Celeste Cairns
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile*
Conservative (Conditional)
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Celeste Cairns
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 13
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Georgia, Athens, BBA, 1989
WORK & MILITARY
Army Spouse and Mother, N/A, 27
AFFILIATIONS
Onslow Pregnancy Resource Center, Member - Board of Directors, All Saints Anglican Church
Finance Committee, Member, North Carolina GOP Executive Committee, Member
Crystal Coast Republican Women, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Member, 3rd District GOP Executive Committee
3rd Vice Chairman, National Rifle Association, Member
Heritage Foundation, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
U.S. House of Representatives, 2019 Special Election
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 (1)
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Club for Growth (2019)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
Mark Robinson (2019)
Pat McElraft (2020)
Republican Women's Organizations (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Awake Carolina (2019)
Buddy PAC (2019)
Club for Growth (2019)
Fred Eshelman (2019)
Growing Our Own Dynamic Economy Now (2019)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Under clear threat to 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
If Roe v. Wade is overturned by the US Supreme Court, how far are you willing to go to roll back North Carolina's statutory abortion law that allows abortion up to 20 weeks?
All human life is unique, precious and created in God's image. I would work to make the taking of pre-born human lives as rare as possible.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Would you support a limitation on chemical abortion that protects women from taking abortion pills without the care and supervision of a qualified physician?
Yes
ECONOMY
The government should do more to close the gap between the working class and the wealthy.
Strongly Disagree
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The Tax Code should be completely overhauled. It must be simplified so that it is more fair and transparent. Tax subsidies, credits, deductions, and exemptions should be eliminated if they aren't economically justified. The government should not be able to choose "winners and losers" via the Tax Code. Working Americans are being subjected to absurdly high levels of taxation. Instituting a flat tax or a single-rate national sales tax would encourage economic growth and make compliance much easier.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
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?
Circumstances allowing the closure of churches should be exceedingly rare. In my opinion, forced closure should be allowed under only the direst of circumstances. Religious freedom must be protected. An effort to limit such freedom is an attack on individual liberty and human dignity that our Founders intended to prevent.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
The state cannot impose a particular religion or church upon the people. The moral and religious beliefs of the individual are to be respected in the law, and the state should not infringe upon the freedom of individuals to exercise their faith and moral beliefs.
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.
Of these four options, I would choose (C) with an effort to reduce the role of Government in our healthcare over time. Generally, the more involved Government becomes in any system, the more expensive and less effective that system becomes. Our healthcare system should encourage patient-focused innovation and competition, and free our doctors and patients to make decisions that are best for their individual circumstances.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Individuals must be allowed to make their own vaccination choices, and parents are the ones who must make these decisions for their children. Generally, vaccinations should not be mandated by schools and employers, and must NEVER be required when they have not been adequately tested and approved. In very rare instances, such as those involving national security (i.e. military preparedness or fitness for deployability), the requirement of a particular vaccination may be reasonably required.
EDUCATION
States should allow parents to use the Opportunity Scholarship Program to fund private school for their children.
Strongly Agree
In what situations does a parent not have the right to know what their child is being taught in public school?
None. Parents should ALWAYS have the right to know what their children are being taught.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Parents should be restricted from speaking only if the session is closed to the public or public comment. Otherwise, unless a parent is being threatening or overly disruptive, he or she must be allowed to express opinions, question the Board and have his or her questions answered.
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
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian and have a Christian world view. I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible. I am called to love my neighbor and recognize that each person is made in God's image.
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 propose laws which would help ensure that the election results are fully auditable. Every vote must tie back to a paper ballot. Voting should not be difficult or overly cumbersome, but should not be so easy as to allow for fraud or any other manipulation of the true and actual results.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racist views are sinful and harmful to the civil society, and we should discourage racism as the moral failing that it is. I am saddened by efforts to again divide us along racial lines. Certainly, individuals who would use racial animosity as a justification for physically harming another individual are clearly a threat, but I do not believe that the U.S. is a racist nation or that our systems of governance or economic traditions are "fundamentally" racist.
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.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
I believe that the general purpose of government is to provide protection of the people so that they may live their lives freely. Government should provide for the common defense and enforce the laws that are written by the appropriate representatives of the people. Our borders should be secured. Beyond that, government should do only what cannot reasonably be done by the private sector, charitable organizations, churches, or individuals for themselves.
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).
N/A
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?
My first priority is defending our fundamental liberties which are under constant attack in recent years.
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
Obviously, police officers must hold themselves to a high standard, and one assumes that departmental policy would require this. But police officers must know that their actions are protected if they are adhering to policies. Otherwise, we have made it impossible for them to do their jobs effectively. I believe that we must support our law enforcement officers and ensure that they have the tools they need. Their bravery and the dedication that they offer our communities must be recognized.
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?
Restrictions on the gun ownership of law-abiding citizens are expressly prohibited by the Constitution.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Would you support legislation that prohibits biological boys from competing on girls sports teams?
Yes
