Laurel Bennett
Republican | Florida
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Laurel Bennett
Party
Republican
Election Year
2016
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist 86
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
PBCC, Lake Worth, AS
FAU, Boca Raton, BS
AIU, Weston, MBA
WORK & MILITARY
Western Business Alliance, Member, 1
Community Business Alliance, Member, 2
Palms West Chamber of Commerce, past Member, 3
Concerned Veterans for America, Member
AFFILIATIONS
Keiser University, Adjunct Professor, New England Institute of Technology
Professor, Palm Beach Community College, Professor
St. Simons Espicopalian Church, Member, Republican Party (various clubs)
Contributor and Volunteer, Concern Veterans For America, Contributor and Volunteer
Huntington Woods HOA, Volunteer and Treasurer, Vinceremos
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Mayor, 2012
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Many local businesses
Veterans Groups
Photography
Builders
Electricians
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression should be included as protected classes in existing non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Gambling should not be expanded in any way, nor should the tax or fee structure be made more favorable to the gaming industry.
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.
Agree
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
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.
No Answer
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.
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.
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.
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.
Disagree
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 Agree
The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.
Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
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.
Disagree
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Laws of Nature and Nature's God entitled them to a decent respect. After a long train of abuses they felt that it was their duty to separate from the King of Great Britain and start a new government that was just for all. It was their experience under British law and the abuse of the people's rights, which were being taken away, handled or mishandled, that ensured a very limited Government and allowed the Constitution to be written carefully and over time.
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, People (Voters), Constitution, Supreme Court, Congress
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe that this choice is between God and the mother. Period. It is ultimately the mother who will have to live with her decision and no one should judge her for her decision. She will have to live with her decision either way. Additionally, I do not want the government to tell anyone what they can do with their body and once the government steps in to control mankind, you are on a very slippery slope. Think what that can lead to. Having said all this there are times when I feel abortion is okay. They are: in the case of rape, incest pregnancy, severely deformed and life threatening pregnancy and pregnancy leaving putting the life of the mother at risk. However, the term length of the pregnancy should be considered before an abortion should be considered. It should not be used for birth control.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in God and that life here is short, but eternity is forever. Do your best to fight all evil. I would rather believe in God and find out there wasn't one later, than not to believe in God and find out there was one later on! This questionnaire asked about the Ten Commandments earlier. I do believe in the Ten Commandments (they were not called the 10 suggestions) and we should follow them to the best of our ability. I believe that God forgives and our human beliefs or interpretations are not always correct. We meet people in our lives that help us along the way and we should do our best to help them too, no matter what race, religion, language or creed they have. I am Christian first, American second. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" is something I try to always remember. There are too many angels walking among us and too many miracles happening for me not believe in God. Let me walk with them and those that believe and I will be in great company and content.
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.
You can see me on tape (Royal Palm Beach) fighting for the State Road 7 expansion (Government Affairs Chamber of Commerce) and on the Royal Palm Beach website attending the Council meetings. SR 7 will provide relief for the 256 people that will use it and the Madrid roundabout needs to be opened for the additional 800 people that will impact our streets. You can see me on the Wellington archives for the Palms West Chamber of Commerce for Economic Development, endorsing the equestrian development. Please reference all Town-Crier articles from 2012 to now as well as the Palm Beach Post. Additionally, please see my Facebook page of Laurel-Bennett@electLaurelBennett and Laurel Bennett to see more videos attending the Loxahatchee Town hall meetings and more. While you are there "like" the page!
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
Laurel.Bennett@PHRSolutions.org or Staff@Laurel-Bennett.com 561-379-5335 or 561-333-6847
Additional comment from candidate:
I have lived in Palm Beach County for over 30 years and in Royal Palm Beach for 17. I'm an analyst, mom, and entrepreneur and have had a Secret clearance. Growth has been tremendous and we have had great success economically but not with traffic, safety, education, VA and health care costs and concerns. We need to fix these problems ASAP and I am not just talking about them, I am already working to fix some of them. Here is one: my husband is a hospice Vietnam Agent Orange Navy Veteran who does not receive benefits from the VA and like, 11,500 other Veterans, his case is on appeal. We lost 308,000 Veterans before they received health care from the VA. We need to take care of all our Veterans and Americans first before anyone else. I'm happy to report a new law is being passed that will enable the VA to cover Blue Water Sailors (Agent Orange diseased Navy) for the first time. Great Success and I promise to continue to fight for the Veterans benefits.
