Jim O'Neill
Republican | North Carolina
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
Jim O'Neill
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
Attorney General
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
New York Law School, New York City, JD
Duke University, Durham, NC, BA
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Senior Services, Board Member, SCAN
Board Member, Hospice, Board Member
RJ Reynolds High School, Boys Lacrosse Coach, Industries for the Blind
Board Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Elected District Attorney, 2010-2018
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Attorney General, 2016
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 (4)
Conservative Coalition of North Carolina
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
National Right To Life
North Carolina Values Coalition
OTHER (2)
*North Carolina Troopers Association
Wake GOP
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
If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, North Carolina should repeal its law allowing abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only if the mother's health is in jeopardy or in the instance of rape & incest.
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
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?
While there is nothing in the Constitution denoting "separation of church and state", there have been attempts to argue that it is inherent in the Bill of Rights which I disagree with. These attempts want to exclude any reference to religious ideas which I think is unfortunate.
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?
My wife is a physician so I see the healthcare strains of our country first hand. We have the most incredible services available to our citizens of any industrialized country. We need to celebrate our strong healthcare system and the amazing doctors and health care workers that care for our citizens.
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, sheriff and local law enforcement agencies should be required to participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) Program to enhance the safety and security of their communities to identify and detain aliens.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Yes. Immigration -- like that of my parents -- has helped bring people who want to be part of the fabric of America to our country. They, like many others, come to our country with a strong sense of work ethic, deserve to make their communities stronger, work hard to get a good education and add productively to the workforce.
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.
Strongly Disagree
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
Parents should have the right to know what schools are teaching their children about sex and LGBT issues and should have the right to opt their children out of any instruction to which they object.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I have proudly been an active practicing Catholic for my lifetime. One of my favorite weekly things I do with my three children is to take them to mass then go out for a fun brunch. This is something we as a family have been missing greatly during COVID.
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.
I am a proud American and proud to be the son of two immigrants to this great nation. The opportunities that our country provides to its citizens is unparalleled compared with any other nation. I am thrilled to raise my children in this incredible country where they can become great citizens of this fine country.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I was fortunate to get an incredible undergrad education through a scholarship from Duke University where I played lacrosse. I then graduated from NY Law School where I got my law degree. I worked in a couple of large firms to pay off my school debts then was fortunate to start my public service -- my true calling -- as a prosecutor and then elected District Attorney for Forsyth County.
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 believe my strong faith; my thoughtful, caring upbringing by my mother and father; and the amazing opportunities provided by our great country have guided me in becoming the person I am and guides me on a daily basis in the decisions I make. In Forsyth County, my office has achieved the lowest dismissal rate in the state among urban counties for violent crime offenders and the highest conviction rate in the state when it comes to sexual assault crimes. I started the opioid addiction program to help inmates get and remain clean. This program has been so successful that it is being duplicated statewide, as is my office's license restoration initiative. Both programs are the first of their kind in our state. I am proud of the work we have done in Winston-Salem to have it recently named North Carolina's safest city.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Guns need to be licensed. We need to know who legally has guns. The majority of gun violence I see on a daily basis is with individuals, many in gangs, that have firearms illegally.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
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?
As the Vice President of the NC Conference of District Attorneys, our state-wide association, I have been the point person on bringing our views/concerns to the General Assembly over the past few years. So, many pieces of legislation, like the Second Chance Act, have already been enacted. As AG my job will be more to enforce law the GA passes than auto or sponsor legislation. 1. Make sure Voter ID is enacted as the people of NC intended. 2. Make sure the 2021 Redistricting maps are fair and reflect our citizens. 3. Review our laws affecting businesses to make sure they are fair and do not unduly hinder our businesses.
