overall efforts to protect the area.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
I support positive changes to how policing is done in North Carolina, our counties, and municipalities. This work must bring together law enforcement, their department, and the community to ensure success. We must explore: 1) requiring law enforcement to show specific, verifiable evidence of a proactive plan and efforts to combine public safety and civil rights protections; 2) establishing Civilian Review Board; 3) conducting a regular Community Survey to gauge their experiences and perceptions of law enforcement; 4) ending Qualified Immunity; 5) ensuring law enforcement is not militarized; 6) strengthening the community’s right to record law enforcement; 7) requiring the use of body-worn cameras; 8) requiring that deputies and police officers provide Miranda warnings before conducting a consensual search; and 9) collaborating with the local bar and legal aid to demand that problematic deputies and police officers are held accountable.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
Improve residents' health and well-being by promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles.
Improve access to affordable, high-quality care for all residents experiencing medical and/or behavioral health challenges.
Support a higher quality of life for vulnerable residents and communities.
All residents should have access to safe, nutritious, culturally appropriate and affordable food.
Create and preserve affordable housing.
Prevent homelessness and provide support to County residents experiencing homelessness.
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. Do you support the use of incentives for the attraction and retention of employers?
Yes
5. Do you support the use of incentives for the attraction and retention of employers? Why or why not?
In my time on the Wake County Board of Commissioners and as Chair of our Economic Strength committee, the use of incentives has been important to ensure we have a bright future in Wake County. While incentives are provided to employers, our community also receives so much in return.
Wake County Economic Development has announced more than 9,000 new jobs and nearly $4 billion in investments, since launching its five-year strategy in 2019.
Major companies are coming to our state in droves because we have built a community with the talent, infrastructure, and quality of life that businesses need to compete successfully on a global scale. Among the big-name companies coming here are Apple, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and Amgen — all because we have put Wake County and North Carolina on the map as the leading location in the nation for technology, biotech/life science, advanced manufacturing, and cleantech.
These businesses bring good-paying jobs and investment in our strong talent pipeline through our public schools, community college, and universities.
6. Do you support Medicaid expansion?
Yes
Do you support Medicaid expansion? Why or why not?
When health care is tied to a person’s quality of life and life, many would answer that health care is a basic human right. Medicaid expansion is needed because:
1. People are dying because they have access to health care, especially those uninsured and diagnosed with terminal illnesses.
2. People need health care. In North Carolina, there are about one million nonelderly uninsured people. That is about the same amount of people in Wake or Mecklenburg County.
3. People in North Carolina need to be indigent to receive Medicaid. To qualify for Medicaid coverage in North Carolina, as an adult, you have to be below 42 percent of federal poverty, which equals approximately $7,300 a year. Not a month…a year.
4. People need us to close the gap. You do not qualify for Marketplace subsidies until you earn $21,000 a year. Meaning…you cannot get coverage if you make between $7,300 and $21,000 a year.
Here is some context: People who work full-time minimum wage jobs in North Carolina fall squarely into this gap. The State minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, so someone working 40 hours a week would bring home $14,500 before taxes.
So, the reality is that most uninsured people are working; they are our working poor.
5. People need Medicaid Expansion. If the state expanded Medicaid, between 400,000 and 626,000 people would become eligible for coverage. That is about the same amount as all the people that live in Raleigh.
6. Overall, the community benefits from Medicaid Expansion by being a job creator and strengthening its economy, especially in the existing healthcare industry and new business activities associated with healthcare.
7. How do you intend to collaborate with your partners at the municipal and county level to create a better environment for our region?
Collaboration is most successful through relationship building and finding common ground. As a community advocate and as an elected official, it has been honor to already have these relationships and teamwork on significant projects in the areas of clean water, air and environment; sustainability; parks, open space, and greenways; transportation and housing affordability with leaders from government, non-profits and private industry throughout the region and state.
8. How will you work to support Wake County’s public education needs, including our public schools, community colleges and public universities?
The North Carolina Public Education System was national renown for being one of the best school systems in the country. Now, we rank in the bottom quarter in the United States. We have a responsibility to provide students with the best possible future. We cannot let the political environment continue to underfund public education. Not every child is the same, but every child deserves the same access to sound basic education and a good, high-quality education.
We on the as a Board of Commissioners have served as the stopgap for the inadequate state funding provided by the NCGA and it is over 55% of our budget. This puts a significant impact on the other services we are required to provide our community. I am hoping for the opportunity to be part of the solution in the NCGA to fully fund public education at all levels.
9. How will you help North Carolina to be more competitive regionally, nationally, and internationally?
We need to have a North Carolina that strives for the highest quality of life for all its people, especially in public education, healthcare, housing affordability, thriving wage/income equity, transportation, broadband for all, food security, criminal justice, clean water, air and environment, sustainability, and parks, open space, and greenways.
Transportation/Transit – Continue to promote and implement an effective transit plan to optimize service delivery and position the state for ongoing growth.
I believe in achieving the desire to be a global leader, be economically prepared for North Carolina’s future, and reach our ultimate goals for the environment. The state must invest in an integrated transportation system.
We would better connect depending on the economic growth desired in that part of the state; no one size fits all exists. We would work with local government, major companies and industries, and local communities on what that connectivity would look like.
Ideally, it would be multi-modal with bicycle and pedestrian elements integrated with commuter rail, light rail, low-emission micro-transit, and bus/bus rapid transit stops within walking or biking distance.
Rail would be the key to better connecting different parts of the state. We could use existing tracks or build the infrastructure through funding partnerships. Depending on the type of transportation, funding would be through bond referendums, Federal and State taxes, public/private partnerships, and (possibly, after thoughtful exploration) a gas consumption tax.
Economic Strength - Create a business-friendly environment to attract, retain and grow business, diversify the economic base, and create job opportunities for all citizens.
For North Carolina to keep being a leader in Economic Development, we must have every resident has opportunities to succeed and thrive in North Carolina's economic prosperity, support economic development efforts to bring diverse jobs, talent, businesses and visitors to North Carolina, ensure that all households have affordable, high-speed internet access; support, promote, and celebrate arts and culture, and strengthen services and policies that support agribusinesses.
Affordable Housing – Develop an effective affordable housing plan through collaboration with the government, the private sector, the community, and individuals.
Stable, affordable housing is critically important to the quality of life . Housing environments play a crucial role in the social determinants of health, while housing costs dictate the amount of family income available for food, education, or other investments. Rising housing costs increase the risk of housing instability, eviction, and homelessness. Housing programs will minimize the number of residents experiencing homelessness and unstable or transient housing using the 'Housing First' model. We will work together with partners to increase the number of affordable housing units and protect existing affordable housing stock.
Great Government - Promote a vision of a city government that partners with all levels of government to empower, protect and serve its citizens through a culture of respect, collaboration, and innovation
We must engage our community to envision the cities, county and state's future, embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, improve customer experiences through efficient, high-quality service delivery and continuous innovation, and strengthen governance structures and processes that preserve ethics, accountability, and effective decision-making.
Growth and Sustainability - Establish a deliberate and realistic approach to address growth and mobility while preserving our environment and healthy communities.
I will:
- prioritize our initiatives surrounding social determinants of health, especially with food security, housing affordability and preservation, multi-modal transportation, and environmental (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.) quality.
- work with our municipalities to understand their current Land Use Ordinance regarding trees, stormwater management, connectivity, open space, and mixed land use to help in decision-making.
- collaborate in the implementation and planning of regional transportation initiatives with Federal, State, and local leaders.
- develop better lines of communication between our government entities and community so that they may voice their opinion.
- mobilize the neighborhoods to provide input regarding transit, traffic, and road improvements.
- actively advocate against the development of the RDU Quarry by appointing new representation to the RDU Authority, educating the community on the public health implications, speaking out at state-level public hearings, and working with organizations on the overall efforts to protect the area.
Public Safety - Provide a safe, secure, and healthy community through coordinated, efficient, and effective public safety services.
I support positive changes to how policing is done in North Carolina, our counties, and municipalities. This work must bring together law enforcement, their department, and the community to ensure success. We must explore: 1) requiring law enforcement to show specific, verifiable evidence of a proactive plan and efforts to combine public safety and civil rights protections; 2) establishing Civilian Review Board; 3) conducting a regular Community Survey to gauge their experiences and perceptions of law enforcement; 4) ending Qualified Immunity; 5) ensuring law enforcement is not militarized; 6) strengthening the community’s right to record law enforcement; 7) requiring the use of body-worn cameras; 8) requiring that deputies and police officers provide Miranda warnings before conducting a consensual search; and 9) collaborating with the local bar and legal aid to demand that problematic deputies and police officers are held accountable.
Social and Economic Vitality - Improve economic and social opportunities in vulnerable communities through strategic partnerships.
Improve residents' health and well-being by promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles.
Improve access to affordable, high-quality care for all residents experiencing medical and/or behavioral health challenges.
Support a higher quality of life for vulnerable residents and communities.
All residents should have access to safe, nutritious, culturally appropriate and affordable food.
Create and preserve affordable housing.
Prevent homelessness and provide support to County residents experiencing homelessness.