Chris Russell
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Chris Russell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 12
Incumbent
No
Links
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
Discussed crisis at the border and election integrity while participating in the Republican Club Candidate Forum - 1/5/2022
Believes election integrity "is not a big issue".
**Please note: This information was received by iVoterGuide after Panel Evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.**
Raised caution flag on Prop 3
**Please note: This information was received by iVoterGuide after Panel Evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.**
States Texas Heartbeat Bill is bad legislation.
**Please note: This information was received by iVoterGuide after Panel Evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.**
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
By following the Constitution of the United States as ratified by the States. Also, under severe conditions, the mother’s life is in danger with a reasonable degree of certainty. I am pro-life and believe human life begins at conception. I am also a Constitutional Conservative and will respect the adjudication of the Supreme Court.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
Only under circumstances that will prevent severe pain and suffering by a terminally ill individual and that the method[s] used for the purposes of "aid of dying" are humane, prescribed, and directly supervised by a licensed physician.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Government spending is out of control. Our tax codes are full of political cronyism. Social engineering through the tax code should be avoided. Some spending advocated for your district, and some social ideals, like marriage, should be kept in the code. Tax reform and term limits for politicians are long overdue that could correct much of the wasted spending.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The key to reducing spending by government is to reduce the size (people, agencies, and departments) of the government. Many government regulatory and oversight agencies could be reduced by cleaning up government and occupations code.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
As a Constitutional Conservative, I support the Supreme Court rulings that allow businesses to follow their moral and/or religious beliefs so long as they do not violate fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution. I would support Texas legislation that upholds those rights if they are narrow in scope and do not allow businesses that indiscriminately refuse service[s] based solely on race or skin color.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Church gatherings should never be closed or limited by any local, state, or federal government. If that gathering is in a building required to meet specific structural codes for safety and is deemed unsafe, the structure may be closed, but the meeting of any congregation of people should never be. From my Christian worldview, the Church is not the building, but the people are.
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)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
E) Fees charged by pharmaceutical companies and hospitals are unregulated and are exploited. Insurance rates are out of control and Universal healthcare (taxpayer subsidy) is the last straw before an inevitable collapse of the health care insurance system. Unless the business of hospitals and the business of big pharma fees are regulated, there is no other tenable solution.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
The government has no authority to require a U.S. citizen to be vaccinated. Employees of private business and businesses that operate on tax-payer dollars have a choice if they do not accept and/or approve of their employer's policy. The consequences, liability, and responsibilities of the employer's policy choices and actions are the responsibility and liability of that business.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The “the common defense” doctrine is to defend our shores and uphold agreements with allied countries. That is a Constitutional principle. With that said; I would support laws that could mitigate terrorism from happening, but eradication is impossible.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
The issues in the question are a matter for the federal government and need to be negotiated at that level. Israel is an important ally and there is no boycott by the State of Texas against Israel that I would support.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
The southern border requires a physical structure to restrict/reduce illegal activity entering the country and to facilitate legal immigration better. There are almost 2000 miles of open space between the USA and Mexico. It is impractical to believe to believe that human resources alone can contain the influx of immigration and prevent illegal acts. A physical structure is needed to help direct legal immigration to entry points and assist law enforcement against criminal activity.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
If/when the federal government improves the legal migration of people to the U.S., there is plenty of room in all 50 states that should equally share in the benefits of new citizens and contributors. The question of “who” is already established in immigration law and the process should be improved and enforced.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
I agree with the Judeo-Christian values which have helped shape our Republic's foundation. Our Constitution does not allow us to call this a Judeo-Christian nation, but “Love your neighbor as yourself” should be universal. I will often pray as a member of the Texas Senate that my words, actions, and votes uphold those values.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Nothing in my worldview sees gender identity as a protected class in the law. The Constitution protects people from Government authority in many applicable ways without granting additional special rights to individuals who's gender choice conflict with their biological gender.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian, and my comforting support is from Matthew 7:7-8. I knocked in belief, and He opened the door to receive me. My spiritual views on politics are from Isaiah 10:1-3. I do not want to be accused of making unjust laws on reckoning.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Fraud and identity theft have been rising for several decades. Registering to vote is the process, just like getting a photo I.D. This is another example of something that is over politized. It is time to get rid of the career politicians diving us om this issue.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
None. Voting laws in Texas are reasonable. We need more focus on non-politically charged items.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I feel that the actual domestic threat related to racism comes from those that profit from it. Confrontation and division are the cornerstones of many organizations and career politicians. Ronald Regan said it best when he said that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are – "I’m from the government, and I’m here to help."
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Reparations is not a solution.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
Both A and B. I think of Matthew 6:34 and Numbers 35:33. We have a responsibility for both today and tomorrow.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
We continue with what works until a better method or resource is available.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To provide for the common defense and general welfare of the country. James Madison pointed out that those two items are the most abused phrases in the Constitution which is still true today. We have a problem with career politicians that evolved to care more about being re-elected than the damage their rhetoric creates. America needs fewer career politicians and more honest people, with real solutions that involve less waste and less political rhetoric.
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
I am a constitutional conservative that believes in the state's commitments to the United States and the people of Texas. If/When we, the majority of the people, believe that the Constitution[s] need to be amended - then we should do it in the process agreed. Until then, the Constitution[s] is our guide,
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carrollton-business-leader-chris-russell-announces-run-for-texas-senate-district-12-301384536.html
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I am one of you, a citizen legislator who is seeking office. Not every person has the willingness, ability, and capability to be elected to public office. Unseating a career politician is nearly impossible. I have goals, and one of those goals is to create term-limits for all politicians. Win or lose in my efforts, I will term-limit myself and hopefully hand the torch for good government to another to champion.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Neutral
As a former sworn officer, I fully understand the need for qualified immunity. The policy of qualified immunity is open to interpretation, and department policy is not the place to outline qualified immunity. I feel that the best place to define qualified immunity belongs at the state level.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
This is the wrong perspective. No municipality should be taking money or resources from the police/sheriff departments. We should focus on supplementing and/or enhancing community safety with additional programs that support and enhance existing law enforcement.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Mental history should be a factor in permitting gun ownership. Criminal history should only be a factor if the crime involved violence.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
