John Kessler
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Kessler
Party
Republican
Election Year
2016
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 16
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ, B.A., 2000
Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ, Education Certificate, 2001
University of Delaware, Newark, DE, M.A., 2005
WORK & MILITARY
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Economics Lecturer/Director of Center for Econ Ed, 10
Certell, Inc, Chief Academic Officer, 1
Millennium High School, Social Studies Teacher, 5
United States Marine Corps, Corporal, 3
AFFILIATIONS
The Pointe Church, Board member, small group leader, worship team, Disabled American Veterans
Member, Indiana Policy Review, Adjunct Scholar
Foundation for Teaching Economics, Mentor teacher, Association of Private Enterprise Educators
Member, Truth for Life, Contributor
Grace to You, Contributor, Acton Institute
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Strongly Agree
Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Strongly Agree
Election of judges by the people for a definite term of office is the best way to select judges.
Neutral
Election of judges by the people for a definite term of office is the best way to select judges.
Neutral
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry into the country.
Agree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry into the country.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
Strongly Agree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.
Strongly Agree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
There should be a strict constitutional spending limit for state and local governments that would tie the rate of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
Agree
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.
Strongly Agree
Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.
Neutral
There should be a strict constitutional spending limit for state and local governments that would tie the rate of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
Agree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.
Neutral
The founders established pure democracy in the Constitution because they believed that it is the best form of government to ensure the safety and equitable treatment of all citizens.
Strongly Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.
Strongly Agree
The founders established pure democracy in the Constitution because they believed that it is the best form of government to ensure the safety and equitable treatment of all citizens.
Strongly Disagree
Where minor children are involved, divorce laws should be reformed to include mutual consent of both parents and an increased waiting period, unless there is fault or abuse.
Agree
Free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.
Strongly Agree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings.
Disagree
Where minor children are involved, divorce laws should be reformed to include mutual consent of both parents and an increased waiting period, unless there is fault or abuse.
Agree
Business owners should be required by law to bake cakes, provide flower arrangements, etc., for same-sex weddings, even when these activities would infringe on their sincerely-held religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings.
Disagree
Our state should participate in the nationwide Common Core standards for high-school graduation.
Strongly Disagree
Business owners should be required by law to bake cakes, provide flower arrangements, etc., for same-sex weddings, even when these activities would infringe on their sincerely-held religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Physician-assisted suicide should be legal.
Disagree
Our state should participate in the nationwide Common Core standards for high-school graduation.
Strongly Disagree
Physician-assisted suicide should be legal.
Disagree
The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.
Strongly Agree
The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.
Strongly Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
Disagree
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
Disagree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with public funds.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with public funds.
Strongly Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
As humans we are fallen creatures. Because of sin people can be corrupted. Lord Acton said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. James Madison said that if men were angels no government would be necessary. Because we are not angels, and because power has a corrupting influence our Founder's put the Constitution together with clear separation of powers and checks and balances.
Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.
God, Constitution, Voters, Congress, Supreme Court, Academia, Industry, Media, Professional Sports
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
As humans we are fallen creatures. Because of sin people can be corrupted. Lord Acton said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. James Madison said that if men were angels no government would be necessary. Because we are not angels, and because power has a corrupting influence our Founder's put the Constitution together with clear separation of powers and checks and balances.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
None
Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.
God, Constitution, Voters, Congress, Supreme Court, Academia, Industry, Media, Professional Sports
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
None
Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?
Very Conservative
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ.
Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.
While I have not held any elected office before you may refer to my published articles with the Indiana Policy Review and media interviews I have done as an economics professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?
Very Conservative
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
kessler4senate@gmail.com
Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.
While I have not held any elected office before you may refer to my published articles with the Indiana Policy Review and media interviews I have done as an economics professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Additional comment from candidate:
For question #2 - I would like to find more information about the difference this would make on local judges vs federal judges. The Founder's gave lifetime appointments so that the judges could be insulated from political pressure. For question #12 - I read the question to be discussing a direct democracy vs a representative democracy. I'm assuming that in your question a "pure" democracy is meant to be a direct democracy, in which case that is not what the Founder's created in the Constitution. They were fearful of the tyranny of the majority where 51% of the people could vote to enslave the other 49%.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
kessler4senate@gmail.com
Additional comment from candidate:
For question #2 - I would like to find more information about the difference this would make on local judges vs federal judges. The Founder's gave lifetime appointments so that the judges could be insulated from political pressure. For question #12 - I read the question to be discussing a direct democracy vs a representative democracy. I'm assuming that in your question a "pure" democracy is meant to be a direct democracy, in which case that is not what the Founder's created in the Constitution. They were fearful of the tyranny of the majority where 51% of the people could vote to enslave the other 49%.
