Cole Hefner

Republican | Texas

Candidate Profile

Verified Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Cole Hefner


Party

Republican


Election Year

2018


Election

General


Race

State Rep., Dist. 5


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Cole Hefner websites Facebook

EDUCATION

Home School, Pittsburg

WORK & MILITARY

Construction, Owner, 7

Construction, Vice Pres, 8.5

Insurance, Agent, 4

AFFILIATIONS

Rotary, Member, Lions Club

Member, South Jefferson Baptist Church, Member

NRA, Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

State Representative, 1.5

County Commissioner, 4

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

Race

Previous Races

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (10)

Grassroots America

Lone Star Liberty

National Rifle Association PVF

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

Texas Conservative Digest

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

Texas Right to Life

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (16)

Bryan Hughes

David Simpson

George Lavender

Glenn Hegar

Jonathan Stickland

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (15)

Eagle Forum

Empower Texans

James White

Jonathan Stickland

Kevin Eltife


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Strongly Agree

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Human life is a precious blessing from God, and should always be vigorously protected from conception to natural death.


ECONOMY

It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.

Strongly Disagree

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

The state constitution should limit the growth of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.

Strongly Agree

Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Strongly Agree

What is the best way to bring down unemployment?

The most effective strategy to reduce unemployment is to reduce or eliminate government regulations that strangle employers. Whether it's a small business or large corporation, employers and employees suffer when the government oversteps its authority and enacts overbearing regulations.

What role should government play in boosting the economy?

The government should not manipulate supply or demand in order to achieve short-term outcomes. Instead, the government should adhere to free market principles and eliminate harmful regulations and taxes.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

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

Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.

Strongly Agree


HEALTHCARE

It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.

Strongly Disagree

How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?

I do not believe that promoting healthcare coverage is a proper role of government. I believe Americans would see a decrease in healthcare costs and increase in quality of healthcare if the government would stop standing in the way of free market principles.


NATIONAL SECURITY

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

Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.

Strongly Disagree

I support sanctuary cities.

Strongly Disagree

The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.

Strongly Agree


EDUCATION

Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.

Strongly Disagree


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

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 allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."

Strongly Disagree

Parents should be the primary authority in decisions affecting their minor children.

Strongly Agree

What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?

Our Founding Fathers recognized that humans are imperfect and that power is a corrupting force. They wisely sought to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in order to reduce the effects of the selfishness and corruption that is inherent in human nature.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I believe that Jesus Christ came to Earth to die for our sins and that the only way to eternal life is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.


ABOUT YOU

I support using a party caucus to nominate my party's candidate for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, and I pledge to vote for my party's nominee.

Yes

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

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.

I have previously served as a Republican Precinct Chairman and for 4 years as a County Commissioner where I fought to cut spending and protect taxpayers. I then helped to found a conservative activist group in East Texas. Since 2017, I have served as State Representative for District 5 and I am proud of my strong conservative voting record since I have been in the Legislature.

What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?

My experience as an employer running a construction company, parenting 7 children with my beautiful wife Kerri, and serving as a County Commissioner were all vitally important in preparing me to serve as a State Representative.

E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:

cole@colehefner.com

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?

I have been blessed to serve as State Representative for House District 5 since 2017, and I would be honored to continue to serve in that role. I know that these elected positions are earned and not given. I hope to earn the votes of East Texans in November and to continue to represent them with principled conservatism.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

I support the death penalty.

Strongly Agree

Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.

Strongly Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.

Strongly Disagree


OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

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