Elianor Vessali
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Elianor Vessali
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist.17
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
South Texas College of Law, Houston, J.D., 2002
Texas A&M University, College Station, B.S., 1998
WORK & MILITARY
State Board of Education, Classroom Teacher - Science Grades (8-12), 13
State Board of Education, Classroom Teacher - Secondary French Grades (6-12), 12
State Bar of Texas, Licensed Attorney, 17
Texas Real Estate Commission, Salesperson, 9
AFFILIATIONS
Brazos County Republican Party Executive Committee, Member, St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Member, Caring Aggies Mentoring Program, Mentor
Corps of Cadets Association, Board Member, City of College Station Planning&Zoning Commission
Commissioner, Voices for Children CourtAppointedSpecial Advocate, Advocate
Bryan Rotary Club, Member, Republican Women of Brazos Valley
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
College Station City Council Place 4, 2019
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
College Station City Council Place 1, 2017
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Charles Schwertner (2018)
Greg Abbott (2014)
State Republican Party Organizations (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
When the life of the mother is at risk, then considering how to proceed, in either saving the mother or the child, is a medical decision based on consultation between the doctor and the mother/family. All efforts should be made to preserve all life, born and unborn.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
I would promote the following reforms: -Eligibility ages should be gradually and predictably increased and indexed to increases in life expectancy. -The cost of living adjustment should be indexed to the chained consumer price index (CPI. -The benefit formula should be adjusted so that more of the benefits go to working Americans of modest means. This would include establishming a minimum, anti-poverty flat benefit which would result in higher benefits for some low-income workers who currently receive income below the poverty threshold.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Federal spending cuts are an opportunity to spur growth and expand freedom and an opportunity to return programs to either the private sector or to the state/local level, where the people are better served. I would work to cut programs already identified as wasteful and duplicative, take back spending power Congress has delegated to the agencies and stop appropriations for unauthorized or expired programs.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
None
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
“Separation of Church and State” represents the concept that the Federal Government cannot establish a government-sanctioned religion. Faith is a personal matter and the federal government cannot tie politics to the church. However, I do not believe that it means or was meant to result in political leaders being obligated to avoid religious language or require public spaces to be stripped of religious symbols.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I would work to establish reforms that provide patient centered, market-based solutions that allow patients to choose coverage from a wide range of options.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
The United States should: -Identify and call out radical Islamic groups as terrorists. -Secure our borders and strengthen the vetting process to prevent confirmed radicals from entering the country. -Increase information sharing, expanding partnerships with local and state law enforcement. -Use military options, in cooperation with allies, to eliminate identified bases or training grounds.
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should implement an immigration system that selects future Americans in a purposeful manner based on merit, skills, and the demands of an ever-evolving and dynamic work force, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or national origin. We need to shift from family-based immigration to a merit-based system that would prioritize economically and fiscally beneficial immigration and better serve the national interest. This system would recognize that the market is the best and most objective way to identify those who will benefit the economy. Additionally, Congress should cut almost all of the current family preferences for extended family, thus ending chain migration and should end the visa lottery program
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian and Catholic. My faith, through the holy word and through prayer, guides me daily.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I am an active member of Brazos County Republican Party along with being a member of Brazos County Republican Women and TFRW. I was selected by the Conservative Partnership Institute as a 2019 Haggerty - Richardson Fellow.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
As an immigrant, I have firsthand knowledge of the effects of lost liberties, whether under a socialist European government or under an oppressive Iranian theocracy. My family continues to feel the effects of leftist ideology run amok. This is why I fully embrace the freedoms and personal liberties that are provided to every citizen in America. I strongly believe in the Texas values of limited government and personal accountability. I also believe in our founding father’s original ideal of representatives being citizen servants not lifetime politicians and as such support and am committed to Congressional and Senatorial term limits.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Neutral
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Balanced Budget Amendment Immigration Reform – transitioning to a merit-based system Healthcare Reform – implementing market-based choice
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Hatred and extremism are ever present threats, that, regardless of motive, pose a security issue. Anyone motivated by hate, who is willing to turn to terrorism can be a domestic security threat.
