SYRACUSE – By profession Elisabeta Mahalcea is a mechanical engineer tasked daily with efficient operations of the post office, but visited  Nebraska this summer in her role as an elected leader of one of Romania’s 41 counties and advocate for safety and prosperity.

She was only four years old when the Romanian Revolution ended communist rule and the remnants of Soviet Union occupation and says her stay with a Syracuse family and discussions with local leaders can help her see how democracy is working in Nebraska.

 

Mahalcea: “First of all I saw how an American family is living. I see that it is a very strong community, everybody knows with everybody, just similar with my county.”

“I see that you are living in a safe state. My family where I am staying for these days are not closing the door and you don’t have fences, for example, here in Nebraska, and I found this very nice.”

 

She counts Romania among the safest countries in Europe, but the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine has cut off traditional energy sources. She says Giurgiu County is grateful for solar panels provided by the European Union for houses and businesses.

She met with Otoe County Commissioner Chuck Cole who described how public input was behind the county passing zoning rules that restricted solar and wind energy. She said solar is necessary in the NATO-member nation.

 

Elisabeta Mahlcea

 

 

Mahalcea: “In Romania it is good because you will have energy for free, free of charge. Energy in the summer time and in October because now we have not so strong winters, so it’s good for the people there.”

She also met with City Finance Commissioner Cole Sharp, who described problems with affordable housing in Nebraska City  and the need for places for the workforce to live.

Mahalcea: “In my county, for example, we need more investments in order to produce more jobs, so, if we can help develop the economy, then we will have more jobs, better pay and the people can buy houses. If we can help and resolve this issue then the chain will be cut in two.

 Then you will afford to buy a house. You will afford the daycare and you can take the kids to a better school or maybe a private school. These are the issues that my county has it also in Romania.”

She also noted differences between Romania and Nebraska in terms of the police and courts handling of domestic violence.

 

Mahalcea: “I learn one thing that is very important regarding the violence on the woman.  It would be a charge on the man, the police will investigate it. If the wife or the girlfriend doesn’t want to charge on the guy she’s living with, the police (in Nebraska)  will investigate it. This, in Romania, doesn’t exist.”

Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon is co-chair of the Congressional Office for International Leadership  and spoke on the House floor in July about the importance of assisting Romania’s neighbor Ukraine with veterans services and trauma care.

The delegation met with Sen. Bob Hallstrom, toured the Otoe County Museum of Memories and attended a Syracuse City Council meeting.

Bruce and Carlene Keim of Friendship Force hosted the Romanian visitors.