Wesley Virdell
Republican | Texas
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
Wesley Virdell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 53
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Texas Tech, Lubbock
Angelo State University, San Angelo
Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Associates in Occupational Studies, 2000
Community College of The Air Force
WORK & MILITARY
United States Air Force, Staff Sergeant, 6.5
AFFILIATIONS
Gun Owners of America, Texas Hill Country Coordinator
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
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)
*Gun Owners of America - Texas
OTHER (1)
*Texans for Toll-Free Highways
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Shelby Slawson (2020)
State Republican Party Organizations (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate completed the Abolish Abortion Texas Candidate Survey source
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Never
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
our tax dollars should not be used to kill unborn children.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Did not answer
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I am against all forms of direct taxation on the federal level. The federal government should be funded the same way it was when Thomas Jefferson was President. The desire for politicians to spend money is insatiable, so unless we eliminate 90 percent of the oversized government it will be impossible to balance our budget. As far as state and local, we must eliminate property taxes and we must also make sure we never allow an income tax to exist in our state. The ability for government to tax your property indefinitely means you will never own your house or your land. We still have to pay for the essential roles of government, but we must eliminate all non-essential aspects of our government. Our government had no problem deeming us as non-essential and it is time we do the same to them.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Most of it.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
We need to end the cradle to grave socialist mentality. If folks want to go to college, they should pay for it. Most folks don't value something if it was free. They value something more when they have invested into something and paid for it with their own sweat equity. In our society, anyone can go get a job, save their money, and pay for their goals. It is about individual responsibility and no one should have to see their tax dollars used to pay for someone else's pursuits.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Is it my business or the government's business? If it is mine, then I can run it how I want. I don't need government to dictate that I have to cater to certain groups. Freedom means I have the right to choose who my customers are and they have the right to not do business with me if they don't like how I run my business.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Never!!!! Only tyrants would mandate forced closures of churches.
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.
Nothing is guaranteed in this world. Government screws up every industry it touches. If you want to know why healthcare is screwed up, it is because of government. If you want to correct the problem, kick the one who created the problem out. One has to wonder how we ever survived before government came to 'rescue" us. I guess in the government's minds, people were just falling over dead before they intervened.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
They shouldn't be allowed to force injecting anything into someone else's body. Sic Semper Tyrannis!
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Quit bombing their countries and trying to control their governments. If you want to create an enemy, all that you have to do is go to your neighbor's house and try to tell him how to run his family and his life. See how well that works out. He will grow to hate you and eventually retaliate if you persist. Then if you blame him for his retaliation, go and bomb/kill his kids and relatives. What do you think he will do next? Do you think he will respect you? Nope. That is how government handles the situation. They strike first and cry foul when someone retaliates. We are not supposed to be the world police! If you want to reduce war, leave your neighbor's property and family alone. Let him manage his own affairs and quit trying to control him if he causes you no harm. He should also have a healthy fear that if he tries to control you, you will strike back hard! The real issue in life is much like two teenage brothers who do not respect each others property and boundaries. Until they respect each other, there will be no peace among them. Our enemy doesn't hate us because of our beliefs. They hate us because we keep trying to control them. Yes there will always be nut jobs who hate us and we should deal with it properly, but I think we create most of our enemies.
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.
Did not answer
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
I strongly agree. I do believe in the presence of a physical border where possible and I have hauled pieces of the border from Ingleside, TX to Arizona. While the border wall is necessary and symbolic of our sovereignty, we need strong leadership. If Mexico has a healthy fear of what we are capable of, they will work harder to play a role in our border. We should have a defensive border, not a border where we welcome trespassers with blankets, plane tickets, and money!
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
People who apply through our legal system and are approved should be allowed to immigrate.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” - Benjamin Franklin
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Choose not to answer
First off - it is not a proper role of government to regulate what people call themselves. Heck, call yourself a banana if you want. It still doesn't make it true. The organizations that are allowing men who pretend to have vaginas to compete against real women are led by idiots. Why would any self respecting women compete in that organization. Second - Governments shouldn't be funding sports competitions. That is not a proper role of government either. If you don't like it, don't vote for me.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
If you support CRT, you are an idiot and a racist. If you want to end racism, quit identifying groups by the color of their skin. Democrats led the slavery movement and they still push racists ideology. Their party hasn't changed, they just changed their tactics.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I can think of far less important things that require an ID. What kind of idiot would support letting people without proper identification vote?
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I would like to see folks have some skin in the game if they are going to vote. When people that have not contributed to our society are allowed to vote, they vote for the politician who is promising more free stuff. That "free" stuff came from our government stealing from us against our will. Why would I be okay with someone having the ability to vote for a government that takes from me and gives it to someone else?
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Currently, those in leadership are a threat to our Republic. Many of them promote racism and divide us. Racism will always exist in one form or another, but our leaders our perpetuating it. It is utopian to think it will aver disappear. The world will always have ignorant folks who judge people by the color of their skin, or what car they drive, or what beer they drink. Okay..to be fair, I don't trust someone who drives a Prius. The proper role of government is not to tell people how to think, it is to protect the individual rights of each person. If someone causes harm to another person's life, liberty, or property....then there are grounds for penalties. We seem to live in a world where we are all trapped in the 3rd grade and if someone calls us a name, we should run to the teacher and cry foul play. The real world is tough and people are mean. Get over it, get stronger, and stand your ground.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Choose not to answer
Reparations? Why the hell would we give people reparations because of the color of their skin or my skin? Should I be allowed to sue my neighbor because his great granddad did something bad to my great grandad? No. Should I be punished for the sins of someone else? No! Next question please!
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.
Governments didn't lead us into prosperity. Innovators and technology have led to cleaner environments. Yes there have been some bumps along the way, but government is making it harder for us to find better solutions. They pigeon hole us into a one dimensional solution and create laws that prevent us from finding better solutions.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Did not answer
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To protect the life, liberty, and property of an individual regardless of the opinion of the majority. No man has the right to take from me that which I do not consent. At the same time, if I am going to claim sovereignty over my body and my property, I must be willing to defend it and keep it.
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
I am very conservative, but I also believe in liberty and that means people are going to do things in their life that I don't agree with. If I want true liberty for myself, I have to be willing to accept the liberty of other people.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.cbs7.com/content/news/CBS7-to-hold-A-Conversation-With-District-11-candidate-Wesley-Virdell-tonight-at-8-pm-567458961.html https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-e&q=wes+virdell+interview https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/getting-to-know-your-district-11-candidates-wesley-virdell/
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?
It's time to replace the elected leadership who remained quiet and allowed government to shut down businesses, mandate masks, mandate vaccines, and close churches. Those cowards who remained silent in the face of tyranny are as guilty as the tyrants.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Choose not to answer
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The 2nd Amendment is a restriction on the federal government. It is not a restriction on the citizen.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
The idea that a victim of gun violence can sue a gun manufacturer is asinine. Can I sue a company that makes hammers if someone beats me with a hammer? Who in their right mind would think that was logical?
