Woody Thrasher
Republican | West Virginia
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Woody Thrasher
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
Governor
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, B.S., 1977
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, WVU Health Sciences
Board Member, Genesis Youth Center, Past President
NRA, Member, WV For Life
Member, American Council of Engineering Companies, Member
West Virginia University Alumni Board, Past President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
WV Secretary of Commerce, 2017-2018
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
West Virginia University College Republicans
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Alex Mooney (2019)
Boehner for Speaker (2014)
David B. McKinley (2015)
Evan H. Jenkins (2015)
John Boehner (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Joe Manchin III (2010)
Nick Rahall (2014)
State Democratic Party Organizations (2015)
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?
Only when the life of the mother is at risk.
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
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Any government spending that is wasteful, outside the realm of government's role and unconstitutional.
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 dictate what policies of our churches and faith-based organizations.
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?
Health care reforms for Medicaid will be more successful following certain principles: Reward health care providers based on provision of value and outcomes instead of volume; Increase access to information (cost and quality of providers, services and treatment) and increase transparency — quality will improve, and costs will come down. Patients should have more choices in health care plans. The federal government should not dictate our health care. We must work with all our hospitals to ensure adequate care is delivered in every community. I know how important a hospital is to a rural community. We must fight to keep hospital doors open across the state where we can and look at all alternative methods of care where we can’t. Telemedicine must be expanded and improved in West Virginia to ensure our rural residents have access to even more quality health care options. Advocate to the Trump Administration to eliminate one-size-fits-all federal regulations that increase costs.
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 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
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
As Governor, I will oppose any West Virginia city’s attempt to become a sanctuary city that would ultimately give refuge to illegal aliens. I support President Trump’s efforts to secure and control our southern border and his efforts to keep us safe. I am grateful to the President and his administration that they have made it a priority to build a wall, which is one of the most important aspects of securing our southern border. We need to focus on spending our limited state resources on areas that will allow us to keep our promises to the taxpayers of West Virginia. I am open to properly vetted, legal immigrants. However, our recent history shows us that too many are slipping through the cracks. Gov. Jim Justice’s recent decision to accept foreign refugees makes our state and its people less safe. West Virginia must focus on spending state money to keep our promises to our state’s taxpayers.
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
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a committed Christian and was raised in a Baptist Church. I believe that God has given us each unique gifts and it is our duty to use those gifts for his glory. My faith has always been important to me and speaks directly to how I approach my life. I believe that God has given me the gift of understanding business, leadership and economic development in particular and that is why I'm running for Governor - to utilize those gifts for the greater good.
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 recently spoke about my faith to the Shenandoah Bible Baptist Church in Martinsburg, WV during their morning service on 3/15/20 and that speech can be viewed here: https://m.facebook.com/sbbcwv/ Also, my values, position statements and plans can be found at: https://www.woodythrasher2020.com/woodys-plan/
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I've spent a lifetime focused on economic development in West Virginia. I started my company in the early 1980s with my father and one employee and today that company employs hundreds of people across West Virginia. Further, I've also developed economic projects all across the Mountain State. My background in business and as a job creator uniquely qualify me to be governor.
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 a committed conservative who will work full-time to ensure the success of West Virginia.
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.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of the Second Amendment, and I do, too. The Second Amendment reigns supreme over any and all efforts from liberals to restrict our constitutional rights. I support concealed carry reciprocity. Lawful concealed permit owners should be allowed to carry their firearms across state borders without fear of penalty.I will not support adding new gun restrictions.I Oppose “Red Flag laws” such as those passed in New York and California. I support Campus Carry.
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?
1) Repeal of West Virginia's Machine & Inventory Tax 2) Elimination of Burdensome Regulations 3) Develop efficient, streamlined infrastructure/roads programs
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Violent actions motivated by hatred can be threats to our security.
