Jerry Evans
Republican | Illinois
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jerry Evans
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 14
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, BA, 2006
WORK & MILITARY
Jerry Evans School of Music, Owner, Director
AFFILIATIONS
Antioch Community Church, Member and volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
0, 0
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
0, 0
Race
Previous Races
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
John Kasich (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
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
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?
I believe we must stand up for the unborn. Life begins at conception and it is our duty to protect life. An unborn child is a person and abortion should not be legal.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
We need to protect social security for the generations of hard working Americans who are owed back the money they've invested in social security. The real problem is that past Congresses have robbed social security for their own use. We need to make sure the funds that are paid into social security stay in social security for the future benefit of retiring Americans.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
This December Congress passed a budget that I could not support. Reckless spending and government inefficiency is the cause of our massive deficit. I’m in support of reducing the budget to preserve fiscal responsibility and am will absolutely audit our budget. I believe our budget needs a full audit and we need to reduce taxpayer money that is handed to the lobbying groups. As a businessman, I have the necessary experience needed to balance the budget in Congress.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
As a millennial, I understand as well as anyone the burden of the student loan crisis. During my time in Congress, I would support legislation that provides further aid to students of lower income households. I’d like to reevaluate pell grant caps and work to lower federal interest rates on student loans. Additionally, I’d like to support alternative methods of education by encouraging trade schools and skill based professions.
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
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?
We are blessed to live in a country with morals and an independent government. I believe that the existing church creates a moral society and the state benefits from the moral society.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Medicare for all is government centered healthcare that would remove millions of Americans from their coverage. We don’t need government centered healthcare, we need patient centered health. Fixing our health care system starts with opening the market to allow insurances and pharmaceutical companies to complete across state lines and our borders. In the next Congress, I would work to reform the system by opening competition while ensuring further protection for Americans with pre-existing conditions. My plan would allow American patients to dictate the coverage they need.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Keeping Americans safe should always be a top priority. I support limiting war and the threat of Terrorism by maintaining a strong military within the United States border.
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
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
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
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
I strongly support legal immigration into our great country. With that said, immigration into the U.S. is fundamentally not a given right to all people. We need safe and simple solutions to the immigration process, which is something I'd be supporting in Congress.
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.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
As far as I know, I'm the only candidate in the race who is unashamed to proclaim my faith as a Christian. I've been a Christian for all of my adult life.
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.
Please refer to the issues page found on my website: https://www.jerryforcongress.com/issues
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?
I'm not a traditional candidate. I'm a total outsider to Washington DC. I'm a local businessman and educator who loves our community in Illinois. I'm unashamed to be a Christian and I'm firmly pro life. It would be an honor to serve you in the next Congress.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The 2nd Amendment firmly establishes the right to gun ownership. With that said, my solution to reducing gun violence is to establish better care for mental health. Recognizing and addressing mental health issues is a key component to solving our nations problem with gun violence. I’d also enforce stricter penalties for felons in possession of a firearm.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Disagree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
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?
First, as a businessman I have directly seen the difficulty of turning a profit. Since 99% of businesses in Illinois are classified as small business, I think protecting these businesses and creating a competitive marketplace is my number one priority. Second, we must stand up for the unborn. I believe life begins at conception and it is our duty to protect life. Finally, I'm willing to take a stand to protect religious freedoms.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Absolutely. I believe our country is in the best state when we support one another.
