Matt Caldwell
Republican | Florida
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Matt Caldwell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2018
Election
Primary
Race
Commissioner of Agriculture
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, BA, 2004
Edison State College, Fort Myers, AA, 2001
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Lee County Republican Party, Vice-Chair, Lehigh Community Services
Board Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 8
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Senate, 2
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
National Rifle Association
Personhood Florida Pro-Life PAC
Unified Sportsmen of Florida
LIBERAL (1)
Florida Police Benevolent Association
OTHER (1)
Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (4)
National Rifle Association
Police Benevolant Association
Associated Builders & Contractors
See website for additional
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations
State Republican Party Organizations
Young Republican National Federation
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (20)
Associated Builders and Contractors
Conservative Coalition for Floridas Future
Dana Young
First Coast Conservatives
Florida Committee for Conservative Leadership
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees
Florida Police Benevolent Association
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Strongly Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
Any teaching to children on sex education in public schools must include all contraceptive methods, and should not show preference to abstinence.
Strongly Disagree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
The state constitution should limit the growth of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
Agree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Strongly Disagree
I support sanctuary cities.
Strongly Disagree
I support the death penalty.
Agree
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
Parents should be the primary authority in decisions affecting their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2010 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2012 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Life begins at conception and should be protected at all times. Under any circumstance in which the pregnancy truly threatens the health of the mother, premature delivery should take priority over any other option.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23 Understanding that mankinds lust for power leads him to desire to set himself above his fellow man, the Founders built a system of checks and balances, specially designed to take advantage of this lust, assuming that each branch would covet the others position and constantly fight against them, to the ultimate maintenance of balance between the three.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian, having followed the instructions of Acts 2:37-38.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
My record on issues that have come before me during my time in Florida House, as well as my very public record in the news media, both print and visual, of outspoken conservative positions.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
A healthy, free market economy in which taxes and regulations are limited is the best system to encourage job growth and thus address unemployment. Most often widespread panics, recessions, and depressions in a market economy are created by government interference in the marketplace, typically by subsidizing an item or activity beyond its natural demand. Once the market realizes demand has been exceeded, the inevitable correction occurs, leaving those affected unemployed and deepening the cycle of dependency. Avoid this trap and you avoid unnatural levels of unemployment.
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
The two sectors of our economy that have seen consistently cost growth above the rate of inflation are education and healthcare. These also happen to be the two sectors that are overwhelmingly government run and run like it is still 1965. A robust free market system will deliver healthcare that is "adequate, affordable, and accessible". That begins with reducing/eliminating third-party payer arrangements and empowering the consumer to have a direct relationship with their health care professionals.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
A limited role. The government should provided for basic infrastructure such as roads and ports; it should provide a predictable and limited tax and regulatory framework; and it should provide for fair access to a legal system with stable outcomes. An economy will flourish under these circumstances.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have served in the Florida House since 2010. In 2012, I served as Vice-Chair of the Ag & Natural Resources Subcommittee. In 2013-14, I Chaired this subcommittee. From 2015-2018, I chaired the full committee above this, overseeing not only agriculture and natural resources, but also pensions, elections, transportation, local government, federal government, and military affairs. As a result, during that period I either carried or directly oversaw every major policy issue that affected the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as well as many issues dealt with by the Cabinet.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
matt@votecaldwell.org
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" Matthew 16:26 Regardless of the outcome of any election, my primary duty remains as a husband and a father. More than anything else, I hope to be remembered for the legacy I leave through my family, far more than any legacy I may leave in public service.
