Ballot Pedia, Maria Cervania

Maria grew up in Sunnyvale, California, where she attended Homestead High School. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in integrated biology and physical education. Maria is married to Jon, and they have lived in Austin, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, before settling in North Carolina. She is Roman Catholic.

Maria has taught anatomy in the Berkeley Unified School District and physical education in the Oakland School District. She has also served on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Public Health.

Maria Cervania currently serves as the State Representative in State House District 41. She was elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. She previously served as the Wake County Commissioner and was elected in 2020.

Candidate website

Indy Week, Canddiate Questionnaire: Maria Cervania, NC House 41

Supports balanced economic growth and thriving wages for all North Carolinians.

Believes in balanced economic growth and "thriving wages" for all North Carolinians.

Wants to increase access to job training and support the growth of small businesses. Supports "bringing companies such as Apple, Fujifilm, and Amgen to our state."

Supports increasing the minimum wage to $18.95/hour or higher.

Wants to eliminate the sub-minimum wage for tipped employees.

- Believes in balanced economic growth and "thriving wages" for all North Carolinians.
- Supports affordable housing.
- Wants to increase access to job training and support the growth of small businesses. Supports "bringing companies such as Apple, Fujifilm, and Amgen to our state."
- Supports increasing the minimum wage to $18.95/hour or higher.
- Wants to eliminate the sub-minimum wage for tipped employees.

Economy

Believes everyone benefits from clean water, air, fuels, and the environment. Plans to fight for a clean water supply, net-zero emissions, and protection of farmland and greenways.

Wants to create a "multi-modal public transportation system," more parks, and open spaces.

Plans to create broadband internet access for all.

- Believes everyone benefits from clean water, air, fuels, and the environment. Plans to fight for a clean water supply, net-zero emissions, and protection of farmland and greenways.
- Wants to create a "multi-modal public transportation system," more parks, and open spaces.
- Plans to create broadband internet access for all.
- Wants to invest in food security.

Energy & the Environment

Supports addressing barriers to healthcare access, particularly in behavioral health, crisis services, and substance use treatment.

Supports abortion and wants to increase contraception access. Said, "There should be no restrictions on abortion."

Said, "From a public health standpoint, marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are already legal, and legal marijuana can be regulated for consumer safety. But, there is still much research on its effects on physical and mental health.  People need to understand what is known about both the adverse health effects and the potential therapeutic benefits linked to marijuana."

- Supports addressing barriers to healthcare access, particularly in behavioral health, crisis services, and substance use treatment.
- Supports seniors.
- Supports abortion and wants to increase contraception access. Said, "There should be no restrictions on abortion."
- Supports Medicaid expansion.
- Said, "From a public health standpoint, marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are already legal, and legal marijuana can be regulated for consumer safety. But, there is still much research on its effects on physical and mental health.  People need to understand what is known about both the adverse health effects and the potential therapeutic benefits linked to marijuana."

Healthcare

Believes in marriage and voting equality.

Said, "I most definitely support the creation of an independent, nonpartisan commission to draw electoral maps, efforts to end gerrymandering, and fair and expanded ballot access."

- Believes in marriage and voting equality.
- Said, "I most definitely support the creation of an independent, nonpartisan commission to draw electoral maps, efforts to end gerrymandering, and fair and expanded ballot access."

Voting & Elections

Supports the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in North Carolina and believes it boosts the economy, creates jobs, frees up funds for public programs and police resources, and reduces crime.

Supports gun safety measures, raising the age to buy to 21, requiring safe storage, and "engaging with responsible gun dealers and owners in solutions."

- Supports the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in North Carolina and believes it boosts the economy, creates jobs, frees up funds for public programs and police resources, and reduces crime.
- Supports gun safety measures, raising the age to buy to 21, requiring safe storage, and "engaging with responsible gun dealers and owners in solutions."

Public Safety

Believes in fully funding and supporting public education, recruiting and retaining top educators and staff, and investing in classroom learning. Plans to commit to the highest educational preparation for students.

Supports policies for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, especially in Inclusive Communication/Language Access.

- Believes in fully funding and supporting public education, recruiting and retaining top educators and staff, and investing in classroom learning. Plans to commit to the highest educational preparation for students.
- Supports policies for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, especially in Inclusive Communication/Language Access.

Education

Said she has "built relationships between law enforcement and our community (especially those who are minorities and immigrants) to ensure trust and commitment to all people’s safety."

- Said she has "built relationships between law enforcement and our community (especially those who are minorities and immigrants) to ensure trust and commitment to all people’s safety."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Maria Cervania

Matthew is from Philadelphia. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from North Carolina Wesleyan University. He has two sons. 

Matthew is a branch director for CTI. Previously, he was a general manager for Avidex, director of technical operations for Diversified., and the director of maintenance, services, and visual communications for UNICOM Global. He has also been a MTAC technician for MicroTech and a technical analyst at Eastman Kodak.

Ballotpedia, Matthew Laszacs

Matthew Laszacs ran for State Senator to North Carolina State Senate District 14 in 2022, but did not win. 

Supports reducing occupational licensing rules, zoning laws, and other regulations to foster new businesses and empower individuals.

Supports reducing occupational licensing rules, zoning laws, and other regulations.

Supports required business relationships, such as between craft brewers and distribution middlemen.

Supports using unique residential configurations that allow for small dwellings and affordable housing.

- Supports reducing occupational licensing rules, zoning laws, and other regulations.
- Supports required business relationships, such as between craft brewers and distribution middlemen.
- Supports using unique residential configurations that allow for small dwellings and affordable housing.

As of June 14, 2024, Matthew Laszacs’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in reducing government regulations to foster innovative, lower-cost healthcare services and introducing price competition to give individuals more freedom in choosing healthcare options.

Supports transitioning the Medicaid direct payment model to a state-funded health savings account.

Supports eliminating certificate of need laws.

Supports decriminalizing medical cannabis.

Opposes licensing restrictions to direct primary care, telemedicine, and out of state charitable care.

Opposes any mandates or prohibitions of any type of healthcare, medication, vaccination, or medical care or treatment.

- Believes in reducing government regulations to foster innovative, lower-cost healthcare services and introducing price competition to give individuals more freedom in choosing healthcare options.
- Supports transitioning the Medicaid direct payment model to a state-funded health savings account.
- Supports eliminating certificate of need laws.
- Supports decriminalizing medical cannabis.
- Opposes licensing restrictions to direct primary care, telemedicine, and out of state charitable care.
- Opposes any mandates or prohibitions of any type of healthcare, medication, vaccination, or medical care or treatment.

Supports educational savings accounts, vouchers, and scholarships.

Supports expanding the Education Savings Account program and the Opportunity Scholarship program.

Supports expanding open enrollment in public schools.

Supports having tax payer dollars follow students.

- Supports educational savings accounts, vouchers, and scholarships.
- Supports expanding the Education Savings Account program and the Opportunity Scholarship program.
- Supports expanding open enrollment in public schools.
- Supports having tax payer dollars follow students.

Matthew Laszacs

- Your State Representative participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 129 members of the North Carolina House of Representatives. The North Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Representative drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Representative can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Representative is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- State Representatives are elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.

Your representative and state lawmaker in North Carolina House of Representatives