John Ritter
Republican | Pennsylvania
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Ritter
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary and Spec. Elec. - Senate Dist 5
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, Western PA HIMSS
Board of Directors; Advocacy Chair; 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, 6
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
PA State Representative, 2014, 2016, 2020
Mayor, 2013
Race
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2016)
Mike Doyle (2013)
Pat Toomey (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should 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). Abortion, that is, the abortion of a person's life -- involves at least four primary individuals (without which, an abortion cannot occur): A father, a mother, a baby, and a person who performs the abortion. A baby's father or mother should not be aborted unless proven guilty of a capital crime by a jury of its peers in a court of law. A person who performs an abortion should not be aborted unless proven guilty of a capital crime by a jury of his/her peers in a court of law. A baby who is in the womb should not be aborted unless proven guilty of a capital crime by a jury of his/her peers in a court of law. This analysis (though seemingly quite strained) begs the underlying question: Does all human life have equal dignity?
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive 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
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Generally speaking, I favor the movement away from government bureaucracy (and associated regulations), and towards the private sector's ability to innovate, take risks and (possibly) receive corresponding rewards, and for citizens to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Generally speaking, I favor the movement away from government bureaucracy (and associated regulations), and towards the private sector's ability to innovate, take risks and (possibly) receive corresponding rewards, and for citizens to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
The Government should be granted the ability to close churches when the Head of the Church (the resurrected Lord Jesus) abandons His covenant commitment to love, protect, and glorify His Church and yields His throne to the government. The First Amendment offers a firm prohibition against a Government's desire to disallow the free exercise of religion.
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)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
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
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The United States should maintain a sound defense and should not be ignorant of man's ability to self-justify wicked behavior.
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.
Choose not to answer
The question, as written, contains certain underlying assertions. I would rather support the right for Israel -- and other nations -- to enjoy their God-given right to find and take their just position among other nations -- and to determine the means by which they secure their borders and extend a warm hand to their neighbors.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The traditional rules for immigration served our nation quite adequately for generations. Opening the borders in an undisciplined manner invites confusion and introduces the chaos of non-normalized societal expectations, participation, costs, and rewards.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
The term gender-identity is based on a concept that fails to be well-formed.
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
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
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.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Absentee balloting has traditionally been helpful for providing a means of voting when a person is out-of-town or is unable to vote in-person. Mail-in balloting has opened the doors for those who might desire to cause mischief in the voting process.
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.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Eternal rewards and punishments will not be withheld by God. Temporal forgiveness, understanding, and help can be offered without measure by those who love and care for their neighbors; we are all neighbors.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
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.
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.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
Hydraulic fracking is a good means of extracting oil and natural gas resources. Their operations best benefit mankind by submitting to good governance, oversight, and well-fashioned regulations.
ABOUT YOU
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
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
John Ritter Prayer Ordinance proposal: https://youtu.be/bqz5Wc1D5-w ; Abortion from God's Perspective: https://youtu.be/a_AfdwdYFv0?t=1258
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?
My goal is to find ways to serve the people that God loves. A seat in the legislature is a position of trust.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty -- assuming that departmental policy is well-formed and good.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and 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.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
Victims of gun violence have a right to demand justice of their assailants. Firearms dealers and manufacturers ought to adhere to policies, laws, and regulations that prevent illegitimate purchase and use of guns.
