Katija Gruene
Green | Texas
Candidate Profile
Liberal (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Katija Gruene
Party
Green
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
Railroad Commissioner
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, 2011
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, 1994
Southside H.S., San Antonio, 1990
WORK & MILITARY
Corazon Ministries, Accounts Payable, 2
Travis Park UMC, Accounts Payable, 2
San Antonio Current, Credit Manager, 4
Various School Districts, Substitute Teacher, 5
AFFILIATIONS
Green Party, CoChair, Secretary, NC Delegate, etc., Food Not Bombs
founding member 2000, Corazon Ministries, Accounts Payable
Clean Money San Antonio, CoCoordinator, None of the Above Texas
founder, Texans for Voter Choice, contributor
Texans for Electoral Competition, co-founder
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
CoChair, Green Party of Texas, 2003-2008
CoChair, Travis Co Green Party, 2015-2019
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
City Council Dist 1 San Antonio, TX, 2007
Bexar County Commissioner Pct 1, 2010
Race
Previous Races
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
No Answer
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
No Answer
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
No Answer
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
No Answer
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on abortion.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on abortion.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
No Answer
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
No Answer
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
No Answer
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
No Answer
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on the budget.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on the budget.
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
No Answer
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
No Answer
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
No Answer
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
No Answer
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It comes to the separation of morality and ethics. People differ on what they determine to be morally correct, but we can agree on ethics despite such differences. For example the office of Railroad Commissioner is ethically bound to protect the people of Texas from exploitation by extraction industries, regardless of religious affiliation.
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It comes to the separation of morality and ethics. People differ on what they determine to be morally correct, but we can agree on ethics despite such differences. For example the office of Railroad Commissioner is ethically bound to protect the people of Texas from exploitation by extraction industries, regardless of religious affiliation.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
No Answer
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
No Answer
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on healthcare coverage.
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on healthcare coverage.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
No Answer
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on immigration.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on immigration.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
No Answer
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
No Answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
No Answer
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
No Answer
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Agree
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
No Answer
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
No Answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
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?
No Answer
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?
No Answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
My political views are conservative and progressive, depending on the issue. If they are still online, my candidate questionnaires from 2008 under my former name, kat swift, would provide validation. Otherwise, my twitter & facebook pages provide ample information.
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
My political views are conservative and progressive, depending on the issue. If they are still online, my candidate questionnaires from 2008 under my former name, kat swift, would provide validation. Otherwise, my twitter & facebook pages provide ample information.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Did not answer
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Most of these questions are completely irrelevant to the office I am seeking. The Railroad Commissioners regulate the fossil fuel industries in Texas. They are not a legislative body. My opinion on the majority of these questions are irrelevant to the job I am seeking, nor will they impact my actions if elected. The bottom line is that ethically, the Railroad Commissioners need to return to the consumer protection agency they began as - protecting the people from the exploitation of oil, gas, coal, and nuclear corporations. I would do my utmost to act in such a manner.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Most of these questions are completely irrelevant to the office I am seeking. The Railroad Commissioners regulate the fossil fuel industries in Texas. They are not a legislative body. My opinion on the majority of these questions are irrelevant to the job I am seeking, nor will they impact my actions if elected. The bottom line is that ethically, the Railroad Commissioners need to return to the consumer protection agency they began as - protecting the people from the exploitation of oil, gas, coal, and nuclear corporations. I would do my utmost to act in such a manner.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
No Answer
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
No Answer
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
No Answer
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
No Answer
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No Answer
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No Answer
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on gun ownership.
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The office of Railroad Commissioner has no influence on gun ownership.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Agree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Agree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
No Answer
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
No Answer
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Agree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Agree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Legislation to address: - the conflict of interests in campaign contributors from the oil and gas industries to the Railroad Commissioners both for campaigns and while in office - loopholes in Commissioners not complying with the Open Meetings Act via surrogates to avoid public hearings on permit requests - changing the name of the Railroad Commission to something accurate, i.e., Natural Energy Resources Regulating Commission, or similar
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
The threat to domestic security related to the office of Railroad Commissioner is how the oil and gas industries are impacting the security of communities in Texas. Fracking endangers communities water supplies and causes earthquakes. Flaring from natural gas plants endanger the health of the people. Uranium mining contaminates the soil and water of communities for generations. Coal mining similarly effects the environment and people. Classism and racism play a role in the fact that the communities most impacted by these industries are predominantly poor and communities of color. These are domestic security threats that the Railroad Commissioners can address by addressing polluters and ceasing permitting for further pollution.
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Legislation to address: - the conflict of interests in campaign contributors from the oil and gas industries to the Railroad Commissioners both for campaigns and while in office - loopholes in Commissioners not complying with the Open Meetings Act via surrogates to avoid public hearings on permit requests - changing the name of the Railroad Commission to something accurate, i.e., Natural Energy Resources Regulating Commission, or similar
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
The threat to domestic security related to the office of Railroad Commissioner is how the oil and gas industries are impacting the security of communities in Texas. Fracking endangers communities water supplies and causes earthquakes. Flaring from natural gas plants endanger the health of the people. Uranium mining contaminates the soil and water of communities for generations. Coal mining similarly effects the environment and people. Classism and racism play a role in the fact that the communities most impacted by these industries are predominantly poor and communities of color. These are domestic security threats that the Railroad Commissioners can address by addressing polluters and ceasing permitting for further pollution.
