Kent Abernathy
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Kent Abernathy
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 25
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, BS, 1979
Oakland City University, Oakland City, IN, MSM, 1996
U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA, MS, 2000
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Army, Colonel, 1979-2010
Bank Vice-President, Business Consultant, 1986-2003
State Government, 2010-2017
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate for U.S. Congress, IN-05, 2020
Race
Previous Races
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Connie Lawson (2013)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2021)
Republican Women's Organizations (2019)
Todd Young (2021)
WinRed (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
WinRed (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Life of the mother, rape and/or incest.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
We need to reform our complicated and outdated tax code and replace it with a simple, fair, flat, modern tax structure. In order to allow the private sector to do what it does best – create jobs - we should lower or eliminate capital gains tax and the dividend tax – both forms of double taxation.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The level of growing debt is unsustainable and simply unfair to pass on to future generations. We need to incorporate a national balanced budget amendment that would force government to live within its means just like Indiana State government. In 2019 it was estimated that Congress funded 971 expired laws at a cost of $307 billion. We should establish sunset laws and enforce them. We should limit spending to only constitutional government functions, prioritizing and eliminating functions better left to the private sector.
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?
Government should not be able to close 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.
C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, with a caveat, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government, in and of itself, should not impose blanket vaccination mandates. A school or private business should not be allowed to impose vaccine requirements without exemptions for medical and religious reasons. No person should lose their job due to heavy-handed vaccine mandates.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The first priority of government is to ensure the safety and security of our citizens. As an Iraq war veteran, I have served with the brave men and women of our military who put themselves in harms-way to protect our freedoms. We must make sure they have the best training and equipment possible. American foreign policy should support vital US interests. To achieve this, the US must build strong alliances and reserve foreign aid and other favorable actions for supporting those acting in support of American ideals and interests. It is also important to recognize that America is unique in the world (American exceptionalism) and must be a leader in the global war on terrorism. The U.S. should use all means at its disposal to eradicate the threat of all forms of terrorism. The use of military force, when necessary, should be as a last resort. When US troops are ordered into action, they must have a clearly defined mission, specific objectives, and a definitive exit strategy. And they must be properly resourced and allowed to complete the mission.
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.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The United States is a nation of immigrants. But it is also a nation of laws. The U.S. needs a merit-based immigration system that allows only those who lawfully enter the country to remain.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
Every Hoosier is entitled to a quality education. It’s crucial for us to fund education and direct dollars to the classrooms, and we must also ensure parents have choices to determine what is best for their children. Our students deserve a safe learning environment, and should not be indoctrinated with radical teachings.
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
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
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 believe in God and try to live by the golden rule - do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Indiana was first in the nation to require voter ID. We should extend positive voter ID to absentee ballots, ensuring our elections are free and fair, and every legal vote is counted.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I believe racism does exist in some, but I do not believe America is a racist country. Those who act on those racist beliefs should be dealt with appropriately.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
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) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The role of the federal government, as defined by the preamble to the Constitution, is to “establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” As a conservative, I believe that means personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. I believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom and protections necessary to pursue their own goals, not ensure outcomes.
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Did not answer
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 legislative priorities include: Jobs & the Economy: Every Hoosier should have the opportunity for a well-paying job to provide for their family. We must eliminate unreasonable regulations on small businesses, maintain balanced budgets, cut taxes, and improve infrastructure to attract and retain high-paying jobs. Government Efficiency: Government must ensure taxpayers receive the best value for their money. It’s critical to make the tough choices to prioritize how state government spends Hoosier tax dollars, cut bureaucratic red tape, and use technology to improve efficiency. Hoosier Values:The Hoosier conservative values we share must be fought for and protected. We must preserve our individual liberties, defend our Second Amendment Rights, defend the unborn, and ensure our elections are free, fair, and transparent. Public Safety: Ensuring our families and communities are safe is one of the core responsibilities of our government. Our law enforcement professionals and first responders are among the finest men and women in our state. We must proudly stand with them, give them the resources they need, and support state-of-the-art cybersecurity programs to protect against data threats at home and abroad. Education: Every Hoosier is entitled to a quality education. It’s crucial for us to fund education and direct dollars to the classrooms, and we must also ensure parents have choices to determine what is best for their children. Our students deserve a safe learning environment, and should not be indoctrinated with radical teachings.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
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?
The right to bear arms is a fundamental right provided by the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution and affirmed by the US Supreme Court in District of Columbia v Heller. Further, Article 1, Section 32 of the Indiana Constitution provides that “the people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State.”
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
