Catherine Barrier
Republican | New Jersey
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Catherine Barrier
Party
Republican
Election Year
2021
Election
General
Race
Assembly Dist. 17
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, M.A., 1988
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, B.A., 1985
WORK & MILITARY
Phi Sigma Iota (THE Foreign Lang. Honor Society), Life Member, 1988-Present
National Association of Realtors(R) (NAR), Former Member, 2000's-2010's
NJ Association of Realtors(R), Former Member, 2000's-2010's
American Literary Translators' Association (ALTA), Former Member, 1990's
AFFILIATIONS
Maranatha Baptist Fellowship, Founding & Current Member--for 20+ Years, Middlesex County Republican Women's Club
Active Member, Concerned Women for American of NJ, Past Communications Coordinator/Steering Committee
League of American Families (LOAF), Former Board Member, Central Jersey Christian Writers' Fellowship
Founder/Director (now defunct), A Ministry of Reconciliation (AMOR), Board Member (VP '98/'99 & Sec '97/'98; defunct)
Somerset Co. Governing Officials Association, Legislative Liaison '02 & Reception Chair '01, Franklin Twp. Municipal Ethics Board
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Councilwoman-At-Large in Franklin Twp.-Somerset Co, 2000-2003
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Assembly-District 17, 2003
State Assembly-District 17, 2005
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 do NOT support abortion; I believe it is murder. In cases of rape, incest, or imminent death of the mother if the child goes to term (all three categories combined usually amounting to about 3% of all abortion cases), I may favor allowing the individuals directly involved to make the final decisions in such cases; I am not convinced such cases should be a legal issue (the decision to abort the child considered illegal) although I believe life is always the better choice.
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
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I am sure there is wasteful, special interests spending in the budget; governments all too often waste considerable amounts of money, but not having yet reviewed the recent state budgets, I cannot yet specifically respond to this.
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?
Not what most liberals view it as. They cite it but taken out of its original context. Originally, the separation meant that there should be no established, preferred Jewish or Christian denomination favored by the government or adopted by the State as the State religion; freedom of religious expression was always to prevail. Today, with many more groups of people from many faiths making up our population, it still does not mean that faith should not be involved in state affairs, but that no faith should be established as the State religion. People and who/what they believe in are inseparable, for our beliefs dictate who we are and what we bring to everything we do in life, whether they be beliefs in God or beliefs in a certain political ideology, etc.
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 am still exploring what might work better than the current policies pertaining to healthcare coverage, but I do know that I would be against penalizing individuals and/or families if they do not have health insurance, for that is NOT a good or helpful policy!
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
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?
Those who are willing and able to contribute to American society in positive ways should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. IF they COME LEGALLY and/or are TRULY political refugees facing death from an evil, tyrannical government in their home countries (those seeking honest political asylum).
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.
Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a born-again Christian, a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior, and I believe that the Bible is His revealed Word to us human beings. I have studied His Word and try, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to live my life according to the commandments outlined within it, trusting not in my works but in what Jesus Christ did on the Cross and in His resurrection for my eternal salvation.
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I have written two published articles that indicate my connections with Christian values regarding social issues: one highlighting the efforts of those fighting for life over abortion in New York (for CELEBRATE LIFE MAGAZINE; see https://clmagazine.org/author/catherine-j-barrier/) and one reporting on the Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI), the only national Black breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States. The NJ chapter of the Sisters Network was founded by two Christian women in my area whose story I wrote for CHARISMA MAGAZINE in the early 2000's; the link does not seem to still be available). Moreover, for several years (a number of years ago), I wrote a regular monthly column for the TRI-STATE VOICE, a smaller paper published in Northern New Jersey at the time. My column featured current legislative news coming out of both Trenton and Albany of particular interest to families, people fighting for the unborn, and conservatives in general.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have served as a Councilwoman-at-Large in the sixth largest municipality in the state, in a town that is a real microcosm of the groups of people and challenges we have in New Jersey, so I already have experience as an elected representative of the people. Furthermore, I have been involved in various organizations dealing with state issues and policies for many years and am well aware of the various governmental, social, and economical issues facing us here in NJ.
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?
As my record shows (my experience outlined above), I did not expect to run for State Assembly again (I thought my political life was more a thing of the past), but given the state of affairs in our state--and our country, especially after last year, I felt I needed to step up to try to do something to stop the downward spiral. Already having government experience, I felt I was in a stronger position than some to help restore good government that truly works for the people for a change and to bring some common sense to the creation of future state policies, so I stepped up to run. If we are not all ready to make positive changes now, if we wait much longer, we may no longer have the opportunity to do so. Perhaps like never before, we need good government working for the people and not for those who want to lord over others or pander to special interests. At such a time as this, it's time for real, positive change, and I believe a vote for me is one move toward that positive change.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Convicted criminals and those with psychological/mental disorders should not be given the right to own a gun. Law-abiding citizens should not be restricted from owning or even carrying a (concealed) weapon. The right to conceal/carry has already proven to provide a safer environment in many areas of the country; it is a deterrent to would-be criminal activity.
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?
Protection of our Constitutional rights and freedoms where those are being infringed Safeguarding the lives, health, and well-being of women, children, the elderly, our veterans, and each individual Educational reform (for a return to real education for our children and not mere social engineering and liberal indoctrination)
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
The continual attempts by some to foment division between the races IS a threat to our domestic security because it continually serves to divide and weaken us as Americans. Instead, we need to focus on all people being valued and respected because of their common humanity.
