Mitch Thames
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mitch Thames
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 25
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Troy State University, Troy, Alabama, 1976
WORK & MILITARY
Chamber of Commerce, CEO and President, 15
AFFILIATIONS
Boy Scouts of America, Former Troop Leader, Fort Bend Co Fair Association
Past President, FUMC Bay City, Various Church Leadership Positions
Lions Club International, Past District Governor, Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture
CEO and President, Texas Association of Business, Past Officer
Texas Chamber Executives Association, Former Chairperson, Gulf Coast Chamber Executive
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
NA, NA
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Glenn Hegar (2009)
Lois Kolkhorst (2014)
Randy Weber (2013)
Todd Staples (2011)
Wayne Christian (2017)
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.
Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
None
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
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
There's not a lot in the state budget that is flexible to change. We need the money that goes toward protection, our prisons, our education, protecting our families and elderly to continue funding those projects. I promise that I will maintain a checks and balance system with our budget to ensure that every single tax payer dollar is going to fund projects that will protect and uplift the lives of Texas families.
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.
Neutral
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
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?
It is an antiquated ideal that came from the founders' oppression in King George's England. It is impossible to separate our beliefs, which comes from churches, and our work with the state. My beliefs and my heart are what shape who I am as a person and will continue to do so.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I believe the individuals and families have an obligation to provide health care for their families. I have always taken care of my family, which is how it should be. Government should not be involved in the health care system. It should be patient-centered, based on free markets and quality healthcare. I do believe that in our rural areas, health care needs to be a focus and needs to be improved.
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.
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.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Our government has a great system in place to determine who is allowed to immigrate to the United States. That system has worked well for many years and will continue to work well to give us the best of the best. I cannot blame others for wanting to be a part of our great country! What we do need to focus on is jobs and skillsets that provide us with competent and skillful workers within our borders.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
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.
Neutral
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.
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.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. I was raised in a Christian household and raised my children with the same teachings and principles. I believe that, as brothers and sisters of Christ, we have an obligation to protect one another and treat others fairly and kindly. We also have an obligation to follow the teachings of the Bible and to pray that God leads us in the direction He wants us to go in.
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 have a consistent record of being conservative. I am very old school in my beliefs and have debated valiantly those beliefs. In my public role as President and CEO of the Bay City Chamber of Commerce, I have had to take a neutral stance on many local issues, but my personal stance has never wavered. I believe in the protection of American families and what we can do to help their lives be successful.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have been a leader in my community almost all of my life. I have worked consistently for the Matagorda and Brazoria Counties for the last 15 years and I will continue to do so as your State Representative. Through my role as the President and CEO of the Bay City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture I have a first hand view of what our counties need to succeed. As the County's Public Information Officer I have a unique view of how emergency management is effective and where it has challenges. I am a Past District Governor for the largest service organization in the world, the Lions Club International, and I have seen families that need our help and what concerns them the most. I want to continue to fight and work for Texas Families in my role as your State Representative.
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 am a family man and have worked hard all my life to provide for my family. I have 3 kids and 6 grandkids with my beautiful wife of 35 years, Carolyn. Carolyn and I get up every day thinking about how to better our community and what roles we can take to improve the lives of the families just starting out. I have seen firsthand what we need and how to make the changes happen. There's no learning curve here. I don't have to spend valuable time in office playing catch up and learning how to be a State Rep. I already know and I am already working hard for my community. With the resources and staff of a State Representatives office, I will have an even better chance of enhancing the lives of those around me.
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.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No Answer
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Gun laws should not be the main focus of change or even what should be debating. Mental Health should be what we are focusing on. I am a responsible gun owner who has raised his children to be responsible gun owners. Where the concerns with guns lie is whose hands they end up in. We need to focus on the mental health industry to make sure that the hands that hold guns are responsible and healthy.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
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?
1)Windstorm Insurance- Continuing to evaluate 2) Requiring the Comptrollers Office to review the appraisal process to see if modernization is needed 3) Pass Legislation to ensure that water is distributed evenly across river basins in a fair an equitable manner
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I don't think racism is an issue with domestic security. The threat to domestic security lies outside of our borders. We need to focus on what we can control: who comes into our country, and how we protect ourselves.
