Melva Rivera Perez is a U.S. Army veteran who retired from a career in operational planning. She’s running unopposed for the Republican nomination in Texas House District 119, represented by state Rep. Liz Campos (D-San Antonio).
Hear from the candidate
1. Please tell voters about yourself.
My name is Melva Rivera Perez, and I am 54 years old. I was born and raised in Del Rio, Texas, in a faith-centered home shaped by service and perseverance. My father was an ordained minister, and my mother immigrated from Mexico and later became a proud U.S. citizen. Their example taught me compassion, responsibility, and the importance of giving back.
I earned a dual master’s degree in Management and Public Administration from Webster University and served 28 and a half years in the United States Army, retiring honorably in 2023 and choosing to make Schertz my home. I am married and the proud mother of a 17-year-old son, which continues to shape how I view leadership, education, and community.
Throughout my career, I led Soldiers at every level, including commanding up to 1,200 troops on missions and deployments, including Iraq. I also helped develop future officers through ROTC at UTSA, established Texas’ first Soldier Transition Unit, and served in the Texas Military Department’s Office of Inspector General. I am a servant-leader, focused on integrity, accountability, and service to others.
2. Briefly describe your top policy priorities.
My priorities are grounded in service, accountability, and practical leadership.
First, supporting first responders must remain a top responsibility of state government. Police officers, firefighters, EMS, and emergency personnel protect our communities every day, often at great personal risk. They deserve consistent funding, modern training, and dependable resources so they can do their jobs safely and effectively. Public safety should never be treated as a political issue, it is a shared community responsibility.
Second, keeping taxes low while respecting taxpayers’ dollars. Families and small businesses are facing rising costs across the board. State government must operate efficiently, prioritize essential services, and eliminate waste. In my military career, every dollar and every resource mattered. That same discipline and accountability should guide state budgeting decisions.
Third, protecting quality of life while supporting thoughtful economic development. Growth should be planned, balanced, and aligned with infrastructure, public safety, and community needs. Economic development should enhance neighborhoods and opportunities, never diminish them.
I am committed to leading with integrity, respect, and accountability. I believe effective policy is built through listening, collaboration, and focusing on solutions that serve people, not politics.
3. What would you like to see the legislature do to make Texas cities better places to live? In what ways could state officials work better with local officials?
Texas cities are facing rapid growth, affordability pressures, and increasing infrastructure demands. The Legislature can help by reducing unnecessary regulations and giving local communities greater flexibility to respond to their own challenges. Cities work best when they have the ability to tailor solutions to local conditions rather than comply with one-size-fits-all mandates.
State officials should focus on setting clear goals and guardrails, while allowing local control over implementation. Local leaders are closest to the issues affecting housing, transportation, public safety, and neighborhood quality of life, and their expertise should guide decision-making.
State and local governments work most effectively when they operate as partners. Open communication, early collaboration, and respect for local authority lead to better planning, smarter use of public resources, and policies that improve livability without creating unnecessary burdens. Empowering cities to innovate and manage growth responsibly strengthens communities across Texas.
4. Texas has taken major steps to reshape its public education system, including allowing taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition. What do you believe needs to happen to monitor the success of Education Savings Accounts, and to ensure every student still receives a quality education?
Changes to education policy should be approached with care, transparency, and a clear focus on student outcomes. If Education Savings Accounts continue to expand, the Legislature must ensure strong oversight, clear reporting, and meaningful safeguards to protect public funds and the students they are intended to serve.
Success should be measured by whether students are receiving a high-quality education, whether families have equitable access to options, and whether programs are improving outcomes, not by political benchmarks. Ongoing evaluation and public transparency are essential so adjustments can be made when policies are not working as intended.
At the same time, Texas must remain fully committed to supporting and strengthening public schools, which educate the vast majority of students and serve as the backbone of our communities. Stable funding, support for educators, and safe, modern learning environments remain critical.
Parents know their children best and should not lose the ability to make informed decisions about their education. Any education policy should respect parental involvement while ensuring quality, fairness, and long-term stability for all Texas students.
5. Reducing the burden of property taxes is expected to be a major focus of the next legislative session. Describe your ideas for balancing the needs of a growing state with state leaders’ desire to rein in that major revenue source?
Rising property taxes are placing real pressure on families, seniors, and small businesses, particularly in fast-growing communities. Meaningful relief must remain a priority, but it also needs to be sustainable, not short-term fixes that create long-term budget gaps.
The state should continue to take on a greater share of funding for public services, especially education, to reduce reliance on local property taxes. At the same time, there must be clear expectations for efficiency, transparency, and accountability in how public dollars are spent. As Texas grows, that growth should help support the infrastructure and services it requires through thoughtful planning and responsible development, without shifting the burden onto homeowners.
Balancing affordability with strong public services requires careful budgeting and long-term planning. I will work to protect taxpayers while ensuring communities have the resources they need to remain safe, livable, and resilient as they grow.
Read more
Meet the candidates running for the Texas Legislature in 2026
