Phil W. Stephenson

Republican | Texas

Candidate Profile*

Leans Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Phil W. Stephenson


Party

Republican


Election Year

2022


Election

Primary


Race

State Rep., Dist. 85


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Phil W. Stephenson websitesPhil W. Stephenson phones
Phil W. Stephenson email
Facebook

EDUCATION

Texas Tech, Lubbock, BBA Accounting, 1969

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

Wharton County Republican Party, County Chair, County Chair, Boy's and Girl's Club of Wharton

First Methodist Church of Wharton

Babe Ruth Little League, Coach and Sponsor, Wharton County Republican Party

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.)†


2021

30%


2019

11%


2019

F


2019

0%

2019

|

60%, 44% (cum.)†



2019

|

11%


2019

|

F


ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (3)

National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF

*Texas Home School Coalition

Texas Right to Life

OTHER (1)

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (26)

Chuck Hopson (2012)

Dan Crenshaw (2021)

Dan Patrick (2012)

David Dewhurst (2013)

Donald Trump (2020)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (21)

Andrew Murr (2019)

Chris Paddie (2019)

Conservative Republicans of Texas (2012)

Dan Patrick (2018)

Dewayne Burns (2019)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)

American Federation of Teachers (2018)

Association of Texas Professional Educators (2020)

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

National Education Association (national, state & local affiliates) (2020)

Texas Association of Community Colleges (2014)

OTHER INFORMATION

Candidate is ranked in this Rice University analysis of 2021 Texas State House members

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

If the mother's life is at serious risk, or if the pregnancy is due to incest or rape.

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.

Disagree


ECONOMY

What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?

Sales tax should replace property tax.

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

Texas state budget is already balanced, any excess funds should be returned to the taxpayers.

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

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

Under what circumstances can government close churches?

None.


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?

No government or public school requirements. Regarding employers, it is not the state's business to dictate their policy.


NATIONAL SECURITY

What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?

This is a federal issue, and thus state government has no authority. However, one significant step the state of Texas could implement is ongoing and increased security at the border.

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.

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?

Anyone should be allowed to immigrate, provided they go through legal channels and it can be verified that they have no previous criminal record. There should be a preference for the highly skilled in areas where there is a labor shortage in the U.S.


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

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.

I am a Christian.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?

No mail-in ballots with the exception of absentee ballots.


EQUALITY

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

No. Race relations have greatly improved over the last 60 years. The greatest threats to race relations is the constant exacerbation of the issue by the media, and the use of race conflict to further the empowerment of the Democratic Party.

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.

A.

I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.

Strongly Agree


ABOUT YOU

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

To pass reasonable laws to protect each and every citizen equally.

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

Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).

See my voting recored in the Texas House, available at https://house.texas.gov/

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?

I have worked these past 10 years in the Texas House mainly on public retirement and taxation. My priorities are to begin eliminating unfunded liabilities in the Texas teacher retirement (TRS), and state employee retirement (ERS). I believe property taxes in Texas are one of our biggest problems, and I am in favor of legislation that would swap school property tax with sales tax.


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.

Disagree


2ND AMENDMENT

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

None, with the exception of background checks.

Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.

Strongly Disagree

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