Timothy Wesco
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Timothy Wesco
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General & Special CD 2
Race
State Rep., Dist. 21
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Bethel University, Mishawaka, BA in Organizational Manaement, 2014
Midwest School of Theology, Mishawaka, Associate in Biblical Studies, 2010
WORK & MILITARY
Penn Township Fire Department, Firefighter/EMT, 2007-2012
Calvary Hill Baptist Church, Elkhart, Indiana, Pastor, 2014-Present
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 2010-Present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (2)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Indiana Right to Life
OTHER (1)
*Indiana Farm Bureau
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
National Rifle Association
Indiana Right to Life
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (10)
Curt Nisly (2014)
Dale DeVon (2018)
David Ober (2012)
Jack Jordan (2018)
Jackie Walorski (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (8)
Big Red PAC (2013)
Citizens for Community Values/1st Freedom OH (2010)
Dale DeVon (2012)
Freedom Political Action Committee (2011)
Indiana Amusement and Music Operators Association (2012)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2020)
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 abortion be allowed?
Abortion should not be allowed, but emergency surgery should be allowed in the case of an ectopic pregnancy, where neither the life of the child or mother are viable if the pregnancy were to continue.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive 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
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
In 2015, I sponsored legislation to protect religious liberty.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The threat may be mitigated, but it will likely never be eradicated. Therefore, we need to use constant vigilance, much how Israel has dealt with it over the years. Those guilty of plotting or committing acts of terrorism of any kind should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Those traveling or immigrating from terror hot spots should be highly vetted before being granted entry into the United States.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
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)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C) 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?
I'm generally not in favor of mandated vaccines, but at the very least we must ensure that religious and medical exemptions are always honored.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Each state needs its own unique tax structure that aligns well with its economy and industries. I successfully co-authored legislation that eliminated the state inheritance tax, and I've also supported lowering both property and personal income taxes in Indiana. I also support the Automatic Taxpayer Refund that returns money to taxpayers when state reserves exceed 12%.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The state budget must be balanced and to do so, I would consider reducing spending across the board.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Running for a state office, I have not given a great deal of time or thought to this question, as the US Constitution places this responsibility entirely under the federal government's authority.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
"...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." US Constitution "The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State." - Indiana State Constitution
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To punish the evil doer and reward the good.
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
Did not answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
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
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
John 3:16, “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.” Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
All voters, whether voting by mail or in person, should be required to provide photo identification or an identification number (such as a social security number or state ID number) to prove they are who they say they are before voting. Also, there should be a paper trail for all ballots cast.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
"Racism" is hatred based on a denial that all people are created equal in the image of God. Hatred has always been, and always will be, a threat to our domestic peace and tranquility.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
It depends on what you're talking about. If you're talking about clean water and the proper disposal of dangerous chemicals, then stricter environmental laws and regulations are usually worth the cost. If you're talking about reducing carbon emissions to slow "global warming" then stricter environmental laws are certainly not worth the cost.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
