John Clark
Republican | Tennessee
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Clark
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 1
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Bachelors, 1980
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
St. Dominic Church, Finance Committee, United Way of Greater Kingsport
Member and Donor, Dobyns Bennett High School Band Boosters, Donor
Boys and Girls Club of Kingsport, Donor, Literacy Council of Kingsport
Donor
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Board of Mayor and Alderman of Kingsport, 2012 - 2015
Mayor of Kingsport, 2015 - 2019
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
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?
I'm not comfortable with abortion in any circumstance, however I can support legal protections in cases directly involving the life of the mother or cases of rape and 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
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Social Security is a guarantee we've made to our seniors, they've paid into it, and it must be protected. The politicians in Washington need to stop raiding the Social Security Trust Fund and balance the federal budget so that Social Security is preserved for the future.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
There have been whole books written on the waste and pork in the federal budget. We can look at any department in the federal government and begin to find ways to save money, but what we really need is the courage and political will to start.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
I do not see any circumstances where taxpayers should help pay off student loans outside of compensation for military or other public service (like the Peace Corps).
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
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?
Our government was built on the foundation of our Judeo-Christian heritage but our government was not built to endorse any specific church or faith. Everyone must have the opportunity to worship in the way that they choose without interference from the government.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I support affordable, high quality health care for all that is provided through the private sector.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
The role of the US Government is to protect the lives of Americans from threats anywhere in the world, including radical Islamic terrorism whether it's at home or abroad. We need to fully fund our military to defeat terrorism overseas and also fund our public diplomacy efforts to help stop the spread of radical ideology.
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
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
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
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
My family legally immigrated to the United States to escape the Cuban Communist regime. America has always had open arms for anyone around the world who is persecuted or fleeing evil regimes - as long as they come here legally. Anyone who comes here legally and commits to becoming a naturalized citizen should have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream, like my family did.
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 believe in God, the sanctity of life, and I believe Jesus Christ is our savior. I believe in living a life that exemplifies Christian values in our day-to-day interactions with everyone we meet. Faith is central to me and my family.
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 would refer you to the issue positions listed on my website as well as my record as Mayor of the City of Kingsport where I governed as a conservative and our city had the lowest cost of living in our region. We also created over 3,000 new jobs for our area.
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 proud, hard-working American citizen. I love this country and I want to see American's succeed in life. I believe America is the beacon on the hill for freedom and prosperity. We must continue to be the world's leader in freedom, democracy, and capitalism. I am not a career politician. I retired from a career in the private sector and then offered my service in local office to give back to my community. In both the public and private sector, I helped create jobs - my number one priority as you Congressman will be to help bring back the jobs that have been lost during this coronavirus pandemic. I believe in conservative principles and am committed to living them out as a Member of Congress.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I am a proud, law abiding, responsible gun owner. The current state and federal laws are adequate to protect public safety and should be enforced. Instead of adding more laws to the books, we need a culture that is more respectful of life of all ages - unborn to the elderly.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Disagree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
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?
- Jobs Creation Bill to reduce taxes for every new employee that small businesses hire - Immigration legislation to stem the flow of drugs and drug trafficking into the United States - Join with Senator Cotton and Rep Gallagher on their bill to bring medical manufacturing back from China
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes, there are racists who commit violence and threaten the security of their fellow Americans.
