Phil Stephenson

Republican | Texas

Candidate Profile

Leans Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Phil Stephenson


Party

Republican


Election Year

2020


Election

Primary


Race

State Rep., Dist. 85


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Phil Stephenson websites Facebook

EDUCATION

Texas Tech, Lubbock, BBA Accounting, 1969

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

Republican Party, Wharton Co., Precinct Chair, Boy's and Girl's Club of Wharton

First Methodist Church of Wharton

Babe Ruth Little League, Coach and Sponsor

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Wharton Jr. College Vice Chair, 16

County Chair Wharton GOP, 5

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

Race

Previous Races

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

2019

60%, 44% (cum.)


2019

39%


2019

F


2019

0%

2019

|

60%, 44% (cum.)



2019

|

F


ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (1)

Greg Abbott

OTHER (1)

Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)

Bob Hebert (Former Fort Bend County Judge)

Mayor Joe Zimmerman of Sugar Land

Governor Greg Abbott

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (24)

Chuck Hopson (2012)

Dan Patrick (2012)

David Dewhurst (2013)

Freedom for All Americans (2015)

Glenn Hegar (2014)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (11)

Conservative Republicans of Texas (2012)

Gary Gates (2015)

Jane Nelson (2011)

Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2013)

National Federation of Independent Business (2016)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)

American Federation of Teachers (2018)

International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2014)

Texas Forever Forward (2019)

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Strongly Agree

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Only if the life of the mother is in imminent danger, or rape.


ECONOMY

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.

Strongly Disagree

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

The State of Texas has a constitutional obligation to produce a balanced budget each biennium. However, there are areas of the state budget that are growing that should be curtailed. I believe health and human services costs must be examined and the waste and fraud, which is well known, should be addressed and cut.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.

Strongly Agree

Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.

Strongly Agree

Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.

Strongly Agree

I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.

Yes

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

The state can not and should not interfere with the expression of faith under any circumstance.


HEALTHCARE

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.

Strongly Disagree

How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?

Eliminate Medicaid and Medicare for all but those who absolutely cannot work.


NATIONAL SECURITY

The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.

Strongly Agree


IMMIGRATION

I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.

Strongly Agree

State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.

Agree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

Anyone, as long as they follow the proper legal channels, can show they have no criminal background, can speak some English, and have a marketable skill.


EDUCATION

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Strongly Disagree


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Strongly Agree

I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.

Disagree

Promotion of the LGBT agenda in public schools, including teaching of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”, is completely inappropriate and should be opposed at the state and local level.

Strongly Agree

I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a Christian, and a life-long Methodist. I strongly believe that morality is a primary component of motivation. I do not believe that a representative republic can sustain itself without an individual concept of right and wrong. God is the cornerstone of civilization, and without which, the foundation will crumble. The cornerstone of faith, is the family unit.


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?

Conservative

Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.

Review my voting record over the past four sessions in the Texas House of Representatives (83rd Leg.- 86th Leg.).

What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?

Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Texas Tech University, 40+ years as a practicing CPA, Vice Chairman of Wharton Junior College Board of Trustees, and County Chair of Wharton County Republican Party.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.

No. Absolutely not.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?

I am a father, a grandfather, a husband, and my service to the state of Texas is to ensure that future Texans enjoy the blessings that I myself have had. And I really enjoy baseball.


JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY

I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.

Strongly Disagree


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.

Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?

Yes

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

None. Mental Health laws must be examined, however. This is extremely complex and there is no full proof answer if truth be told.


OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Disagree

The Electoral College should be abolished.

Strongly Disagree

In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?

Property Tax Reform (replacement of value tax with sales tax); broad comprehensive Teacher Retirement System (TRS) overhaul; abolish or significant scaling back of Central Appraisal Districts.

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

To some degree, but the issue should be addressed broadly to encompass all demographics. I would add that the main culprit is the media and entertainment. They appear to have a vested interest in dividing people based on race.

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