"DC" Caldwell I
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
"DC" Caldwell I
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Bd. of Educ., Dist. 11
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University, College Station, Bachelor of Science, 2008
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, none, 2002
Parker University, Dallas, none, 2014
Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Houston, Juris Doctor, 2019
WORK & MILITARY
Texas State Guard, Sergeant, 3
AFFILIATIONS
Grand Lodge of Texas AF & AM, Master Mason, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Elder, NAACP, Member
ASCE, Member, Tarrant County Bar Association
Student Member, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Student Member
Fort Worth Paralegal Association, Member, Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies
Former Chapter President, Young Americans for Liberty and Turning Point USA, Former Joint Chapter President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Mayor of Fort Worth, 2021
Justice of the Peace of Harris County, 2018
Trustee of Houston Community College, 2017
City Council of Dallas, 2015
Trustee of Austin Community College District, 2012
Race
Previous Races
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
ActBlue (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate is running for this seat in both the Democratic and Republican Primaries.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Neutral
Schools should be allowed to take advantage of resources which are donated to the school without conditions attached and without public cost.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Because infanticide, the killing of innocent children, naturally shocks the conscience, students should not have be taught that infanticide is obviously immoral. Instead, young adults should be taught the importance of accepting responsibility for their voluntary choices even though the consequences may be difficult to accept. Young adults should be taught that heroism is demonstrated in the willingness to self-sacrifice for the benefit of another. Young adults should be taught that giving in to stress, fear, and desperation which drive otherwise decent people to injure and even kill others who deserve to live is wrong just as is attacking someone out of greed or hate. Without equivocating, young adults should be taught to recognize that justifications and excuses should be considered on a case-by-case basis for every act of civil or criminal wrongdoing. Students should be taught that, even when a bad act is neither justifiable nor excusable, the people responsible for hurting others may receive pardon, forgiveness. Students should be taught that giving mercy and grace is better than demanding justice.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Each family, church, and social group is primarily responsible for the wellbeing of its members.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
The government has already made certain promises to support the funding of education at all levels. While the government should keep the promises already made and accepted, the government should not impose new obligations on taxpayers which over-reach the proper role of the state.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
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.
Disagree
Marriage is a religious institution. Governments should butt out of individuals' private lives but protect children. To the extent that couples and families want to obtain legal recognition of their relationships, they should register and incorporate in the same manner as business associations which are recognized as legal entities and receive corresponding legal benefits. So-called "no fault" divorces should occur in the same manner as the dissolution of corporations or business organizations.
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Disagree
Students should be taught not to disrespect, murder, steal, perjure, defraud, or trespass. Without damaging property, those who oppose displays of the God-specific commandments should be allowed to cover the verses that offend them just as those who support expressions of faith should be allowed to make those expressions.
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
Freedom of speech should be encouraged to foster learning, not stifled.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Disagree
The best way to maintain peace is through prosperity. Corruption and crime foster poverty, while a strong economy fosters improved quality of life for all.
EDUCATION
Every state should mandate K-12 standardized tests and the use of teaching software which aligns with Common Core standards.
Disagree
Each state should OFFER educational tools, but families and schools should have the leeway to implement them in a manner consistent with their priorities and values.
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Agree
I was home-schooled for a year after receiving several failing grades. Upon returning to public school as though I had not missed a day, I made straight A's. Having the choice available to do something else was priceless in improving my school performance.
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Agree
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Agree
I believe that this kind of elective course should be available for schools to offer. I understand that many aspects of history are unsavory and controversial. I support the rights of students, parents, and educators to have and share ideas with which I may strongly disagree.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
If citizens will not police themselves, then the government will never be able to provide enough police to make them follow its laws.
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Disagree
As long as we have sex-segregated sports, students should participate in the leagues in which they qualify rather than cheating to obtain an unfair advantage. I support allowing students to participate in co-educational integrated sport leagues.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I have a relationship with God, who I speak with as my Heavenly Father, and I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My personal testimony begins with the affirmations that (1) I know God is real because I have witnessed the answering of prayers, (2) I know God cares about me, and (3) I know God is pleased when I do the best that I know. While there are sermons that I can add, the rest is relatively secondary.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Disagree
When circumstances warrant reasonable necessity to protect all involved, diagnoses and urgent care should be provided, and parents promptly notified. Written consent should be obtained for any follow-up treatment.
ABOUT YOU
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
My views are not one-dimensional.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/10/10/texas-legislator-shouted-down-at-texas-southern-university-law-school-speech-called-off-by-university-president-for-lack-of-central-campus-authorization/ https://dallasexpress.com/fort-worth-mayoral-candidate-daniel-dc-caldwell-i-am-a-seeker-of-consensus-and-common-ground/ https://fortworthreport.org/2021/04/16/36-year-old-mayoral-candidate-i-am-honestly-a-seeker-of-consensus-and-common-ground/ https://www.dallasnews.com/voter-guide/2021-spring/candidate/1319/daniel-%22dc%22-caldwell-i/ https://www.tarrantvotes.com/may-1-2021-election/local-governments/city-governments/fort-worth/fort-worth-mayor/
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 books have had the most profound impact on your view of life?
In addition to the Bible, I reflect on writings of C.S. Lewis such as The Great Divorce (not about divorce), the Arbinger Institute's Leadership and Self-Deception, and ... Teaching, No Greater Call.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Yes, but the submission deadline is coming up quick, so I might have to try to add more later, and I will be responding to other voter guide questionnaires as well.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Agree
Reasonable precautions should be taken, such as keeping ammunition separate from the firearm when not in-use.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support mandatory vaccinations for children attending public school?
No. There are several reasons why vaccinations would be inappropriate, including the greater degree of immune resistance provided by natural immunity, severity of allergic reactions to components of vaccines, and costs charged either to the student's family or public coffers, among others.
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
I oppose de-humanizing muzzles. If someone is infectious, they should stay home and isolate rather than wearing a placebo.
