

Ben Smaltz
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ben Smaltz
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 52
Incumbent
Yes
EDUCATION
Ball State University, Muncie, B.S., 1993
DeKalb High School, Waterloo, Diploma, 1988
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Tri Kappa, Volunteer, contributor, Trine University
contributor, Big Brothers Big Sisters, contributor
Pink Out Breast Cancer Awareness, Volunteer, contributor, Special Olympics of DeKalb County
contributor, Auburn Main Street, Volunteer, contributor
Mental Health America of Indiana, Contributor, Local schools, all
Contributor, Hearten House Women's Gospel Rescue Mission, Contributor
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
County Councilman, 2002-2012
State Representative, 2012-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (4)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Indiana Right to Life
Right to Life of Northeast Indiana
Human Coalition Action
OTHER (3)
Indiana Farm Bureau
Americans for Prosperity - Indiana
Americans For Prosperity (AFP Action) Indiana
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (17)
State Republican Party Organizations (2024)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
Erin Houchin (2021)
National Rifle Association (2021)
National Right to Life Committee (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (15)
Hoosiers for Quality Education (2024)
State Republican Party Organizations (2024)
Erin Houchin (2022)
National Rifle Association (2021)
National Federation of Independent Business (2020)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Taft Stettinius & Hollister (2024)
Stand for Children (2023)
OTHER INFORMATION
Voted Yes for House Roll Call Vote 1337 pro-life 2016 which was the final concurrence vote in the Indiana House on a pro-life bill from this session that banned abortion because of race, gender or disability and also mandated that abortion clinics must dispose of aborted babies through a relationship with a funeral home via either burial or cremation. Currently they are allowed to treat aborted baby bodies as "medical waste". Voted No for House Roll Call Vote HJR 3 to remove 2nd sentence of the Marriage Amendment 2014 which defined marriage as between one man and one woman. HJR 3 stripped the Marriage Amendment of its second sentence, which essentially killed the constitutional process. Voted No for SB 20 sexual orientation 2016 which is an amendment to a bill in the Indiana House that would have added special protections for "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" into state law.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Never elective. Life of mother in emergency situations
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
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
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
The government should not be allowed to close churches
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Disagree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Israel is a critical economic and military ally in the Middle East and is home to Holy Land.
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.
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?
Current vaccination standards are adequate.
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?
Raising the wage discourages businesses from hiring, will raise unemployment and will have an inflationary impact. I am on record voting against raising the minimum wage.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
I am on record voting against allowing ESG to be a determining factor in public funds investment.
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
I have a strong voting record supporting school choice.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
As the author of Indiana's Constitutional Carry law and author/supporter many other pieces pro Second Amendment legislation, I do not believe restricting the rights of law abiding citizens is consistent with protecting public safety. I have a strong and consistent voting record supporting the Second Amendment and the rights of lawful citizens.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
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?
To do what the free market cannot.
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
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
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.
I am a Christian. I believe Jesus lived, died for our sins and rose from the dead. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. I believe there is a heaven and there is a hell. I believe the Ten Commandments are clear.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I don't think it rises to the level of a threat to the county as a whole.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
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.
A and C
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
All sources of energy have some value and all have different strengths/weaknesses. As far as reliability, small modular nuclear power is gaining momentum and could be most reliable long-term power source.
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