

Brian Birdwell
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Brian Birdwell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2016
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 22
Incumbent
Yes
EDUCATION
Lamar University, Beaumont, B.S., 1984
University of Missouri, Kansas City, Masters of Public Administration, 1996
Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, graduate, 2000
WORK & MILITARY
United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel, 1984-2004
AFFILIATIONS
Face the Fire Ministry, Co-Founder (along with my wife Mel), WallBuilders
Speaker, Lakeside Baptist Church, Member
Refined by Fire:A Family’s Triumph of Love & Faith, Co-author (along with my wife Mel), numerous organizations
donor - see question #33 for list
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Senator, SD 22, 2010 - present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2015
100%
2015
92%
2015
82%
2015
82%
2015
79%
2015
|100%
2015
|82%
2015
|82%
2015
|79%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2015
|F-
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (8)
Concerned Women for America
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
Empower Texans
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texas Home School Coalition
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
National Federation of Independent Business/Texas
Texas Home School Coalition PAC
Young Conservatives of Texas
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
Concerned Women for America of Texas
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (17)
Dan Flynn
Dan Patrick
Greg Abbott
James Keffer
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (33)
Associated Builders and Contractors
Barry 'Kip' Averitt
Bass Family PACs
Campaign for Working Families
Conservative Republicans of Texas
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
International Association of Firefighters
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
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.
No Answer
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.
Strongly Agree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
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
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.
Strongly Agree
Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.
Strongly Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
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
Free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.
Strongly Agree
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.
No Answer
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings.
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
Our state should participate in the nationwide Common Core standards for high-school graduation.
Strongly Disagree
Physician-assisted suicide should be legal.
Strongly Disagree
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.
Strongly 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
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?
The founders knew that government and political leaders would naturally gravitate toward the accumulation and exercise of political power, in a manner that might not always be in the best interests of the citizens they serve. Thus, the founders instituted means to constrain and disperse that power.
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, Voters, Constitution, Congress, Supreme Court
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only when there is a clear and irrefutable danger to the life of the mother.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I believe in the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that Jesus Christ was God’s plan to reconcile fallen man to Him. By the Lord’s grace and mercy, he spared my life in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our nation. You can read more about my testimony at http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/brian-birdwell/
Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?
Very Conservative
Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.
In my first three legislative sessions (2011, 2013 and 2015) I consistently received critical acclaim and top ratings from numerous pro-life, pro-business and conservative organizations, including Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Texas Eagle Forum, Texas State Rifle Association/National Rifle Association, Texas Association of Business, Young Conservatives of Texas, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Right to Life, Americans for Prosperity, Concerned Women for America, Texas Heritage Alliance and Texas Conservative Coalition, among others. My campaign web site, www.BrianBirdwell.net, has extensive information on my governing philosophy and conservative track record.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
Brian@BrianBirdwell.net
Additional comment from candidate:
Donor to: Brazos Pregnancy Center, Next Step Women's Center, Cleburne Pregnancy Center, CareNet of Waco; Operation Finally Home; Reach Across America; Boot Campaign; The Chris Kyle Frog Foundation; Republican Party of Texas; Mission Granbury; UTSW Medical Center; Fisher House San Antonio; Open Arms International; Amani Ju; Salvation Army; Children's Charities of Hood County; Paluxy River Children's Advocacy Center; CASA Ellis County; CASA Hood County; Meals on Wheels; Boys and Girls Club of Hood County; Mental Health Association of America; The Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America
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