Shay Hawkins
Republican | Ohio
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Shay Hawkins
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 6
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, BA, 1997
Columbia Business School, New York, NY, MBA, 2002
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, JD, 2015
WORK & MILITARY
Opportunity Funds Association, President, 2019-Present
Office of U.S. Senator Tim Scott, Tax and Trade Counsel, 2017-2019
Office of Congressman Jim Renacci, Legislative Fellow, 2016-2017
The LIBRE Initiative/AFP Ohio, Field Coordinator, 2015-2016
AFFILIATIONS
Christ Baptist Church, Member, Good Shepherd Baptist Church
Former Member, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Summer Missionary
Samaritains Purse, Contributor, Open Doors
Contributor, Compassion International, Contributor
The Bible Project, Contributor, Republican Party of Cuyahoga County
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Cleveland City Council Ward 10, 2005
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
U.S. Senator Tim Scott
Solon City Councilman Doug Magill
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?
In cases of rape or if the mother's life is in danger.
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.
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?
It means that the state should not establish a religion or favor one religion over another.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Agree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
The Federal Government should block grant Medicaid funds to the states and allow states to build the healthcare safety net that they deem most appropriate. Some states would have market based systems like vouchers, some public options etc.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Agree
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?
I would curb spending through block granting of all federal funds that go to states currently through federal programs.
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.
Neutral
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those who are willing to obey US law and adopt US political and economic culture should be eligible. Priority should be given to legitimate political refugees and those with skills that are in high demand.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Neutral
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The answer to curbing violence in our society is not to take away the rights of law-abiding gun owners, but to improve mental health services, and enforce and prosecute those who violate existing laws.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
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?
Reduce regulations on Ohio small business owners. Develop additional complementary Opportunity Zones legislation. Advocate for Federal block granting of Ohio Medicaid funds back to Ohio.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is not a domestic security threat but racial divisions are a legitimate issue. My party was at the forefront of ending American slavery and led the fight in Congress to end Jim Crow. Conservatives must remain at the forefront in condemning any philosophy of racial superiority or anti-semitism wherever it is found in society.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
My work for Senator Scott My Work for LIBRE/AFP Ohio My Media interviews when volunteering for Gov Kasich
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Relevant Government Positions: Staff Director for the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure; Staff Director for the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth; Tax and Trade Counsel to Senator Tim Scott (R-SC); Tax Fellow for Congressman Jim Renacci (R-OH 16); Legal Intern for the Ohio Senate Majority Caucus. Relevant Accomplishments: Before co-founding the Opportunity Funds Association I served as Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure and the Senior tax and economic policy advisor to Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), a Senate Finance Committee Member. I served as Senator Scott’s lead policy advisor throughout the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). During the legislative process, I was the driving force behind the Opportunity Zones provision, working with House and Senate Conferees, the White House, and other key stakeholders to ensure its inclusion in the final package.
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?
From my time as a Tax and Trade Counsel in the U.S. Senate, to my work with state government's to develop complementary Opportunity Zones policy, I have delivered effective, bipartisan solutions. As the 6th District's next Representative I promise to work in good faith with my Democratic colleagues whenever possible. Bi-partisanship is not about compromising principles, but about coming to the table honestly to advance policies where principles and priorities overlap.
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
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Romans 3:23 tells us that "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" This is to say every human being who has ever lived, with the exception of Jesus Christ has done something wrong, has acted or had a negative thought against a fellow human being made in God's image. I am a follower of Jesus Christ who died to save me from my sins. By following him I mean I seek to trust him and obey his commandments laid out clearly in the Bible. The Bible tells me that the Lord will send his Spirit to help me obey his commandments and to love forgive others just as the Lord have forgiven my sins. The Bible also tells us that the world was created perfect but was ruined by the sin of human beings. Christ will one day return and restore the world and human beings to the perfection and fellowship with God we were created to enjoy. Until then, as a Christian, my job is to seek justice, show mercy and demonstrate charity, to love my family and my neighbor, and obey Christs commandments.
