Joshua Penner
Republican | Washington
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joshua Penner
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 31 - Pos. 2
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Saint Martin's University, Lacey, WA, BA - Business & Management Information Systems, 2009
Green River College, Auburn, WA, Associate of Arts, 2006
Sumner High School, Sumner, WA, Diploma, 2000
Harvard University, Boston, MA, Master's (ALM) Management, 2022
WORK & MILITARY
United States Marine Corps, Sergeant (E-5), 8
Core Values Consulting, Owner, CEO, 9
Inquisio, Co-Founder & CEO, 2
AFFILIATIONS
Pacific Northwest Veterans Coalition (PNW Vets), Co-Founder, South Sound Housing Affordability Partners
Steering Committee, King County Veterans Consortium, Co-Chair
Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources Board, Past Member, Orting Planning Commission (2010-2012)
Member, Puget Sound Regional Council, Member & Executive Board Member
Pierce County Regional Council, Member & Chair, Pierce County Charter Review Commission
Elected Member, Pierce County Veterans Advisory Board, Member
Association of WA Cities Board of Directors, Board Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Mayor, City of Orting, 7
Councilmember, City of Orting, 6
Pierce County Charter Review Commissioner, 1
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Washington State Senate, 2020
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
JT Wilcox
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Representative Drew Stokesbary
Representative Eric Robertson
Senator (ret) Pam Roach
Representative Kelly Chambers
Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2019)
Gina Blanchard-Reed (2017)
Graham Hunt (2016)
State Republican Party Organizations (2015)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Cyndy Jacobsen (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Elective abortions should be allowed in cases where carrying the pregnancy to term poses a life-threatening risk to the mother’s physical health. This includes situations where the pregnancy has been diagnosed with a condition that is incompatible with life outside the womb, and carrying it to term would create complications for the mother. Additionally, in cases where a normally progressing pregnancy would cause life-threatening complications to the mother.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
The minimum wage is a 10th Amendment issue and should be decided by the states. Minimum wage hikes have continually shown that they do not address the fundamental un-affordability of goods or services. They appear to exacerbate the problem.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Extreme public health scenarios, credible imminent threats, building code violations, perhaps natural disaster scenarios. If we're talking about social issues, I can think of a scenario where the tax shelter of a church might be removed if they advocated in partisan lobbying, but that wouldn't 'close' the church, just make it more challenging to stay a designated church.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
I utilize VA Benefits for my personal healthcare as a service-connected disabled Veteran. The care is perhaps not as quick or flashy as private healthcare but it sure is easier to access and less of a pain in the rear. The healthcare-industrial complex as it exists today is unsustainable. I think B is the most likely to be the practical road forward in the long term.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
never.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Beyond our commitment to the people of Israel; geopolitically, a strong and vibrant democracy in the Middle East is essential for America's interests in the world.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Agree
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Agree
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Neutral
The government should not be involved in the discussion of marriage in any form. We should not need a government license to be married.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My spiritual beliefs center around the idea that a divine or holy presence exists within everyone, guiding us toward truth and integrity. I prioritize personal experience and direct connection with the divine over strict adherence to formal doctrines. My core values include simplicity, peace, honesty, community, and equality. I strive to live by these principles, seeking to act with compassion and integrity in all interactions. Quiet reflection and contemplation help me connect with the divine and discern my path. My faith inspires me to contribute positively to the world and treat others with respect and kindness.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
I dislike that we need photo identification in the first place, but given that we require it for all manner of commerce, it seems that it makes sense that we should also require it for our most important civic duty, voting.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Disagree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. Racism is naturally abhorrent. And it undermines the foundations of our institutions. We cannot institutionalize racism and pretend that we are a functioning republic. However, we also cannot go so far the other way as to see racism in all actions and interactions; that too is a danger to civilized interactions and dialogue.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
C.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear Fission - perhaps one day fusion.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
no
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
no
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Protecting the common welfare - public safety & defense.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Neutral
I support local decision-making on this issue. This is an issue that citizens should be able to make in their jurisdictions.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Felony, and known criminal ownership restrictions
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Choose not to answer
This is a decision that should be made within local districts. Beyond the social aspects, there will/would need to be very clear insurance and budget concerns addressed. Like with the police question before, these decisions should be empowered by local decision-makers.
