Richard Castaldo
Libertarian | Oklahoma
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Richard Castaldo
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2018
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 2
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Global Grace Seminary, Texas/Online, Master Counseling, 2019
Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bartlesville OK, BS Business Admin, 2010
Northeastern A&M College, Miami OK, Associate Liberal Arts, 2006
WORK & MILITARY
GrandLakeLife, Pastor, 3
ProProperty Management, Associate Manager, 2
RadioShack, Store Manager, 6
AFFILIATIONS
Oklahoma For Liberty, Founder & Activist, Cornerstone Church
Worship Pastor, Newsong Church, Associate Pastor
Libertarian Party, National Delegate, Oklahoma Libertarian Party
Member, Delaware County Charity Network, Member
Grove Public School K-12, Ridgerunner Alumni
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Mitch Mcvicker, recording artist
David Leo Schultz, actor & director
Dominique Block, GOP candidate for Lt. Governor
Rex Lawhorn, LP candidate for Governor
Joseph Jones, Oklahoma Tomcat radio broadcaster
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Freedom for All Americans
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
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.
Disagree
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.
Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Agree
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Additional regulations are needed to prevent climate change.
Strongly Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
The United States should help defend Israel from attack by its enemies.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Agree
I support sanctuary cities.
Disagree
It is OK for Congress to exempt itself from compliance with laws applicable to all citizens.
Disagree
I support the death penalty.
Strongly Disagree
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
The United States should protect its sovereignty from the United Nations.
Strongly Agree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2010 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2012 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
The preborn have a right to life and though the issue of pregnancy is both complicated and miraculous abortion should never be an alternative.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
We should immediately bring our troops home, use military action for defense only, and stop our modern tradition of global interventionism. Only Congress has the authority to declare war. Radical Islamic terrorism cannot be eradicated through American warfare.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The purpose of the Constitution is to restrain government from trampling individual rights and the independence of the states. The nature of mankind is to gravitate toward power so it also separated the powers of the federal government. Individuals should be self-reliant and charitable so that society doesn’t grant more authority to any branch of the federal government.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ, who I believe is the Son of God and gave His life as Savior of the world. I believe the Bible is accurate and divinely inspired. My convictions are born from my relationship with Christ, my belief in the non-aggression principle, and my conservative upbringing. I believe my job as an evangelical pastor is to teach morality as a response to the goodness of God and mutual respect for others. I believe the government’s job is to protect life, liberty and property from the non-defensive aggression of others, not to enforce my morality or Biblical traditions on others.
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?
Somewhat Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I am fiscally conservative and socially inclusive. I voted for Senator Rand Paul to be the Republican Presidential nominee in 2016. I voted for Governor Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Presidential candidate, in the general election of 2016. My website and social media show my strong faith, liberty political ideology, and inclusive attitude toward those who think or believe differently than myself. For example, I believe marriage is a religious contract between a man and a woman. However, I support the privatization of marriage so that churches and communities can follow their own convictions. The federal government has no authority to legislate marriage.
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
First we should completely repeal and not replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. The free market should be unleashed from burdensome regulations along with the entire healthcare industry. We should be able to choose our own insurance and healthcare providers. There should be greater competition even across state lines. Medications should have less restrictions from the federal government so that medical cannabis is no longer a crime and prescriptions can be purchased across national boundaries such as Canada. Veterans should be unleashed from the government so they can choose their own healthcare and still receive their financial benefits as promised from the VA. It is over-regulation and an intrusive government that has caused the problems we have of unaffordable and restricted access to healthcare. We do not need socialized medicine or programs such as Medicare for All. More government interference is not a solution.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
The government’s only proper role according to the Constitution is to protect life, liberty and property. The government has no true authority to have so much influence over the economy. We should go to a silver standard and abolish the Federal Reserve. We should end corporate welfare and bank bailouts. We should abolish the income tax and the IRS, and transition to the FairTax. Economies are meant to experience ups and downs, and government interference has only created larger problems like the housing bubble. Deregulate the economy.
What changes should be made to the tax code?
We should abolish the IRS, the federal income tax, and property taxes. We should transition to the FairTax within the next five years, but the goal should be complete voluntaryism by the end of this century.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
The best way to end unemployment is to step-by-step abolish the welfare system and transition to individual generosity and charity from private corporations. We should deregulate the market. We should stop taxing income. We also should level the field so that industries experience healthy competition and expansion instead of government picking winners and losers. I believe in the inherent dignity of work and if we unleash Americans from government welfare and security they will become self-reliant again.
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
We should keep our current promises for Social Security recipients and draw a line at those age 45 and under. We should transition to privatization and personal retirement security accounts. Also, again we should stop taxing income.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have life experience in rural Oklahoma, in small business, in religious institutions, and in the public education system. I have a degree in Business and have studied economics as well as political philosophy. I have relationships with those in every tier of financial class and will passionately defend and represent all of OK-2. I am not interested in self-glorification or lining my own pockets by becoming a career politician or a career candidate. I believe we should enact Congressional term limits and that every individual should be considered as a legitimate candidate, regardless of political party affiliation or financial backing. We should vote based on principles, not tribalism,
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
castaldoforcongress@gmail.com 918.964.2201
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I have been married to my wife Kathy for 7 years. We have two boys, Elisha (6 yrs) and Isaiah (4 yrs). She is a registered nurse and we homeschool our children. My hobbies include great books, epic movies, and discovering new music. I encourage you to join me as a member of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party.
