John Ritter
Republican | Pennsylvania
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Ritter
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 25
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, M.S., 1989
Indiana Univ of PA, Indiana, B.A., 1985
Slippery Rock Univ, Slippery Rock, B.S., 1976
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Gateway School District, Monroeville, PA, School Board member; Vice-President, School Board; PSBA Liaison, Keystone HIMSS
Board of Directors; Advocacy Chair; Past North Eastern U.S. Chapter Advocacy Vice-Chair, Monroeville Assembly of God, Member; Past Worship Leader
Monroeville Republican Committee, Past Vice Chair; Past Secretary, Health Level Seven, International
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
School Director, 9
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
PA State Representative, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022
Mayor, 2013
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2024)
Pat Toomey (2016)
Mike Doyle (2013)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
A fetus may be removed that has already died, for example, death by natural causes, or death by other types of unforeseen circumstances (such as car accidents). All human life has equal dignity.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Strongly Agree
Chemical abortion drugs are not safe for the baby. Please identify the safety standards that exist (for chemical abortion drugs) that ensure safety for the baby.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
A worker's time, skill, and effort should be rewarded according to the fair market value produced for an employer.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
Choose not to answer
(The question is not well-formed.)
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Governments have as much right to close churches as churches have to close governments (since both are framed and instituted by God and serve at His pleasure).
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Vaccinations that have been traditionally required for entry into schools should be continued -- along with the traditional option for religious or conscientious objections.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Israel has been granted a unique position among the nations of the Earth by God. The United States would do well to support Israel; this support sometimes includes challenging its excesses and moral failures (as a faithful friend would do).
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Parents, however, ought not make decisions for their minor children that are immoral, illegal, or monstrous.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
God the Father, in an ultimate demonstration of His goodness, sent His Son Jesus Christ to become a man and take on the punishment for man's sins. Jesus, in an ultimate demonstration of His love, laid down His life for mankind on the cross. The Holy Spirit, in an ultimate act of His justice, mercy, and power, raised Jesus from the dead and applied Jesus' redemptive payment towards me -- a sinner -- by re-creating me as a new person and a child of God. Jesus, in an ultimate act of joy, filled me with His Holy Spirit,
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Agree
A photo ID or other type of (positive, unambiguous) individual identification should be required in order to vote.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Neutral
The Electoral College approach has some strengths and weaknesses. Any approach that might increase the strengths and decrease the weaknesses ought to be reviewed
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is a subset of human wickedness. Governments are instituted to secure the common good and promote a quiet and peaceable manner of living. We purport to be "...One Nation Under God, with Liberty and Justice for All". Racism is not good, not godly, and should not be a part of our Nation's fabric.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Critical Race Theory fails to embody God’s (perfect) perception and insight into human nature and fails to promote His perfectly just and perfectly merciful response.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
The question is not well-formed. Well-fashioned, well-reasoned, appropriate laws and regulations (including environmental laws and regulations) promote the common good and are to be encouraged. Such laws and regulations are worth the cost because they provide a positive benefit. That said, answers (A), (B), and (C) align closest to my views.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Natural gas has been a surprisingly good source of fuel.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Governments are a gift from God and are instituted among men to promote the common good and to restrain evil.
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?
Very Conservative
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Disagree
Police departments, mental health professional organizations, and community programs are synergistic; each needs to be funded appropriately.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The traditional restrictions on gun ownership are adequate. The right of the citizens of Pennsylvania to keep and bear arms shall not be questioned.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Choose not to answer
There are very strong arguments to be made on both sides: visualize, a teacher stopping a person who is about to murder children; visualize, a student acquiring a teacher’s gun and inflicting great harm.
