J.K Stephenson

Libertarian | Texas

Candidate Profile*

Insufficient Information

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

J.K Stephenson


Party

Libertarian


Election Year

2020


Election

General


Race

State Rep., Dist. 61


Incumbent

No


Links

Facebook

EDUCATION

(Candidate did not provide)

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

(Candidate did not provide)

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

(Candidate did not provide)

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

Race

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE*

*Additional information was received after the evaluation was assigned and was not considered in the Panel Evaluations, therefore it is for additional educational purposes only.
RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Neutral

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.

Agree

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

As a libertarian, I am opposed to state interference in this matter.


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?

Cease all spending on STAAR testing or other forms of standardized testing/state interference with local school boards. Look for administrative bloat and end it. Wherever there's an office full of over-paid bureaucrats making the lives of our citizens more complex, that's where I'll be looking to cut funds.


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.

Disagree

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 Disagree

Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.

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?

I think our forefathers said it best: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." Granted, that's for the feds, but I think it works pretty well at a state level, too.


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?

With what limited power this office would offer, I would work to end lobbying by insurance and pharmaceutical companies, end onerous occupational licensing requirement rackets that raise prices, and limit ip schemes that prevent lower-cost alternatives for production of life-saving medications.


NATIONAL SECURITY

The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.

Disagree


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 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 Disagree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

Any human being who wishes to live peacefully within our nation should be welcomed with open arms.


EDUCATION

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Disagree


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Neutral

I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.

Neutral

Promotion of the LGBT agenda in public schools, including teaching of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”, is completely inappropriate and should be opposed at the state and local level.

Disagree

I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.

Neutral

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I was raised in Protestant churches, mostly Methodist or Disciples of Christ. These teachings influence every decision and choice I make. These days, I guess I'm just a heathen; I've traveled too much, learned too much, experienced too much to claim that I've got all the answers, or that my answers are the right answers for everyone. I have a very well-worn Bible I enjoy reading. A man would be a fool to think it contains all the answers... but an even greater fool to think none could be found there.


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?

Somewhat Liberal

Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.

I don't care much for purity tests. I won't lie to my constituents. If you're curious what kind of person I am, how I feel about things, talk to anyone who knows me. I'll be happy to provide references. In lieu of such a conversation, please rest assured that I have answered this survey honestly and sincerely.

What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?

I am not a politician. Much of the last decade has seen me teaching in public school classrooms. I think it's high time we had fewer politicians in office, and more of us regular folks. I am not a wealthy lawyer, I live in a small, humble home, enjoy driving a 12-year-old Honda, and have no patience for political scheming. I'm here to do a job, to listen to my constituents and ensure the government doesn't make their lives more difficult.

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?

Lots of candidates make promises of what they'll do; I want to make a few promises about what I *won't* do: I won't make your life more difficult. I won't allow the state to continue to seize power over you, your life, your family, your children's education, your business, etc. I won't place obstacles in front of your path to peace and happiness on behalf of the state. I'm here to make sure the state minds its own business.


JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY

I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.

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?

No Answer

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

As a libertarian, I oppose state restrictions on firearm ownership. I am a strict and proud supporter of the Second Amendment.


OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Agree

I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Strongly Agree

The Electoral College should be abolished.

Neutral

In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?

Immediate and permanent elimination of the STAAR testing and its horrific effects on our children's education. Wherever possible, reduction and elimination of state laws interfering with swift recovery from the economic effects of the pandemic. Wherever possible, restriction of local laws interfering with the swift recovery from the economic effects of the pandemic; for example, H.B. No. 2596, which our state congress shamefully neglected to pass.

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Yes. I enjoy studying history; I think anyone who does so understands all too well the dangers of bigotry--however subtle--on a society.

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