Matt Nye
Republican | Florida
Candidate Profile*
Moderate
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Matt Nye
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist 52
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Forest High School Graduate
Attended Central Florida Community College
WORK & MILITARY
Verteks Consulting, Regional Director
AFFILIATIONS
Republican Liberty Caucus, National Chair, Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida
Treasurer, Rotary Club of Suntree, Treasurer
Brevard Tea Party, Organizer, Brevard Republican Executive Committee
Precinct Committeeman
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Florida House of Representatives, District 52, 2018
Brevard County Commission, District 4, 2010
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
OTHER (1)
*Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Republican Liberty Caucus
Florida Gun Rights
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
State Republican Party Organizations (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
In cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in jeopardy because of the pregnancy.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The primary functions of government are to provide for national defense, police, and courts. If it doesn't fall into one of these categories, it is fair game.
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.
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.
Neutral
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The government should not use a particular religious belief as a predicate or justification for an ordinance or a law. In the case of prayers before meetings or displays of religious symbols in public facilities, it should be all or nothing. If individuals of the Christian faith are allowed to pray or give invocations before meetings, so too should those of other religions. Same for displays of religious items like Nativity scenes. I do not believe the government should be in the marriage business. Marriage is between a man, a woman and the creator - the government has no business being in the mix.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Get the government out of the health care and insurance industries. Remove the regulations and allow the free market to work.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
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.
Strongly Agree
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.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone who wishes to come here to build a better life by their own efforts and by following the applicable immigration laws.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Raised to be a good Christian. I do my humble best to be of service to my fellow man, and live my life according to the following values: reason, productivity, independence, honesty, integrity and courage.
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I am 100% pro-America, pro-gun and pro-life. I organized the Brevard Tea Parties in 2009 and have served as the National Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus, a conservative/libertarian Republican group since 2013. I have done countless newspaper and radio interviews over the years on everything from government waste, fraud and abuse to campaign finance reform and the botched government response to COVID-19.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have served on numerous boards during the last decade. I have also served on the Brevard County Charter Review Commission twice, once in 2010 and again in 2016. I am a very methodical and data-driven decision-maker with a solid understanding of the US Constitution and the principles upon which this country was founded. While in college I served as the Editor of the newspaper. I know how to ask the right questions and I have excellent intuition - I can usually tell when something isn't right and merits further investigation.
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?
I have earned a reputation as a citizen watchdog here in Brevard County. Since becoming politically active back in 2007 I have worked hard to call out waste, fraud and abuse in local and state governments. I worked with Clerk of Courts Scott Ellis in 2012 to file the criminal complaint that resulted in the arrest of former Clerk of Courts Mitch Needelman for his role in the $8 million BlueWare bid-rigging scandal. Needelman was arrested and convicted, but juror misconduct resulted in his conviction being tossed, and he is currently scheduled to be re-tried this year. Rose Harr, the CEO of BlueWare, was convicted at trial but has yet to be incarcerated. Needelman’s associate Matt Dupree took a plea deal and is serving time. I am an experienced leader who believes a State Representative should be responsive to the needs of his/her constituents. If elected I will do everything I can to fight for the taxpayers and to drain the swamp in Tallahassee.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. I believe in open carry. I am opposed to Risk Protection Orders (RPOs) - there are already laws on the books that address individuals with mental health issues. The Parkland incident was an epic failure on the part of the government at multiple levels, including law enforcement. More laws solve nothing except to deprive law-abiding citizens of their precious Constitutional right to bear arms.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Agree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
My goal is to drain the swamp in Tallahassee and put an end to the permanent political class that gets to live by a different set of rules than the rest of us. If elected, I will sponsor or support the following legislation: 1) Repeal the gun restrictions passed in the Marjorie Stoneman bill and work to pass Constitutional Carry. 2) Work to pass term limits for school board members. 3) Fight for transparency and Pharmacy Benefit Manager reform, which has driven the cost of prescription drugs through the roof. 4) Pass campaign finance reform legislation.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I do not believe there is "systemic" racism in America. I do believe there are individual racists among us who should be shunned. I believe ANTIFA and the militant faction of Black Lives Matter constitute a domestic security threat to the extent they are allowed to loot and pillage by liberal elected officials who prevent law enforcement officers from doing their job to protect lives and property.
