

Joe Gruters
Republican | Florida
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joe Gruters
Party
Republican
Election Year
2018
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 23
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
University of South Florida, Sarasota, MBA, 2003
Florida State University, Tallahassee, BS, 1999
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Donald Trump for President, Florida Co-Chairman, Republican Party of Florida
Vice Chairman, Republican Party of Sarasota, Chairman
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 2016-2018
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2018
100%
2017
94%, 94% (cum.)†
2017-18
B
2017-18
80%
2018
|100%
2017
|94%, 94% (cum.)†
2017-18
|B
2017-18
|80%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2017-18
|F
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Florida Right to Life PAC
Floridians for Immigration Enforcement
National Federation of Independent Business Florida
LIBERAL (1)
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Florida
OTHER (3)
Associated Industries of Florida
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Florida Realtors
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Fl Chamber of Commerce, FL Right to Life
Associated Industries of Florida
National Federation of Independent Businesses
Business Charlott County Economic Development Part
Florida Professional Firefighters & Paramedics
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (11)
Anitere Flores
Bill Galvano
Blaise Ingoglia
Dorothy L. Hukill
Jim Boyd
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (14)
Associated Builders and Contractors
First Coast Conservatives
Florida Leadership Committee
Julio Gonzalez
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees
International Association of Firefighters
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
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
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.
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.
Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
Any teaching to children on sex education in public schools must include all contraceptive methods, and should not show preference to abstinence.
Disagree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
The state constitution should limit the growth of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
Strongly Agree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Disagree
I support sanctuary cities.
Strongly Disagree
I support the death penalty.
Strongly Agree
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
Parents should be the primary authority in decisions affecting their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2010 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2012 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion should only be allowed when necessary to save the life of the mother.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Our Inalienable Rights provided to us by God can not be denied by a government of man. A "Separation of Powers" to provide a "Checks & Balances" in government to protect the rights of the people and prevent a "Concentration of Power." The federal government will be limited to only the powers specifically granted to it in the Constitution, and all other powers are reserved for the States and the People.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian
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?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
My record has been reported on over 500 times in local, state and National newspapers. Feel free to visit my website and or google me to see where I stand on the issues.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
A healthy, free market economy in which taxes and regulations are limited is the best system to encourage job growth and thus address unemployment
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
The two sectors of our economy that have seen consistently cost growth above the rate of inflation are education and healthcare. These also happen to be the two sectors that are overwhelmingly government run and run like it is still 1965. A robust free market system will deliver healthcare that is "adequate, affordable, and accessible". That begins with reducing/eliminating third-party payer arrangements and empowering the consumer to have a direct relationship with their health care professionals.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
The greatest role government can play in our economy is staying out of the way of job creators. This starts with eliminating job-killing regulations that only limit the ability of business owners to expand, create more jobs and contribute to our economy.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I am the managing partner of a Certified Public Accounting firm and I am on the front line on issues that small and medium size businesses on the daily basis. I have devoted the last 20 years of my life helping other good conservatives get elected to office and I understand the importance of conservative governance and supporting common sense legislation.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
Joe@Joegruters.com 941-914-2004
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I have the strongest Voter Record on business over the last two years according to the Florida Chamber Voting record out of 160 members of the Florida Legislature. My goal is to help everyone be better providers for their families and to do good to help contribute to the overall success of our State and Community.
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