Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Jefts.
Hi Heather, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a longtime resident of Central Texas; my family and I moved here in 2002 from North Carolina. My husband Rich and I have two sons, one who has graduated with a Master’s in Computer Science and works for a NASA contractor, and my youngest is a junior at Texas State, also in computer science. Since moving here, I’ve volunteered for schools and other nonprofits focused on children and women in our community.
The longer I’ve lived here, the more involved I’ve become. In 2017, dissatisfied with our local government’s disconnect from residents and changing priorities, I ran for and won a City Council seat. My priorities were bringing more direct engagement with residents, beginning the conversation about more sustainable development practices and a focus on our environmental impact, and rethinking transit in our northern suburban region. I lost my initial reelection in 2019 – by 2 votes – but public pressure brought me back, and I ran for and won a different seat in 2020. I easily won that reelection and am halfway through my third term in office. I hold regular open office hours at local Cedar Park businesses, meet with constituents as often as possible, and serve on several committees focused on finance, the legislature, and regional air quality.
In my spare time, I’m the immediate past president of the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center Board of Directors, a co-founder of and weekly volunteer for Reveal Resource Center’s Baby Blessings diaper bank, and a full-time student at UT majoring in Sustainability Studies and Economics. I’ve been working with Hill Country Community Ministries and WCCAC to create a regional nonprofit resource community center. Getting where I am today has been a long and circuitous route. Still, my focus was, and remains, making our community stronger and more accessible for everyone, especially our most vulnerable people.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being in politics is a contact sport, and I’ve received a lot of hate, vitriol, and mischaracterization. I also suffer from self-doubts and imposter syndrome, an internal dialogue I think a lot of women experience, which is why so many amazing women I know refuse even to try.
I keep standing and keep fighting because I want to be an example for other women to know they also can do this, to try and break down these hateful and divisive barriers, to ensure everyone has access to the power and levers of government to make it work for all of us, and because I love and believe in our community.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I’m not currently working a paid job, partly due to Covid and partly due to being a full-time student. I was a vet technician and surgical tech for many years. During that time, I went to ACC and earned degrees in Biology and Biotechnology. I worked a few years after that at a UT facility processing and sequencing research projects’ RNA and DNA samples, but I hit a wall in promotions if I didn’t go back to school – again. And it was not an option at the time. I left that job and helped my previous vet retire and close his clinic. Then, I transitioned to becoming a part-time private swim coach and instructor and moved my business to full-time spring through fall. I love teaching and coaching, but I always wanted to do more. After getting into politics, I realized how much I wanted to know more about environmental impacts, urban planning, and sustainable development. I’ve loved being a student again, even though it’s been quite a challenge as an adult. I am so proud of leaping into college and even more proud of my Study Abroad adventure this past summer – I went to Botswana to do environmental studies and human/ecosystem dynamics fieldwork. It was a life-changing experience. My willingness to leap, even if the challenge seems impossible, sets me apart. I’m willing to take risks and put myself out there even when it seems crazy to some. I’m also willing to put a lot of hard work and time into people, places, and things I care deeply about.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/jeftsforcedarpark
- Facebook: facebook.com/JeftsForCedarPark
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/heather-jefts/
Image Credits
Photo 1: Jenya Mendelenko Photo, 2, 4, 5, 7: my camera, taken by friends or family, Photo 3: Melanie Applegate, Photo 6: sent to me by Michelle Johnson, taken on her phone
