COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — Texas House District 70 is one of the high-stakes races this year after the district went to Democrat Mihaela Plesa in 2022.
This year, Plesa is facing a challenge from Republican Steve Kinard.
Plesa has been successful as a freshman congresswoman, having at least one bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.
While Plesa is favored to win, her seat is considered at-risk. She was the first Democrat to win in Collin County in 30 years, representing the changing demographics of the suburbs.
Kinard works for the Texas Blockchain Council, but has struggled with fundraising in this race.
State Rep. Plesa wants increased state funding for education. Her proposal aims to raise the basic allotment by $1,000 per student and tie it to inflation. Plesa is a Plano ISD graduate.
"If we were to increase that basic allotment to $1,000 and index it to inflation, we’d see just $32 million going to Plano ISD alone," Plesa said.
Kinard supports school choice and eliminating standardized STAAR testing, instead proposing statewide bonuses for teachers. He believes in reducing government involvement in local education and believes it is possible to support school choice and improve public school at the same time. Kinard also says he understands the importance of public education because his wife was once a public educator.
“My focus here is to get the government out of local communities, allowing them to focus on raising the next generation,” Kinard said.
Plesa, however, stands against voucher programs, labeling her opponent’s stance as “the largest voucher scam in the nation.”
On border security, Kinard argues that Texas must step up where federal efforts have failed. “We cannot have mass illegal immigration and a criminal element, including Venezuelan gangs, active in Texas,” the Dallas native said.
Kinard proposes a dedicated Texas law enforcement unit to secure the border, which would be funded by the state.
“We’re ensuring long-term security by having a unit focused on this existential threat,” he said.
In contrast, Plesa calls for a tech-driven approach, envisioning a “21st-century smart border” using drones and other advanced tools. Plesa says the theory of adding a new state unit has already been addressed by the legislature and is too expensive a proposition.
Texas House District 70 encompasses much of Plano, as well as southern Allen, northern Dallas and northwestern Richardson.
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