Ricci Rodriguez-Elkins was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Rodriguez-Elkins earned an associate degree from Austin Community College in 1980, a bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada Reno in 2003, and a graduate degree from Arizona State University in 2004. Her career experience includes working as a commercial realtor, paramedic, trauma tech, consulate medical officer, daycare owner, and as an educator, grant writer, and consultant for public charter schools. Rodriguez-Elkins has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
Ricci Rodriguez-Elkins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rodriguez-Elkins' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
As a Commercial Realtor for 15 yrs, I take pride in contributing to our community's growth and prosperity by helping businesses grow, expand, and relocate to the region. Widowed in August of 2020, my husband, Gary,
and I were married for 40 years. I have lived in the same home in Sparks for 31 years. We raised our son there and I was active in progressing public, charter and private school choices to ensure every child has access
to a quality education.
After having to leave school at the age of 16 to work to support myself and my mother, I attained a GED and ultimately achieved an Associates of Applied Science in Paramedic Technology, a Bachelor of General Studies
from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a M.ED. from the University of Arizona.
I have dedicated much of my life to serving the communities I have lived in as a Paramedic, an Educator, and as a volunteer in various charitable and civic organizations; now I am driven to serve the people of Nevada faithfully
and with good intent.
I believe that parents have a fundamental right to make decisions concerning their children's upbringing, education, health, and care. Parents should be encouraged to be actively involved in their children's school and educational progress and be allowed to see and be a part of the approval processes of curricula, learning materials and books available in their school libraries. When elected, I will work to ensure our children receive a quality education, parental rights are protected, there are a variety of schools parent can choose from based on the needs of their child, schools are well funded and fiscally accountable, and quality educators are appreciated.
My top priority is to ensure Nevadans constitutional rights are protected. For two years state and local governments across the country sought to restrict the behavior and movement of private citizens and small businesses in ways that many of us could not have imagined a few years ago. Religious gatherings and our freedom of assembly were restricted, our right to travel infringed, we were locked down and quarantined, small businesses were closed, our property misappropriated, we were denied the right to refuse invasive medical treatment, our children were educationally abandoned and forced to wear bacteria filled masks, and we were required to disclose our private medical information. I will stand strong in defense of Nevadan's rights.
Affordable housing and staggering increases in food, fuel and utilities severely impact family budgets. My efforts will focus on long-term economic sustainability to strengthen economic development initiatives statewide, taking into consideration the diversity of our state's employment sectors and unique regional differences. I will focus on spurring job growth, maintaining an attractive environment for business, coordinating resources available to small businesses, and improving our educational systems. Short term goals to help families in need as soon as is practicable include assessing our state's social service resources and ensuring they are easily accessed, well-funded, and working efficiently with local and regional governments.
I have thought a lot about the areas of public policy I am passionate about, and there are so many! My education and experience dictate that I can best serve Nevadans in the areas of education, health and human services,
public safety, natural resources, transportation, as well as growth and infrastructure.
My Aunt Bonnie was my role model. She owned a dog grooming boutique for decades and was highly sought after. She loved animals, was a perfectionist in her trade and in keeping her home. From a young age she was the one who taught me how to cook and care for a home. When there were issues at my house, her home was always open to me. She taught me to be strong, work hard, be compassionate, and to have faith in my ability to succeed in any path I chose. She was also a faithful and loving wife to my Uncle Joe, who was a surrogate father to me. I miss them both very much.
I believe that the most important characteristics and traits an elected official should embrace are integrity, servant leadership and a sense of duty to the people they serve. I have dedicated much of my life to serving the communities I have lived in as a Paramedic, an Educator, and as a volunteer in various charitable and civic organizations; now I am driven to serve the people of Nevada faithfully and with good intent.
I am a results-oriented professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional leadership ability. I am experienced in policy analysis, legislative advocacy, finance, strategic planning, project management, collaborative resourcing, training and instruction, human resources, grant/technical writing, and special events coordination. I have a proven ability to design, coordinate, and manage programs, projects, and events. My management style strongly emphasizes teamwork, creativity, and empowerment.
The first historical event I remember was when President Kennedy was assassinated. I was in second grade. There was an announcement for the teachers to come to the office. My teacher, Ms. Ferguson came back to class crying and told us what happened.
I left school at 15 yrs old to work to help support myself and my mother. My first job was at Holiday House in Austin, TX I worked there for about 2 years, first as a car hop, then as a counter person and cook when needed, finally as an Asst Manager.
I still have the same copy of The Story of Helen Keller I had in the second grade. I found her resilience and perseverance inspiring and it helped me through many difficult times as a child.
The economy is the most concerning issue facing the Nevadans I have talked to when walking my district and attending events. Affordable housing and staggering increases in food, fuel and utilities have severely impacted family budgets. My efforts will focus on long-term economic sustainability by collaborating with my legislative colleagues, economic experts, industry professionals, and involved citizens to strengthen economic development initiatives statewide, taking into consideration the diversity of our state’s employment sectors and unique regional differences. Spurring job growth, maintaining an attractive environment for business, coordinating resources available to small businesses, and improving our educational systems can address long-standing economic, educational, and social deficits. Short term goals to help families in need as soon as is practicable include assessing our state’s social service resources and ensuring they are easily accessed, well-funded, and working efficiently with local and regional governments.
Considering my background and experience, I am most interested in serving in the Education, Health & Human Services, Public Safety, and Growth & Infrastructure Committees.
In the event that there is an imminent threat to the public, the governor and his staff have the ability to respond quickly. However, the ultimate responsibility rests with the state legislature. A governor’s emergency powers should be limited to a few weeks and the legislature should be immediately called into session to assess the threat, review the emergency practices in place, and as a check on the governor’s powers.
Note: 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.
Note: Rodriguez-Elkins submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on October 10, 2022.
As a Commercial Realtor for 15 yrs, I take pride in contributing to our community’s growth and prosperity by helping businesses grow, expand, and relocate to the region. Widowed in August of 2020, my husband, Gary, and I were married for 40 years. I have lived in the same home in Sparks for 31 years. We raised our son there and I was active in progressing public, charter and private school choices to ensure every child has access to a quality education.
After having to leave school at the age of 16 to work to support myself and my mother, I attained a GED and ultimately achieved an Associates of Applied Science in Paramedic Technology, a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a M.ED. from the University of Arizona.
I have dedicated much of my life to serving the communities I have lived in as a Paramedic, an Educator, and as a volunteer in various charitable and civic organizations; now I am driven to serve the people of Nevada faithfully and with good intent.
I believe that parents have a fundamental right to make decisions concerning their children’s upbringing, education, health, and care. Parents should be encouraged to be actively involved in their children’s school and educational progress and be allowed to see and be a part of the approval processes of curricula, learning materials and books available in their school libraries. When elected, I will work to ensure our children receive a quality education, parental rights are protected, there are a variety of schools parent can choose from based on the needs of their child, schools are well funded and fiscally accountable, and quality educators are appreciated.
My top priority is to ensure Nevadans constitutional rights are protected. For two years state and local governments across the country sought to restrict the behavior and movement of private citizens and small businesses in ways that many of us could not have imagined a few years ago. Religious gatherings and our freedom of assembly were restricted, our right to travel infringed, we were locked down and quarantined, small businesses were closed, our property misappropriated, we were denied the right to refuse invasive medical treatment, our children were educationally abandoned and forced to wear bacteria filled masks, and we were required to disclose our private medical information. I will stand strong in defense of Nevadan’s rights.
Affordable housing and staggering increases in food, fuel and utilities severely impact family budgets. My efforts will focus on long-term economic sustainability to strengthen economic development initiatives statewide, taking into consideration the diversity of our state’s employment sectors and unique regional differences. I will focus on spurring job growth, maintaining an attractive environment for business, coordinating resources available to small businesses, and improving our educational systems. Short term goals to help families in need as soon as is practicable include assessing our state’s social service resources and ensuring they are easily accessed, well-funded, and working efficiently with local and regional governments.
I have thought a lot about the areas of public policy I am passionate about, and there are so many! My education and experience dictate that I can best serve Nevadans in the areas of education, health and human services, public safety, natural resources, transportation, as well as growth and infrastructure.
Note: 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.
Note: Rodriguez-Elkins submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on October 5, 2022.
A Commercial Realtor for 15 yrs, Ricci takes pride in contributing to the community’s growth and prosperity by helping businesses grow, expand, and relocate to the region. I want to represent you and do my part to restore our state and our country back to the values we hold dear: ensuring a quality education for our children, the right to opt for a variety of medical therapeutics in partnership with our physician, freedom from invasive mandates, respect for all careers as “essential”, confidence that our elections are secure, and a vibrant and diverse economy.
Inflation and two years of COVID have impacted all of us. I encourage you to stay strong and tighten your belts. Know that I care and want to help right all the issues we have faced over the last few years. Financial security can lie ahead of us if we all work together to put the right people in government. Research the candidates and issues. We must win back our state!
Please partner with me and help me serve you well. Visit my website to learn more about who I am and what my thoughts are about various issues.
Let’s do this… Together!
www.Ricci4NV.com
Education & Parental Involvement - I will work to ensure our children receive a quality education, parental rights are protected, there are a variety of schools parent can choose from based on the needs of their child, schools are well funded and fiscally accountable, and quality educators are appreciated.
Constitutional Rights - For two years federal and state governments sought to restrict the behavior and movement of private citizens in ways that many of us could not have imagined even a year ago. Our government serves the people, and it does not have the authority to violate your rights. When elected, I will stand up in defense of your rights. I will work to ensure you will not be violated again!
Election Integrity - The 2020 Election called into question the security of our electoral processes. Once elected I will work to secure and protect the integrity of our elections.
I'm a "Do'er". For that reason, the person I look up to politically, is President Trump. Do I agree with everything about him, no; but I do appreciate his passion for our county and how hard he worked for us. He accomplished a great deal in the short amount of time he was in office in spite of false allegations of collusion with Russia and covert activity against him from the day he declared his candidacy. I am no Donald Trump, but I am a Do'er and will work hard for our State and never forget who elected me to office.
I believe that characteristics important for elected officials are integrity, servant leadership, and having a sense of duty to the citizens who are entrusting us to act in their welfare.
I am thoughtful, respectful to other's opinions, a good communicator, task oriented, determined, and honest. I care about others and look at all sides of an issue. I have a vision of prosperity for our state and will work hard to do my part to achieve it.
The core responsibilities of the Nevada Assembly are to pass bills on public policy matters, set levels for state spending, raise and lower taxes, and vote to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
I believe I have already left a political legacy in Nevada by working, along side others, to bring public charter schools to Nevada in the mid- 1990s. At a minimum, my goal for a future legacy is to strengthen education in Nevada so that our children grow up to contribute to a prosperous Nevada and to ensure that our elections are secure and voters are confident in their vote.
The first historical event I remember was when President Kennedy was shot. I was in second grade and I remember my teacher, Mrs. Ferguson, crying. We listened to the event on a radio.
When I was 15, I had to drop out of school to work to help support my mother and myself. I worked at Holiday House in Austin Texas as a counter person, doing food prep, and serving food. I was with Holiday House for about 2 years.
The Story of Helen Keller - I have had this book in my possession since I was 10. It is on the shelf next to me as I write this. Her determination and will, in spite of her severe disability, inspired me.
By and large, I am an optimist. I see the opportunities God affords me through "struggle". My mother was 15 when she bore me, my father kidnapped my brother when I was 12 and was imprisoned for trafficking and drugs, both of my parents died fairly young. I quit high school in 10th grade to work to help support my mom and myself. I am a survivor. I had a vision for myself and what I wanted to accomplish with my life. I worked while in school, married a good man whom I loved for 40 years and who passed away in August 2020. Still I found a way to continue on, determined to fulfil my desire to help my city, state and country to the best of my ability.
Our greatest challenges over the next decade are inflation and an impending recession, diversification of our economy, rapid growth and rising housing prices, and resolving our water supply issues.
The obvious benefit of a unicameral system is that laws can be passed more efficiently, however the drawback is the elimination of the balance of power. A bicameral system provides for the preservation of checks and balances to prevent an abuse of power.
I think it's important to understand our system of governance, the commitment one is obligating themselves to, and the importance of their role in the process.
Personal relationships are important in all negotiations. In most instances, we are more likely to agree with someone with whom we know, have a good relationship with, and trust.
I think it is important that universally applicable criteria are implemented such as prohibiting political data such as party affiliation or voter history in redistricting datasets and not drawing districts to favor or disfavor political parties or incumbents is also important.
As the mother of now an adult son with special needs, over the years, I have met with many families that have children who are "different" but who have potential. Their experiences were a driving force behind my work to bring charter schools to Nevada in the mid-1990's. To this day, the experiences mothers and fathers shared with me motivate me to continue fighting for the rights of all children to succeed and become productive members of our state.
I do. I prefer compromise, but will stand on principle when necessary.
Note: 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.
Note: Rodriguez-Elkins submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on May 28, 2022.
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