Dean Browning
Republican | Pennsylvania
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
Dean Browning
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary and Spec. Elec. - Senate Dist 5
Race
State Senate, Dist. 14
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, Master of Science in Industrial Management, 1979
Denison University, Granville, OH, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, 1978
WORK & MILITARY
New World Aviation, Exec. Vice President and CFO, 18
Harvel Plastics, Vice President - Finance, 7
Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Financial Manager, 3
Air Products & Chemicals, Manager - Operations Accounting, 7
AFFILIATIONS
Allentown Rescue Mission, Board Member, GSPCA Foundation, Inc.
Treasurer, Lehigh County Republican Committee, Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer
Cancer Support Community - Greater Lehigh Valley, Board Member, DaVinci Science Center
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Lehigh County Commissioner, 2008-2011
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
U.S. Congress, 2020
Lehigh County Commissioner, 2015
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Firearms Owners Against Crime
*National Association for Gun Rights
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (39)
Boehner for Speaker (2014)
Charlie Dent (2016)
Christopher Reilly (2013)
Common Sense Solutions (2015)
David Freed (2013)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
David Molony (2020)
Pennsylvania Future Fund (2007)
WinRed (2020)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (2018)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only in instances where continuation of the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother
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.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The business tax needs to be revised to increase the incentive for businesses to invest in PA
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I would reduce the subsidy for higher education
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
I believe funding should be guaranteed through high school only (and not through college) and with the requirement that it follow the child to allow all parents a choice of where they send their kids to be educated. We need more choice and competition, not more money directed to failing public schools.
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?
I am hard pressed to think of an instance where government should have the power to close churches and prevent in-person religious services
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.
I believe we need to remove the concern that many families have about going bankrupt due to unexpected, large medical bills. I would support government funding of health care coverage but with the actual delivery of the services by the free market. This should insure access and maintain innovation and the focus on quality outcomes.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
In instances where there the disease is extremely communicable and there is a high mortality rate associated with contracting the disease.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Respond immediately and with overwhelming force to any and all attacks on American interests and citizens.
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.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
First and foremost, we must secure our borders. To do that we need to build the wall – no excuses. And we must increase border security.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We need a different approach to legal immigration, one that is skill based coupled with the goal of rapid assimilation and integration. We need to end both chain migration and the visa lottery.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
The answer to improving our education system is to increase choice and competition. We need a system where funding follows the child regardless of where they go to school.
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
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
We need to teach Critical Thinking - Not Critical Race Theory
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe that the forgiveness of my sins and my salvation comes through my belief in the life, the atoning death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ who was, is and will always be the Son of Almighty God
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I would eliminate mail in voting and move to in-person voting with the requirement of a photo ID. I would extend the period for in-person voting to include the Saturday before the Tuesday election. I would prohibit local governments from using third party funding for the actual conduct of the election
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. We have made tremendous progress in the last 50 years to address racism.
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) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
We need to compete using our strength and lead the world in low-cost energy production. That is how we return manufacturing jobs to Pennsylvania. That is how we rebuild the middle class. In PA we have access all the energy we need to do just that. It is insane to pay $100 a barrel for oil from Russia or Iran or Venezuela when we can use our natural resources to drive down the price and, at the same time, become energy independent.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To protect the rights of its citizens and to provide for their security.
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).
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-sanctuary-cities-browning-yv--20150921-story.html https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-religion-free-speech-browning-yv-0204-20150203-story.html https://www.lvpnews.com/20220208/voting-rule-changes-needed-browning-drop-box-numbers-dont-ad-up/ https://www.tnonline.com/20220210/browning-airs-concerns-over-ballot-drop-box/
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 plan to focus on what I refer to as the three big "Es". 1 - Education, 2 - Energy and 3 - Election Integrity
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Only convicted felons and those that have been medically diagnosed as being a threat to themselves or to others should be denied access to firearms.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
