Jake Merrick
Republican | Oklahoma
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jake Merrick
Party
Republican
Election Year
2021
Election
Special General
Race
State Senate 22
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Master of Divinity, 2006
Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, BA in Biblical Studies, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
Professor of Philosophy & Theology, Professor, 4
Business Owner, Owner/Manager, 16
Licensed/Ordained Minister, Minister, 10
AFFILIATIONS
Paraklete Inc, Founder, President, Southwestern Christian University
Professor
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (5)
Nathan Dahm
Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association OK2A
Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee
Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights
Warren Hamilton
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (5)
OK2A
Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights
OCPAC
Senator Nathan Dahm
Senator Warren Hamilton
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?
There is no circumstance where abortion should be allowed. If the mother's life is threatened, both lives deserve equal effort and honor.
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 the same thing it meant when Thomas Jefferson first coined the term in his letter to the Danbury Baptists when he said that the legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,'. His intent was clear: the nation would not officially sponsor or support any particular religion or keep any religion from actively worshipping as they see fit. Two days after he wrote this letter he attended a church service... in the House of Representatives. The intent was never to keep religion out of government but to keep the government out of religion.
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.
Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I would start by emphasizing good health. We must fix our out of control plunge into processed "foods" and inactivity that lead to the leading killers in our nation: heart disease, cancer, respiratory complications, and diabetes. We must look at ways to incentivize food companies to produce healthier options, schools to require physical education and healthy breakfast/lunch options, and businesses to encourage activity and good health. This is not the popular option, but it is the option that will result in actual health (not medically induced "health") for the most people.
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?
I'm honestly still studying this in light of the chaos in 2020. This changed things on so many levels, I believe we need look closely at where funding is going. A lot of people, businesses, schools, agencies, and departments are in need, but wisdom is needed now more than ever.
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?
Anyone without a criminal record or affiliation with groups who pose potential threats to our country and the citizens of this country should be able to immigrate. Of course, they should be required to go through the legally required processes.
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.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I believe those who purchase guns need an initial background check.Once they been cleared, they should be free to purchase and carry.Individuals are ultimately responsible for their own safety.I fully support law enforcement and believe they provide an essential layer of protection we need.However, they will not be able to ensure everyone on the road is driving safe.You still have to be alert and drive defensively to protect you and your family.For the same reason, we bear arms for protection.
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.) I will propose legislation to end abortion in Oklahoma. There are obstacles, but this must be our end goal and constant pursuit. 2.) I will support parent choice in education with funding following the child. I believe all forms of education (public, private, charter, home) should be real options for families in order for them to find the best fit for their children. The only way for these to be real options is for the funding to follow the child. 3.) I will support Career Tech opportunities and support for those starting small businesses. This ensures a skilled work force, more job opportunities, and less debt so that families are not unnecessarily burdened.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Wherever racism exists, it is a threat to domestic security. But government will not fix racism. Government can simply ensure everyone has the same opportunity and no one is excluded who is a legal resident of the U.S. There are still pockets of racism, but I do not believe it is systemic, except (ironically) in those programs that are purported to be anti-racism programs like Critical Race Theory which categorized people based on their race. The greatest threat to domestic security is the removal of God from our schools resulting in the rise of secular humanism and the devaluing of human life.
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?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
The architects of the Constitution understood that our rights were given by God and it was the role of government to defend and protect these rights which include life, liberty, and property. I hold the same position, and understand government to be a necessary evil which must be restrained from growing too big so that individual liberties are compromised. Because of this foundational belief concerning the origin of our rights and the role of government, I believe: 1.) human life is sacred and must be defended from conception until natural death. 2.) individuals must have the right to defend their personal property with the right to bear arms. 3.) government must limit spending and taxes 4.) the free market is the heart beat of America. small businesses need to be unencumbered by heavy regulation so that can grow, produce desired products/services, and create jobs.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I'm a firm believer that our Republic was designed to make room for the average citizen to step up and represent the people. Personally, I have a clear understanding of our God-given, essential rights, and I understand that the government's role is to protect these rights. Therefore, all legislation that I would author or support would be in favor of individual liberties. This would apply to small businesses, education, taxes, abortion, gun rights, and farmers/ranchers. As a former professor of philosophy and Biblical studies, I have studied and taught ethics and morality in depth. I have a solid foundation and clear reason for everything that I believe that I can articulate and apply practically. As a former pastor, my focus has been on people. If a politician ever loses this focus, they lose their way altogether. It's always about the people and ensuring they have the freedom to do and be all that our Constitution guaranteed them.
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?
Families are the core unit of society, and I am constantly digging to discover ways to strengthen Oklahoman families. This includes job creation, quality education, help with addiction/mental health, and protection of basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. It's my prayer that we can see divorce rates go down, the number of foster kids go down, and the presence of fathers in homes go up. We can do this by shaping legislation to benefit those families that stay together and by creating opportunities for progress and prosperity through individual effort and determination.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that 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 the Bible is true and that it is the revealed Word of God given to man. I believe we are Created by the God of the Bible, and that sin corrupted our relationship with Him. Jesus, God's son, became man and died in man's place to atone for man's sin. All who believe in Jesus as the sacrificial atonement for sin are born again, filled with God's Spirit, and made one with God as originally intended. Sin has blinded the eyes of those who do not believe, and this the reason there is evil in the world. My values originate in the literal interpretation of Scripture. Love, honor, courage, generosity, freedom, hope and faith are all an expression of the nature of God. I determine what is "right" and what is "wrong" based on the conclusion found in the Bible concerning every matter.
