Brett Harrell
Republican | Georgia
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Brett Harrell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 106
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, BBA, 1983
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Chair, Ways & Means Cmttee, 2019-2020
Mayor, City of Snellville, 2000-2003
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2018
100%
2019
75%
2019
59%, 74% (cum.)†
2019
|75%
2019
|59%, 74% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (27)
Bert Reeves (2018)
Bill Werkheiser (2018)
Bonnie Rich (2018)
Brian Strickland (2016)
Bruce Williamson (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (18)
Alan Powell (2020)
American Federation For Children (2016)
Bruce Williamson (2016)
Butch Miller (2018)
ConnectSouth for a Better Georgia (2019)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Sheet Metal Workers International Association (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
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.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Life of the mother.
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?
I will continue evaluating tax breaks, credits, deductions, etc as Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee and generate new revenues by eliminating unproductive allocations of tax dollars. I will further continue modernizing our tax code to reflect the new economy (online) as I did with HB 276 the Marketplace Facilitator legislation. Finally, I will continue leveling the playing field between various industries so that all are competing on equal footing.
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.
Strongly Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Disagree
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 shall not establish a state religion. Much of what we hear about a violation of church and state is not, actually, a violation at all.
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?
Did not answer
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
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.
Neutral
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.
Neutral
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Did not answer
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.
Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Roman Catholic.
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?
Somewhat Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Ten years of voting history at the Georgia General Assembly website. www.legis.ga.gov Four years of voting history at the Snellville.org city website.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
First, education and experience are not legally required standards to hold office; therefore, the premise of the question is misleading to suggest that a particular level of education and/or experience is what qualifies one to hold office in Georgia. That said, I meet the residency (1 year) and age (21 years old) requirements to qualify for the state House from my District. Additionally, I earned a high school diploma from South Gwinnett (within the District) and a Bachelors from the University of Georgia. I have served as an Area Manager for a $30 billion international corporation and started several small businesses from the ground up with a single employee. I have served on the city planning Commission, Council, as Mayor and a state Rep for ten years. I have also served in various volunteer positions including at St Oliver's Church, the Governor's Commission for Service and Volunteerism, the Governor's Congestion Mitigation Task Force and several others.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Never.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Did not answer
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.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No Answer
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Felons and mentally challenged should not be legally permitted to own firearms.
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?
Tax Reform: I helped pass the first income tax rate cut in Georgia since 1937 in 2018. In 2020, I passed another income tax rate cut establishing a 5.375% flat tax out of the House. I co-sponsored the elimination of Estate Taxes in Georgia. I have eliminated 100's of millions in tax credits, deductions, and breaks for various entities/industries that did not benefit tax paying Georgians. Transportation: I have long championed an increased investment in our transportation systems. While supporting public transit, I do not believe fixed rail systems or electric vehicles require public funding. Regulatory Reform: Whether Georgia's alcohol laws or occupational licensing, I have championed more freedom and less regulation allowing citizens to prosper, earn a better living, and grow their businesses. Repeal Georgia's Death Penalty: HB 702 introduced in 2019 remains a priority. The Death Penalty is not efficient, cost effective, small government, or absent bias and should be repealed.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism continues to be a tremendous issue in the Unites States, however, I would not say it is a domestic security issue. Much of the violence recently appears agitated by those that don't care about solving racial inequities; rather, they seek chaos in the American system regardless of who may be harmed.
