Kerry Trask
Democrat | Wisconsin
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Kerry Trask
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
Repr. to the Assembly, Dist. 25
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, B.A, 1965
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, M.A., 1968
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Ph.D., 1971
WORK & MILITARY
University of Wisconsin Colleges, Professor, 1972-2008
UW-Colleges History Department, Chair, 1985-1990
UW-Sheboygan, Interim-Dean, 1996
Voyageur Magazine, Chair of Editorial Board, Review Editor, 2001-2010
AFFILIATIONS
Manitowoc Library Board, President, City of Manitowoc Ethics Committee
member, Spirit of the Rivers Board, member
Rahr-West Art Museum Board, Vice President, McKinley Academy Board
Chair, Manitowoc-Calumet Counties Library System, Chair
Manitowoc County Democratic Party, Chair, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Executive Committee
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Assembly Representative, 2010
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (1)
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
WEAC
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Wisconsin AFL-CIO
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (15)
Dana Wachs (2017)
Gordon Hintz (2017)
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (2010)
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (2010)
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (2010)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (12)
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (2010)
American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (2010)
American Federation of Teachers (2010)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2010)
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (2010)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
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.
Disagree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Rape, incest, life of the mother, and in consultation with physician concerning the viability of the fetus and physical-mental well being of the mother. Women must have the ultimate possession and control of their own bodies.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Neutral
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
The state constitution should limit the growth of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
Disagree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Disagree
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
Training workers for the jobs in a modern economy, good education, and sustainable economic growth.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
Since the Great Depression this has been a primary function and obligation of government and must continue to be so. The "playing field" needs to be more level to spur competition and creativity and allow small business/producers to thrive and not just stand by and allow the huge monopolistic corporations and factory farms to own the economy. Good credit and bankruptcy policies, laws, and regulation, and good, well-maintained public infrastructure (including broadband) facilities, and modernization of the entire energy sector is required. Large-scale investment in cleaning up the environment and saving the world from Climate Change must be undertaken and when it is we will have a third industrial revolution that we can lead. Major efforts to promote greater equality of opportunity and conditions of life must be taken.
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.
Disagree
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Agree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Reduce the unusually high cost of health care--especially drug prices-- which makes this country unique among all the developed (even the developing) countries of the world and provide a "public option" to create real competition among health care providers, and extend Medicare for those who are not paid well enough to afford coverage and for those who have lost their employment. Coverage for everyone is essential to the general good of the entire society and should be a universally available service like public schools, roads, and military defense. This is the case all over the world. Certainly and emphatically it should be the case here as well.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
IMMIGRATION
I support sanctuary cities.
Neutral
EDUCATION
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Neutral
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Disagree
George Washington's comment that “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society” is still true today.
Agree
Any teaching to children on sex education in public schools must include all contraceptive methods, and should not show preference to abstinence.
Strongly Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Agree
Parents should be the primary authority in decisions affecting their minor children.
Agree
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The 18th century Whig assumption concerning the dangerous nature of an addictive desire in people to acquire, retain, and expand one's power to control and dominate people. That assumption appears to be fully confirmed by the history of the human race.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am agnostic concerning the existence of a supernatural deity or deities (don't completely discount the possibility but no hard evidence has been presented to verify its existence) but I am convinced we do have a spiritual aspect to our being which can (and should) be cultivated and expanded and that it is integral to our moral health. I put a lot of faith in the power of the rational mind, unselfish service, and the life-affirming influence of good education.
ABOUT YOU
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Democratic Primary, 2012 General Election, 2014 Democratic Primary, 2014 General Election, 2016 Democratic Primary, 2016 General Election, 2018 Democratic Primary, 2018 General Election
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?
Liberal
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
It's imbedded in the books I've published and in my public statements as a candidate for State Assembly, on my web site and Facebook. I'm a liberal and proud of it!
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
As a professional historian and teacher I understand our current problems and conditions within the broad context and the long view of our historical development and in knowing what mistakes have been made and what has succeeded in the past before and where the long-term trends are taking us now. I also understand the concepts, principles, and workings of the political/governmental quite well because of my specialized education. (I've actually taught political science) I'm a skilled communicator, have plenty of life-experience to draw upon, possess good "people skills," and since I've already had a successful and productive career I am not looking at holding public office as a job. I have no self-interests to blur my focus and so I can concentrate entirely on the PUBLIC INTEREST and the GENERAL GOOD.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
kerry.trask@comcast.net 920-682-1710 or 920-242-3311
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am the father of two grown children and I have grandchildren. That has been one of the most important and meaningful responsibilities and experiences of my life. I worry about their future lives and feel a compelling need to do whatever I can in the time I have left to do whatever can be done to protect the quality of their lives--to ensure their chance for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is as good as mine has been.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support the death penalty.
Strongly Disagree
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Agree
