Taylor Gillig
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Taylor Gillig
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 92
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, MBA, 2017
University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, B.A History, 2010
WORK & MILITARY
United States Marine Corps, Infantry Officer, 8
The Cookery, Owner/Founder, 3
AFFILIATIONS
State Senator Charles Perry, Policy Analyst, NRA
Member, American Legion, Member
Arlington Greater Chamber of Commerce, Member, Bible Study Fellowship
Student, Helping Desperate and Needy People, Volunteer
Fredrick Douglas Republican Club, Member, Tarrant Republican National Hispanic Assembly
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Hispanic Republicans of Texas
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.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion should be allowed if the life of the mother is at risk.
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?
The best way to cut spending is by ensuring transparency and accountability. I support zero-based budgeting and putting a cap on spending. We also need to help local governments reduce their spending requirements by reducing unfunded mandates.
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.
Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
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?
Faith is between God and the individual. The separation of church and state defends the natural rights of people to worship from the arbitrary opinions of government. The government cannot, through the law, create or destroy any faith. Moreover, it cannot force people to choose between compliance with the law and their faith. Too often, politicians cite the popularity of their stances as justification to infringe on religious liberty. They believe that their election gives their command to cease religious observation extra legitimacy. However, separation of church and state guarantees that the government cannot make any law prohibiting the exercise of faith, no matter how popular that sentiment may be.
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?
Freemarket competition is the best way to increase efficacy and drive down costs. Our current health care system has driven up prices through government intervention. Federal and State regulators are heavily incentivized to try and do something to "fix" the healthcare system they have broken. Compliance costs, limited options, and government-granted monopolies all contribute to increased cost and decreased quality. Whereas direct-pay clinics that bypass government intrusion, see an increase in quality, patient satisfaction, and lower costs. The government is the problem with our health care system, not the solution.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly 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.
Strongly Agree
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.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We need an immigration system that benefits those Americans and immigrants already in our country. As a grandson of immigrant grandparents, I know first hand the adventure of the American dream. Our country should not serve as the world's welfare program. Instead, we should be a place where people are free to enjoy the fruit of their thought and labor. People coming to our country must be self-reliant and capable of contributing to our economy and country.
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.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Promotion of the LGBT agenda in public schools, including teaching of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”, is completely inappropriate and should be opposed at the state and local level.
Strongly Agree
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in Jesus Christ and the Father, all-mighty, creator of heaven, and earth. I believe people live their best lives when they are free to live their lives as they see fit so long as it does not hurt others. I believe we're all born with individual freedom and god-given rights, and that the role of government is to preserve and protect those rights.
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?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Free markets and individual freedoms are the best mechanisms to uplift people and allow them to prosper. Conservatism is about preserving the founding beliefs of our country: everyone is born with the same individual freedoms granted to them by God and by nature. It is the only role of the government to preserve and protect those rights.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Our community is becoming more partisan in every election cycle. We need candidates to start articulating their beliefs and principles to a broader range of people. I firmly believe that individual liberty and free markets are the best mechanisms to uplift communities and allow people to prosper. My experience and background make me the best candidate to bring our community together. As a Marine Corps officer, I commanded Marines, sailors, British Royal Marines, and Afghan Comandos in combat operations in Afghanistan. As a policy analyst in the Texas State Senate, I managed nine bills through the legislative process. As a business owner, I have created jobs and provide a service to the economy. These accomplishments all required bringing a diverse group of people together for a common goal. Articulating a belief and getting people on board with a shared vision. These are the traits a candidate, and a State Representative need to serve their community.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
This election is a turning point for our country. Our communities have become more politically polarized. We need to begin to bring our communities back together. As the only combat veteran, the only business owner, and the only nonpolitician in this race, I am best suited for the job.
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.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Violent criminals should not be allowed to purchase or own firearms. Law-abiding citizens, however, should not lose that right. In Texas, we have shown that upholding the second amendment increases public safety.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Neutral
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?
1 Border security: I support President Trump on designating the cartels as terrorist groups and securing the southern border. 2 Property Tax: The state needs to stop placing unfunded mandates on cities and counties and abolish appraisal districts. The marketplace should determine property values, not the government. 3 Election Integrity: As voter technology increases in popularity, we need to ensure an accurate and reliable way to count ballots.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
When racism manifests itself in physical attacks, then it does become a threat to domestic security. I agree with the Trump administration in labeling white nationalist terrorism as a threat to domestic security. However, racism in and of itself is not as great a threat as an unsecured border, human trafficking, and ever-increasing national debt.
