Theresa Boisseau

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Theresa Boisseau completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Boisseau's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading-bio-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tAs a single mother I have fought every day for my own child. As a teacher I fought every day for each of the children that walked into my classroom. Now I hope to take the fight to Washington to build a brighter future for every child in Texas and beyond.\r\nMy skills learned through time as a teacher and a decades-long involvement in the family business including the art of negotiation, striving to make each transaction a win-win while working with a broad spectrum of students and clients from varying socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures will prove invaluable. I also have several years worth of experience working on campaigns and a solid network of professionals to draw upon to make Congress work as it should and make government as a force for good. I know how to bring people together in any situation for everyone’s success - and I know how vital this is in finding a lasting solution to any challenge.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading-key-message-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease 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?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Mother Nature doesn't care if there’s an R or D after your name and climate challenges that lead to extreme weather should not be political. The US has the knowledge &amp; capability to create solutions to extreme weather. I would extend tax credits for solar use, add credits for wind, hydrogen production &amp; energy storage and ensure access to clean water. US inaction on these issues makes the EU the de facto leader in renewable energy &amp; innovation leaving America to play by their rules. The US must increase infrastructure &amp; solutions for our country and collaborate with Europe and others to ensure no country is left behind. The future of our planet, our health, our economy and stable democracies depends on this being solved on a global scale.</li><li>In a sane society, women facing a heart-achingly difficult decision in traumatic circumstances should be supported with kindness, not persecution. More women die during pregnancy &amp; childbirth in Texas than in many other states and will get worse. OB/GYNs and doctors are leaving because they know they can’t give the care their oaths demand under restrictive laws that Republican leadership has forced upon this state. The callousness and legal agony they have put women through shows they don’t care about the consequences of their extreme views. Women in Texas and across the US deserve better, where they are safe in pregnancy, safe to receive healthcare and safe to make choices about their own lives free from the interference of politicians.</li><li>While I had recently left teaching when Columbine happened, I distinctly remember having to tell my 10 year old daughter about Sandy Hook in 2012. In Congress, I would push known pieces of legislation that could pass and have an impact on this crisis; a national database for background checks, red-flag laws, a waiting period for purchase and initial &amp; continuing education for owning/storing a gun. In order to build a brighter future for our children, this needs to be urgently addressed and as your next Congresswoman, I would fight for significant progress on ensuring that these reforms are passed and implemented.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading1-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWe need to ensure that everyone has the right to vote, first and foremost and this principle is what motivated me to get even more involved including running for office. We cannot have a stable democracy while politicians choose leaders for us and our vote is our voice. My family has personal experience in defending democracy in Haiti. I never met my grandfather, a US-trained pilot and officer who fought back against the slide from democracy into the dictatorship of Francois Duvalier. He stood up for democracy and paid for it with his life. Institutions can work when there is incentive to work together instead of tearing it all down: currently there are too many incentives towards extremism and that needs to change. This is why I support easier access to voting, stopping dark money and fairly drawn voting districts at all levels.The John Lewis Voting Rights Act should be passed immediately along with rebuilding the gutted Voting Rights Act. I would push for districts to be drawn by citizens, not politicians with vested interests in the outcome. Voting is at the core of America, I believe this should be celebrated by making Federal Election day a national holiday, early voting &amp; vote by mail should be federally protected.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading2-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe most important principle for any elected official is that they serve the people of their constituency, with integrity and honesty. That they have the strength of character to refuse to be bought by lobbyists, and to make clear the principles they hold and stand by - even in times of crisis.<br/>\n<p>If anyone in elected office enriches themselves instead of the people they serve - whether by accepting campaign donations or gifts in order to vote against the best interests of their constituents, or by using the knowledge they are entrusted by as a member of Congress - they do not deserve to be in office for they will have failed to place the people they represent above their own greed.<br/>\n</p>\nIf someone seeks elected office by lying about their beliefs and the program they would enact in government, then they have broken the trust of the voters and denied them people a real informed choice. To maintain trust in democracy, it is vital that politicians in elected office be honest about their positions and votes with the people they represent - especially if there is disagreement. Hiding those positions, or hiding from voters is not representation. Just as bad are those who will promise everything to everyone, flip-flopping from one position to the next with no firm principles - voters should be able to trust an elected official to vote on legislation the way they have promised. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading3-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy skills learned through time as a teacher and a decades-long involvement in the family business including the art of negotiation, striving to make each transaction a win-win while working with a broad spectrum of students and clients from varying socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures will prove invaluable. I also have several years worth of experience working on campaigns and a solid network of professionals to draw upon to make Congress work as it should and make government as a force for good. I know how to bring people together in any situation for everyone’s success - and I know how vital this is in finding a lasting solution to any challenge. <br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading4-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe first historical event that I remember is the Apollo 11, the first lunar landing. I was about 2 and a half years old and distinctly remember seeing it on the TV. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading5-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIf you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy daughter would say Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec. I would have to agree and really like her because she believes that government can do great things for all people and she focuses on the positive. She has a can-do attitude focusing on solutions and often asks, \"What do I need to do to make this happen?\".\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading6-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe House of Representatives should be exactly that: representative.<br/>\n<p>That means that every race, every creed, every adult age and every occupation should have a voice in shaping the legislation that governs this great nation.<br/>\r\nI am firmly of the belief that anyone, if their heart is in the right place and they truly wish to serve, can become the best kind of politician: a servant of the people. However, in order for farmers or teachers or engineers or small business owners to become such public servants, there needs to be people with experience of government and politics to learn from and whose experience in achieving meaningful change can be an example to all who wish to lift up America.<br/>\n</p>\nAs such, in that representative mix of Americans called to serve in government should be those with experience, and diverse experience too: of school boards and state legislatures, from mayors of small towns to leaders of cooperatives. Their experience of governing, along with that of Representatives who have had longer careers, can help foster a truly representative democracy in America.<br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading7-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThere will be no greater challenge in the next decade - at every level - that is greater than fighting the rolling back of liberty for all.<br/>\n<p>For many years, women were assured that they had a right to choice and healthcare regarding their own bodies. Those rights were a guarantee of liberty as full citizens of this great country. Now, in many states, those rights have been ripped away; politicians are now deciding for us whether we have futures or families or our very lives. We must fight against this trend, standing with the overwhelming majority of the nation in safeguarding every woman's choice, maternity care, healthcare, and the right to make the most difficult decisions about life in private.<br/>\r\nThe same people who wish to remove freedom of choice from women are also attacking the freedom to vote. The most fundamental right as Americans is our freedom to choose our representatives and our government. This right - so noticeably denied in the past through Jim Crow laws and barring female suffrage - is under threat once more from politicians who wish to hold power no matter what voters say. Through gerrymandering, impossible hurdles to registration or attempts to overturn and nullify the will of the voters - politicians who cannot win on the strength of their ideas are seeking to make voters powerless. The freedom to exercise our right to vote must be fought for at every turn, and we cannot stop until every eligible American can exercise that right freely and without hindrance.<br/>\n</p>\nIf those people who would take our freedoms in the name of political power are not challenged, they will not stop. And further rights we hold essential to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will fall to satisfy their hunger for power unsupported by the people. I will never stop fighting against this trend, for a brighter future where all Americans have the rights they should.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading8-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI believe that compromise is desirable in lawmaking. However, compromise should not be the objective over all others for policy-makers.<br/>\n<p>Debating and compromising policy across ideological differences both within your own party and across the aisle can only strengthen legislation. It is essential in our democracy to consider the voices of all in shaping legislation, particularly those whose voices have often been silenced. By challenging ourselves to debate ideas, and seeking to strengthen them through compromise and listening to multiple voices we can write legislation that positively impacts all Americans, not just a select few.<br/>\r\nHowever, the importance of compromise should be kept to policy. Whether the right to vote, human rights for all Americans or the right to live freely in a society rooted in the rule of law - compromising on the fundamental rights that form the cornerstones of our republic will only weaken it and lead to instability and the fall of all we hold true as Americans.<br/>\n</p>\nIt is also important to note that compromise cannot always be sought - attempting to compromise with someone who is operating in bad faith, or who wishes to sabotage for political gain solutions to urgent problems honest Americans face, will lead to nothing but delay and failure. In those times, the largest coalition of voices from across the political spectrum who actually wish to contribute to solutions should be assembled. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-213101-2024-01-25\" id=\"heading9-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-213101-2024-01-25\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading9-213101-2024-01-25\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-213101-2024-01-25\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tUniversity Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, NxNW Democrats, Liberal Austin Democrats, Environmental Austin Democrats, Austin Tejano Democrats.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nTheresa Boisseau completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Boisseau's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. As a single mother I have fought every day for my own child. As a teacher I fought every day for each of the children that walked into my classroom. Now I hope to take the fight to Washington to build a brighter future for every child in Texas and beyond.\r\nMy skills learned through time as a teacher and a decades-long involvement in the family business including the art of negotiation, striving to make each transaction a win-win while working with a broad spectrum of students and clients from varying socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures will prove invaluable. I also have several years worth of experience working on campaigns and a solid network of professionals to draw upon to make Congress work as it should and make government as a force for good. I know how to bring people together in any situation for everyone’s success - and I know how vital this is in finding a lasting solution to any challenge. 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? Mother Nature doesn't care if there’s an R or D after your name and climate challenges that lead to extreme weather should not be political. The US has the knowledge & capability to create solutions to extreme weather. I would extend tax credits for solar use, add credits for wind, hydrogen production & energy storage and ensure access to clean water. US inaction on these issues makes the EU the de facto leader in renewable energy & innovation leaving America to play by their rules. The US must increase infrastructure & solutions for our country and collaborate with Europe and others to ensure no country is left behind. The future of our planet, our health, our economy and stable democracies depends on this being solved on a global scale. In a sane society, women facing a heart-achingly difficult decision in traumatic circumstances should be supported with kindness, not persecution. More women die during pregnancy & childbirth in Texas than in many other states and will get worse. OB/GYNs and doctors are leaving because they know they can’t give the care their oaths demand under restrictive laws that Republican leadership has forced upon this state. The callousness and legal agony they have put women through shows they don’t care about the consequences of their extreme views. Women in Texas and across the US deserve better, where they are safe in pregnancy, safe to receive healthcare and safe to make choices about their own lives free from the interference of politicians. While I had recently left teaching when Columbine happened, I distinctly remember having to tell my 10 year old daughter about Sandy Hook in 2012. In Congress, I would push known pieces of legislation that could pass and have an impact on this crisis; a national database for background checks, red-flag laws, a waiting period for purchase and initial & continuing education for owning/storing a gun. In order to build a brighter future for our children, this needs to be urgently addressed and as your next Congresswoman, I would fight for significant progress on ensuring that these reforms are passed and implemented. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? We need to ensure that everyone has the right to vote, first and foremost and this principle is what motivated me to get even more involved including running for office. We cannot have a stable democracy while politicians choose leaders for us and our vote is our voice. My family has personal experience in defending democracy in Haiti. I never met my grandfather, a US-trained pilot and officer who fought back against the slide from democracy into the dictatorship of Francois Duvalier. He stood up for democracy and paid for it with his life. Institutions can work when there is incentive to work together instead of tearing it all down: currently there are too many incentives towards extremism and that needs to change. This is why I support easier access to voting, stopping dark money and fairly drawn voting districts at all levels.The John Lewis Voting Rights Act should be passed immediately along with rebuilding the gutted Voting Rights Act. I would push for districts to be drawn by citizens, not politicians with vested interests in the outcome. Voting is at the core of America, I believe this should be celebrated by making Federal Election day a national holiday, early voting & vote by mail should be federally protected. What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? The most important principle for any elected official is that they serve the people of their constituency, with integrity and honesty. That they have the strength of character to refuse to be bought by lobbyists, and to make clear the principles they hold and stand by - even in times of crisis. If anyone in elected office enriches themselves instead of the people they serve - whether by accepting campaign donations or gifts in order to vote against the best interests of their constituents, or by using the knowledge they are entrusted by as a member of Congress - they do not deserve to be in office for they will have failed to place the people they represent above their own greed. If someone seeks elected office by lying about their beliefs and the program they would enact in government, then they have broken the trust of the voters and denied them people a real informed choice. To maintain trust in democracy, it is vital that politicians in elected office be honest about their positions and votes with the people they represent - especially if there is disagreement. Hiding those positions, or hiding from voters is not representation. Just as bad are those who will promise everything to everyone, flip-flopping from one position to the next with no firm principles - voters should be able to trust an elected official to vote on legislation the way they have promised. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? My skills learned through time as a teacher and a decades-long involvement in the family business including the art of negotiation, striving to make each transaction a win-win while working with a broad spectrum of students and clients from varying socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures will prove invaluable. I also have several years worth of experience working on campaigns and a solid network of professionals to draw upon to make Congress work as it should and make government as a force for good. I know how to bring people together in any situation for everyone’s success - and I know how vital this is in finding a lasting solution to any challenge. What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time? The first historical event that I remember is the Apollo 11, the first lunar landing. I was about 2 and a half years old and distinctly remember seeing it on the TV. If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be? My daughter would say Leslie Knope from Parks and Rec. I would have to agree and really like her because she believes that government can do great things for all people and she focuses on the positive. She has a can-do attitude focusing on solutions and often asks, \"What do I need to do to make this happen?\". Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics? The House of Representatives should be exactly that: representative. That means that every race, every creed, every adult age and every occupation should have a voice in shaping the legislation that governs this great nation. I am firmly of the belief that anyone, if their heart is in the right place and they truly wish to serve, can become the best kind of politician: a servant of the people. However, in order for farmers or teachers or engineers or small business owners to become such public servants, there needs to be people with experience of government and politics to learn from and whose experience in achieving meaningful change can be an example to all who wish to lift up America. As such, in that representative mix of Americans called to serve in government should be those with experience, and diverse experience too: of school boards and state legislatures, from mayors of small towns to leaders of cooperatives. Their experience of governing, along with that of Representatives who have had longer careers, can help foster a truly representative democracy in America. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? There will be no greater challenge in the next decade - at every level - that is greater than fighting the rolling back of liberty for all. For many years, women were assured that they had a right to choice and healthcare regarding their own bodies. Those rights were a guarantee of liberty as full citizens of this great country. Now, in many states, those rights have been ripped away; politicians are now deciding for us whether we have futures or families or our very lives. We must fight against this trend, standing with the overwhelming majority of the nation in safeguarding every woman's choice, maternity care, healthcare, and the right to make the most difficult decisions about life in private. The same people who wish to remove freedom of choice from women are also attacking the freedom to vote. The most fundamental right as Americans is our freedom to choose our representatives and our government. This right - so noticeably denied in the past through Jim Crow laws and barring female suffrage - is under threat once more from politicians who wish to hold power no matter what voters say. Through gerrymandering, impossible hurdles to registration or attempts to overturn and nullify the will of the voters - politicians who cannot win on the strength of their ideas are seeking to make voters powerless. The freedom to exercise our right to vote must be fought for at every turn, and we cannot stop until every eligible American can exercise that right freely and without hindrance. If those people who would take our freedoms in the name of political power are not challenged, they will not stop. And further rights we hold essential to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness will fall to satisfy their hunger for power unsupported by the people. I will never stop fighting against this trend, for a brighter future where all Americans have the rights they should. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? I believe that compromise is desirable in lawmaking. However, compromise should not be the objective over all others for policy-makers. Debating and compromising policy across ideological differences both within your own party and across the aisle can only strengthen legislation. It is essential in our democracy to consider the voices of all in shaping legislation, particularly those whose voices have often been silenced. By challenging ourselves to debate ideas, and seeking to strengthen them through compromise and listening to multiple voices we can write legislation that positively impacts all Americans, not just a select few. However, the importance of compromise should be kept to policy. Whether the right to vote, human rights for all Americans or the right to live freely in a society rooted in the rule of law - compromising on the fundamental rights that form the cornerstones of our republic will only weaken it and lead to instability and the fall of all we hold true as Americans. It is also important to note that compromise cannot always be sought - attempting to compromise with someone who is operating in bad faith, or who wishes to sabotage for political gain solutions to urgent problems honest Americans face, will lead to nothing but delay and failure. In those times, the largest coalition of voices from across the political spectrum who actually wish to contribute to solutions should be assembled. What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign? University Democrats, Central Austin Democrats, NxNW Democrats, Liberal Austin Democrats, Environmental Austin Democrats, Austin Tejano Democrats.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Boisseau’s campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>Solutions for Extreme Weather</b><br/>\nThere is NO denying that there has been an increase in extreme weather patterns over the last few years. Each passing year brings ever hotter days in the summer and fiercer winter storms that bring chaos as essential services cannot cope. To secure our homes, our jobs and our future, we need solutions to the problems of extreme weather. We need local and reliable electricity generation and we should be building Texas into the energy state for the 21st century that can provide jobs for years to come.\n</p><p><b>Pro Education for All</b><br/>\nOur public schools should be palaces to the future of America. We need incentives for more teachers in every school, and an education tailored to each child so that our children’s futures will be filled with opportunity.\n</p><p><b>Pro Roe</b><br/>\nTo be pro-choice is not to tell someone whether to have an abortion or not. To be pro-choice is just that — it provides a choice. When draconian abortion bans are enacted, governments overreach and make that choice for women. These bans that remove choice lead to worse maternity care, to victims of trauma being left in agony, and to more women dying of treatable conditions. This is why I support codifying Roe v. Wade into law, to take the decision out of politicians hands and give it back to the people.\n</p><p><b>Pro Accessible Healthcare</b><br/>\nThe United States of America spends more per person on healthcare than any other developed nation for a service that leaves many Texans without the coverage they deserve. We need to expand access — through rural health clinics and incentives to keep doctors in the state — while cutting the red tape to make healthcare simpler and cheaper for all.\n</p><p><b>​There is much to do for Texas! Some of my other goals as your representative include:</b><br/>\n<b>Sensible Gun Reform</b><br/>\nGuns are the leading cause of death among children. Let that sink in for a moment. I will advocate for sensible gun laws including red-flag laws, raising the age to buy firearms, and implementing other safety measures in our schools while continuing to increase awareness and mental health support.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_2-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-2\">[2]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Theresa Boisseau’s campaign website (2024)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-3\"><a href=\"#cite_note-3\">[3]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>", "answer_text": "Boisseau’s campaign website stated the following:\n“ Solutions for Extreme Weather There is NO denying that there has been an increase in extreme weather patterns over the last few years. Each passing year brings ever hotter days in the summer and fiercer winter storms that bring chaos as essential services cannot cope. To secure our homes, our jobs and our future, we need solutions to the problems of extreme weather. We need local and reliable electricity generation and we should be building Texas into the energy state for the 21st century that can provide jobs for years to come. Pro Education for All Our public schools should be palaces to the future of America. We need incentives for more teachers in every school, and an education tailored to each child so that our children’s futures will be filled with opportunity. Pro Roe To be pro-choice is not to tell someone whether to have an abortion or not. To be pro-choice is just that — it provides a choice. When draconian abortion bans are enacted, governments overreach and make that choice for women. These bans that remove choice lead to worse maternity care, to victims of trauma being left in agony, and to more women dying of treatable conditions. This is why I support codifying Roe v. Wade into law, to take the decision out of politicians hands and give it back to the people. Pro Accessible Healthcare The United States of America spends more per person on healthcare than any other developed nation for a service that leaves many Texans without the coverage they deserve. We need to expand access — through rural health clinics and incentives to keep doctors in the state — while cutting the red tape to make healthcare simpler and cheaper for all. ​There is much to do for Texas! Some of my other goals as your representative include: Sensible Gun Reform Guns are the leading cause of death among children. Let that sink in for a moment. I will advocate for sensible gun laws including red-flag laws, raising the age to buy firearms, and implementing other safety measures in our schools while continuing to increase awareness and mental health support. [2] ” —Theresa Boisseau’s campaign website (2024) [3]"}]