Lorence Wenke Mr
Libertarian | Michigan
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Lorence Wenke Mr
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo MI, BBA, 1967
Kalamazoo Christian High School, Kalamazoo, MI, Diploma, 1963
WORK & MILITARY
Wenke Greenhouses, Owner, 50
Sunbelt Greenhouses, Owner, 40
Michigan Grower Products, Co Owner, 40
Westinghouse Electric Corp, Manager, 2
State of Michigan House of Representatives, Representative, 6
AFFILIATIONS
Kalamazoo Rotary, Member, Haven Reformed Church
Deacon, North Park Reformed Church, Deacon
Gull Lake United Methodist Church, Member, Bedding Plants Intl Inc
Director, Community Corrections Advisory Board, Member
Farm Credit Services Bank, Director, Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce
Member, Horticultural Research Institute, Board Member for 6 years
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Kalamazoo County Commissioner, 8
Michigan State Representative, 6
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Michigan State Senate, 2010
Representative of Congress District 6, 2016
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (2)
National Organization for Women (NOW) PAC
Indian American Impact Fund (IMPACT)
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Libertarian Party of Michigan
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Aric Nesbitt (2014)
Great Southwest Fund (2007)
John Sidney McCain (2008)
Matt Hall (2022)
Roger Victory (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Commonwealth PAC (2006)
David C. Maturen (2010)
Green Team Majority Fund (2006)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2006)
Michigan Petroleum Association (2006)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
Dana Nessel (2022)
Debbie Stabenow (2022)
Gretchen Whitmer (2022)
Julie Rogers (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (5)
American Federation of Teachers (2006)
Christina O'Brien (2006)
Michigan Association of School Administrators (2006)
Michigan Pride PAC (2006)
National Education Association (national, state & local affiliates) (2006)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Disagree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
To save the life of the mother.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Agree
Wealthy people should pay a higher tax rate on income than lower income taxpayers.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
Balancing the budget with tax increases and spending reductions will have my support.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Wealthy people have too many options for reducing their taxes. All citizens should pay at least a small minimum in taxes on their income.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Agree
There will always be a battle between religious liberty and our nation's laws. We are blessed to have a Constitution that lays out the formula for resolving church and state issues.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Agree
Individuals and businesses that offer services to the general public should not be allowed to discriminate against customers.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
Separation between church and state is based in our Constitution and should be supported and enforced especially when there are difficult issues. Tax dollars should not be used to support religious beliefs or be used against religious beliefs.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Circumstances where attendance, membership, or work in person is required.
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C)
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
B)
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
The USA should support and encourage negotiations between Israel and Arab-Palestinians to resolve their conflicts.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
China is the most threatening country to the economics of the USA and is rapidly becoming the world's leader and replacing America in economic influence. China is not currently the biggest nuclear threat to the USA. China is stealing knowledge from the USA.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Promote freedom of religion and democracy around the world by our example. The option of killing terrorists should remain our policy.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Border walls in certain areas seem to be the best option.
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Disagree
The location and unique circumstances of states with immigration issues should be considered in laws regarding immigration.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The US should allow immigrants into our country who provide labor and skills necessary for the health of our economy. We should allow immigrants who assist the US in our goals around the world. We should allow immigrants who are educated in the US to stay if they add value to our country.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Agree
I have been an advocate for LGBTQ rights for many years in the Michigan Legislature, in church, and as an employer.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Racism is deeply imbedded in our world but dramatic improvements are being made every day.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe the Bible is the best we have to know God's will for our lives and to set the standards we live by. I have been educated at Christian schools and colleges. I believe regular church attendance and membership is vital to the health of our nation. When church members have wrong positions on issues, it hurts all of us.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Agree
Photo identification is very difficult for some people who do not drive a vehicle or are confined to a facility.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
More days, places and time to vote.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Neutral
I am open to some forms of reparations but I cannot suggest workable solutions.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. I do not believe that we have public policies of racism in most parts of the country. Some individuals with mental issues are racists and the availability of weapons to them allows them to commit horrible racist acts.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A)
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
I believe personal responsibility is the foundation for the success of the USA. There will always be rich and poor people and the rich have the obligation to help the poor. Churches and other non profits and the government should work together to help people who demonstrate personal responsibility or have medical or physical issues which do not allow them the same opportunities as others. People who choose not to work should be allowed to be cold, hungry and homeless.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Please see public information on school attendance in MI and our school ranking in the USA.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I invest several hours a day on my education through news events around the world. I have been active in politics for many years, including 14 years in elected office. I'm a small business owner of a company with 200 employees in two states. I have a passion to find and convict telephone scammers and the companies that produce and provide robo calls.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I have demonstrated in support of public safety personnel many times and sponsor an annual September 11 ceremony in our community for the past 15 years.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
I support adding funds to mental health programs.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Military-style weapons should not be legal for anyone under 30 years old. We need accurate nationwide tracking of people who have lost their right to own guns due to past criminal behavior, mental or other health issues that make them vulnerable to violence. Capital punishment should be an option for mass killers.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
Company's that manufacture legal products should not be vulnerable to law suits by people who are victims of their misuse.
