David 'Doc' Cohen
Non-Partisan | Texas
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
David 'Doc' Cohen
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2017
Election
Locals
Race
San Antonio City Council, Dist 9
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Rice University, Houston, BA, 1968
Washington University, St. Louis, MD, 1972
UTSA, San Antonio, BS (mech eng.), 1999
WORK & MILITARY
US Army (active duty), Colonel, 20
US Army Reserve, Colonel, 10
Texas State Guard, Brigadier General, 8
UT Health Sci Ctr, SA, Assoc Prof. ( w/ tenure), 5
AFFILIATIONS
Boy Scouts of America, Asst. Scout Master,, Boy Scouts of America
Natl Health & Safety Committee, Boy Scouts of America, Southern Region Exec. Board
Bexar County Med Society, Chmn, Emergency Preparedness Committee, S. Texas Organ Bank
Board of Directors, UTSA Engineering Advisory Council, Member
Texas Medical Association, Member, Society of Thoracic Surgeons
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
None
Race
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Francisco "Quico" Canseco
Greg Abbott
Paul Ryan
State Republican Party Organizations
Will Hurd
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support the proposed $850 million bond in its entirety?
Yes
The $850 million bond is broken into 6 propositions. Which one is most important to you? 1. Streets, bridges & Sidewalks - $446,263,000 2. Drainage & Flood - $138,988,000 3. Parks & Recreation - $187,313,000 4. Library & Cultural - $24,025,000 5. Public Safety Facilities – $34,411,000 6. Neighborhoods – $20 million
Streets bridges and sidewalks
Which of the above six propositions would you vote against? (list all that apply)
The bond issue was developed by multiple citizens committees and like all such committee developed plans, compromises were inevitable. There are a number of things I would not have included such as public art, UTSA athletic fields, etc. If the citizens vote the bond issue down, and I am on the city council I would work for a smaller bond issue eliminating a number of extraneous items. As it stands, however, the bond issue in each section has more positive than negative items.
Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
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.
Agree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Agree
The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.
Strongly Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.
Disagree
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
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Individuals should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on their "gender identity."
Strongly Disagree
It is inappropriate for a local government to recognize the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” and issue rules relating to an individual's beliefs about gender and sexuality.
Agree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
There should be strict enforcement of federal and state laws prohibiting the distribution of obscene pornography, including over the Internet.
Strongly Agree
I support tolling existing highways that have been previously un-tolled.
Strongly Disagree
Government should not discriminate against individuals, organizations, or business owners who affirm marriage as between one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.
Strongly Disagree
Considering these issues (social, economic, education, transportation, water or sewer), which is the most critical to our city?
Education of our youth, especially in US history and government is critical to national survival.
Please list up to six issues or projects that you feel need the most attention, in priority order.
Public Safety including fire, police and public health--includes more police and fire personnel & possibly more substations to reduce response times and more funding of Metro Health to fight mosquito and other vector transmission of diseases such as Zika, Dengue fever, Chagas Diseas and Chickungaya which are all endemic to south Texas. More free traffic lanes on 1604 and US 281. I strongly oppose toll lanes and roads which are ineffective in reducing congestion and unfair. Limit Appraisal Adjustments on primary residences to time of initial purchase, major renovation or sale. Support technical/vocational opportunities and apprenticeships for students who are not candidates for or do not want to go to college.
I own one or more firearms.
Yes
I support the use of Collective Bargaining.
Agree
I believe the current City Manager should be replaced.
No
Did you contribute 10% or more of your gross income to charity last year?
Yes
If you own a business, please describe.
N/A
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
I believe that our founders were divinely inspired to develop a nation founded on the free exercise of religion and to craft a system with checks and balances to prevent tyranny, eliminate aristocracy and to allow through individual freedom the opportunity to accomplish as much as one desires through ability and hard work.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
As a practicing Jew, I believe in God and his teachings as taught to us through holy scriptures. I believe that our culture is and should reflect Judeo-Christian principles as passed to us in the old Testament and reflected in the New Testament. I believe that government should not endorse a state religion, but it also should not be anathemas to religion. The right of citizens to practice their religion or no religion should not be interfered with as long as their beliefs do not impinge on other's religious freedoms. My religion teaches me the importance of charity and serving others through the concept of Tikun Olam which means striving to improve the world.
Phone number for voters to reach you:
(210) 241-4675
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
dcohen@satx.rr.com
Additional comment from candidate:
Several questions above require elaboration: 1. Marriage to me refers only to a union between one man and one woman. I support the concept of civil union in which government recognizes certain classes of consenting adults have relationships with special legal rights and protections. 2. The Supreme Court has ruled on a woman's right to have an abortion and I don't believe this will be changed, but I feel that abortion can be limited to the first trimester and that once a baby can theoretically survive outside the womb, abortion should only be permitted to save the physical life of the mother, a situation which should be extremely rare. Partial birth abortion has no place and should be outlawed. 3. In terms of the bathroom bill, persons should use the bathrooms on their birth certificate, however, patients who have completed gender reassignment surgery should be able to legally change the gender listed on their birth certificate to reflect the appearance of their genitalia.
