Donald Kirkland
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Donald Kirkland
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 5
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Ahoskie High School, Ahoskie, Diploma, 1985
Roanoke Chowan Community College, Ahoskie, none, 1994
Johnson Community College, Smithfield, Diploma, 1995
WORK & MILITARY
Construction, Pipe Fitter, 2
Construction, Carpenter, 5
U.S. Army - RA, E-4 Specialist, 3
Transportation, OTR Truck Driver, 5
AFFILIATIONS
Hertford County Veterans Advisory Coouncil, Former Chairman, Hertford County Planning Board
Secretary-Current, Hertford County Zoning of Adjustment Board, Secretary-Current
Son's of American Legion Post 102, Commander, Adjunct and Chaplain-Current, American Legion Ahoskie Post 102
Historian-Current, Hertford County Republican Party, Former Chairman, Ahoskie Precinct 2 Captain, District/Sate Delegate
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Hertford County Commissioner, 2018
Ahoskie Town Council
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Rape, Incest and Dire Health of the mother. Rape and Incest should be time limited to make a decision. No other situation should be allowed. All life begins with the first heartbeat.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
It is simple. Absolutely NO Taxpayer funding of abortions.
If Roe v. Wade is overturned by the US Supreme Court, how far are you willing to go to roll back North Carolina's statutory abortion law that allows abortion up to 20 weeks?
Whatever the medical doctors have recommended as the beginning of a viable baby. I personally believe life begins at the first heartbeat, yet doctors vary in medical opinion as to when the viability time frame begins. I am in support of rolling back the time frame with medical experts giving advice, this advice would not be solicited from nor accepted from any abortion provider or groups tied to abortion providers.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Would you support a limitation on chemical abortion that protects women from taking abortion pills without the care and supervision of a qualified physician?
Yes
My support would only be for Rape, Incest and the Dire Health of the mother only. If these ladies seek chemical abortion for these reasons only, they need to be treated by a qualified physician only and not an abortion clinic or any variation thereof. A medical doctor needs to be the deciding factor, not planned parenthood and abortion clinics. Anything that deviates from these stated reasons, I would not support it. It's dangerous to take these drugs without qualified doctors advice/consent.
ECONOMY
The government should do more to close the gap between the working class and the wealthy.
Agree
Smarter people than I have been working on this issue for decades with no plausible results. There is no one correct answer. Government is only a small factor in this issue. It will take a collective of minds from all sectors of life, government, businesses and citizens to figure out how to fix it.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Right now we have a constitutional income tax rate cap. It is currently being reviewed. I personally would like to see the income tax abolished in NC, to include taxes on anyone who served and is disabled from the military regardless of percentage of disability, as well as 1st responders. Other graduated tax incentives for businesses to locate and/or relocate to poverty stricken areas of NC, such as my district of Hertford, Gates, Pasquotank and Camden Counties as we are a Tier 1 poverty area. There is no one correct answer. The tax code is complicated and will need to be studies further before I could give a definitive answer.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Agree
I agree to a point. Public education K-12 is already mandated by NC Constitution and law. As for college, it should always depend upon a person's income and means to pay. Taxpayer funds should always help those impoverished to achieve an education of higher learning; however, this should be directed to trade schools and community colleges for in-state students only. ECSU is a great place to look for ideas on funding. Absolutely no NC taxpayer funding for out of state students.
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?
Never.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
Separate as the US Constitution requires.
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.
B. Especially now as we have had to and will continue to deal with Covid for years to come.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Never. It is a personal choice to inject or take something into one's own body.
EDUCATION
States should allow parents to use the Opportunity Scholarship Program to fund private school for their children.
Strongly Agree
I believe strongly in School Choice. Taxpayer money should follow that child regardless of the schooling, Private, Charter, Public, and Homeschool.
In what situations does a parent not have the right to know what their child is being taught in public school?
Never. It is an absolute right for the parent and grandparents to know what is being taught at any school, public or private.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Never. It is their right protected under the US Constitutions 1st Amendment, as well as NC Constitution.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Look no further than the text of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution as to how they were written.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
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 am a Christian in progress. I will only know if I have been declared as such on judgement day. Until then, I continue to work on myself. I believe in Jesus Christ and his selfless act to forgive me my sins of which I will never be worthy.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
We need I.D for every aspect of modern-day life, and voting is no different. In-fact, it probably the one, single most important action that we do which should always require an I.D. to prove who we are when casting our sacred vote.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Always have a paper ballot and utilize voter I.D. Clean voter rolls.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. We do not have severe racism as the democrat party, the party of actual, historically proven racism, would like you to believe. There is minor racism in every aspect of life, effecting every nationality, color, and background; however, it is not a domestic security threat in the U.S.
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
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To provide safety, build policy to attract businesses to enable people to make a living, health and wellbeing of the citizens, education, amongst a multitude of other things; however, the main purpose of government is to be the peoples servant.
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?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
My responses to questionnaires, videos I have put out and a multitude of in-person speeches to groups.
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?
I am as real as you will get. I do not profess to have all the answers, yet, what I do know, is NC State House district 5 has been impoverished for decades under liberal, democrat rule and this can no longer stand. Our public education system is broken and needs to be fixed. Infrastructure that has been approved in years past have yet to be completed and need to be fast tract to get done. Everything from crumbling 50-year-old pipes in ground for water and sewage to crumbling roadways.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Neutral
If an officer is acting within the boundaries of the law passed by NC State Legislature whilst on duty, then yes, I agree; however, departmental policy is not law and should always be consistent with laws passed by the NC State legislature.
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?
NONE!! The US Constitution and NC Constitution are clear under the 2nd Amendment. The right of the people to have and Bear arms shall not be infringed.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Would you support legislation that prohibits biological boys from competing on girls sports teams?
Yes
