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


Links

Facebook

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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