Candice Keller
Republican | Ohio
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Candice Keller
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Miami University, Oxford, OH, English, 1995
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Community Pregnancy Center, CEO - 2008 - present, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Sis - 2010 - present, Hospice of Middletown, Volunteer 2010 - present
Middletown City Schools Curriculum Comm., Member 2011, Middletown Health Coalition
Member 2011, Joann Davidson Leadership Inst., Member 2012
Middletown City Planning Commission, Member 2011, 2010 Janet Clemmons Award
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Butler County Regional Chair, 2008-2015
Butler County Central Committee, 2008 - present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017
100%, 100% (cum.)â€
2018
100% (cum.)â€
2017-18
100%
2017
|100%, 100% (cum.)â€
2018
|100% (cum.)â€
2017-18
|100%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (4)
Conservative Republican Leadership Committee (CRLC)
Family First PAC
Ohio Citizens PAC
Ohio Value Voters
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Conservative Republican Leadership Committee
Ohio Citizens PAC led by Tom Zawistowski
Personally endorsed by Janet Porter, HB Bill
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (6)
John Becker (2018)
John Kasich (2009)
Margaret Conditt (2016)
Timothy Derickson (2014)
Wes Retherford (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Derek Merrin (2016)
National Federation of Independent Business (2018)
State Republican Party Organizations (2016)
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
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
There is never a time when you have to sacrifice the life of the child to save the mother. When a mother's life is in danger during pregnancy, baby is simply delivered. So my answer to this question is never. Both lives matter and are individuals. The mother's life is as important as the child. Both are made in the image of God.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure 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
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Every government program needs to be examined carefully. All unnecessary programs, board positions, mandated policies should be re-examined and measured as to what those entities actually accomplish for the people of Ohio. The State has limited functions but our ever-expanding state spending shows otherwise. We need to live within our means and stop wasteful spending in many areas.
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
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It means that it is the role of the government to stay out of the business of the church. This statement has been abused to the point that many believe this phrase is within a founding document. It is not. The Constitution was written to protect the people. The Constitution was written to the government.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Everyone should have access to health insurance therefore, nothing works better than the free market. Private insurance with competitive benefits and pricing would be the best way for Ohioans to obtain health insurance. Competition breeds excellence and lower prices.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
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
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone who is a law-abiding person should be given the opportunity to come here after going through proper procedure. There is a process in place to become a citizen here. Millions have done so and we welcome those who have done so legally, and will continue to come here legally. We want those who come to have the best interests of the United States at heart.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as a child when I accepted Him at an altar in prayer. I have a personal relationship with Him and read my Bible and pray daily. My husband and I are faithful to church and I have worked in a faith-based ministry for 13 years presently.
ABOUT YOU
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.
As the Executive Director of a pro-life pregnancy center, I have stood for life and the unborn through my work in saving babies. I was a prime sponsor of Ohio's Heartbeat Bill in the House. I sponsored the No Sanctuary City Bill, a bill which administers criminal punishment to officials who harbor illegal aliens. I was the prime sponsor of Ohio's Stand Your Ground bill, which eliminates the duty to retreat by law-abiding gun owners. I recently introduced Life at Conception. This bill would punish physicians who take the lives of a child by abortion. I voted against the budget which included Obamacare and unsustainable spending in many areas which I viewed to be unnecessary government-growth. I voted against the gas tax in Ohio, which raised our gasoline $.105 and diesel fuel nearly $.18. I voted against the Energy Bail-out, which would cost Ohio's taxpayers $900,000,000.00. It is not the responsibility of government to bail out private businesses.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
My strong conservative voting record in the House has been a great way to view how I weigh and measure each bill and the negatives and positives of how it will affect my conservative district. My family has an agricultural background and we owned and ran a small business. This taught me how to cut costs, raise revenue, and listen to the customer. Same goes for the legislature. The voter is the boss.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
My role at my pro-life nonprofit allows me to speak in churches all over Ohio, and all over the nation. I speak in over 30 churches annually. I'm encouraged that Christian conservatives are becoming more informed and engaged. My No Sanctuary City bill earned me an invitation by the Trump Administration to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House last year. The President's team wanted to know what Ohio is doing to make our state safer and encourage officials to comply with immigration laws. I recently met with the Israeli Minister of Justice, Amir Ohana, at the Knesset in Jerusalem in November 2019. I was invited to meet with him and his staff for goodwill purposes. I presented him with a copy of my proposed Ohio Resolution recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It was a great honor. I also met with highly decorated Israeli General Ben-Ruyven, who told us of his military history fighting in the Yom Kippur War alongside his father.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
We don't need further gun restrictions. Guns are not the problem. Violent people are the problem. We need to further address the cause and effect of why so many feel compelled to take matters into their own hands. There should be more concentration on creating an environment of safety; stronger families; advocating and understanding mental health treatment; exposing our children to less violence in media; as well as reducing bullying on social media.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
My top priorities have been what I've already introduced. Two of the three are bills I am carrying. I introduced Life at Conception, which values life from the beginning. I would like to see an end to Common Core curriculum in Ohio school, an issue that concerns me greatly. I will be cosponsoring this upcoming bill with anticipation for positive change. I introduced Stand Your Ground, strengthening our ability to stop violence in Ohio and protect our Second Amendment right.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is not a threat to domestic security however, it's a threat within particular people groups. An overall lack of respect has taken hold in our nation. Curbing racism is the beginning of a more peaceful dialogue that would benefit all of us.
