Gex Williams
Republican | Kentucky
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Gex Williams
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 20
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, MS Electrical Engineering, 1977
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, BS Computer Science, 1975
WORK & MILITARY
US Naval Academy, Midshipmen, 1970-1972
AFFILIATIONS
Grace Fellowship Church - graceky.org, member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Kentucky House of Represenattives, 1991-1992
Kentucky Senate, 1993-1998
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
U.S House of Representatives, 1998
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (6)
*Freedoms Heritage Forum
Kent Ostrander
*Kentucky Right to Life Association (KRLA)
*Northern Kentucky Right to Life PAC
Republican Liberty Caucus of Kentucky
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Congressman Thomas Massie
Senator Jack Westwood
Kent Ostrander
John Sower
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
State Republican Party Organizations (2015)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I am totally opposed to abortion and 100% pro-life. A direct attack on a child is never allowed, but treatment where the best effort is made to save the life of both mother and child is (i.e. C section).
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Do you support the proposed Yes for Life amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, which makes clear that there is no state constitutional right to abortion?
Yes
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly 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
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Secure our borders and properly vet those who seek to enter the U.S. Overseas, we must maintain and strengthen our ability to disrupt and eliminate terrorists and their networks while minimizing the need for American boots on the ground.
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
We need to broadly support Israel and other democracies when they are threatened by autocratic states such as Iran.
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.
C
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
New vaccinations such as the COVID vaccine should never be required for anyone. This is a health care decision that should be kept between the patient and their doctor. The state or employers should never require vaccinations. Schools may, if they provide religious and medical exemptions.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Kentucky needs to move towards a flat consumption tax that eliminates income tax and reduces the overall average tax burden. Tennessee now has no income tax and Kentucky must compete.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
State Government exists to provide essential statewide infrastructure and services such as - justice, safety, protection, national guard; public highways, bridges, airports, waterways and education. We must prioritize existing obligations such as pensions, and additional spending outside essential government infrastructure and services should be reduced.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
I support state funding for primary and secondary education. College admission should be on a competitive basis and we should also encourage trade schools and alternative pathways to good-paying careers.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Build and man the wall!
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We need a merit-based immigration system which encourages healthy individuals with the desire and skill to work and be a productive citizen for their families, community and America to come in. Also, actual refugees with qualified sponsors (not the government) who agree to financially provide for such refugees if they cannot provide for themselves.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
Parents choosing their children's education opportunities via competive options, not monopoly, is the proven American way to provide consumers the best choices of quality products at the best prices - education should be no exception.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Violent felons who have not had their rights restored should not be able to possess weapons.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support the expansion of gambling in Kentucky?
Choose not to answer
Gambling is unconstitutional in Kentucky, but I support letting people vote on a constitutional amendment to remove that restriction. Wagering, such as horse racing and sports betting is constitutional and it could be legal for adults, subject to restrictions similar to those for drinking to protect minors and others from predatory gambling organizations. However, expecting gambling to solve big budget problems is as unrealistic as believing the lottery solved educational funding.
The LGBTQ+ agenda’s advocacy for puberty blockers, biological males competing on girls’ sports teams, and allowing biological males into girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, and showers threatens the wellbeing of our children.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To provide for mutual defense, protect the public from criminal activity, provide essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airports, waterways, clean water, sanitary and storm sewers, and other such essential service and infrastructure.
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?
Very Conservative
I can be described as a Christian Libertarian. My worldview and legislative priorities are reasoned from the Bible, which in my opinion proscribes limited civil government and broad individual liberty.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Google Gex Williams and review the responses from my legislative days. Reivew a copy of the Conservative Leader which contains additional endorsements and references.
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?
Growing the economy by providing essential infrastructure and service is my #1 priority for the next decade. In Kentucky that means a more business friendly regulatory environment, better roads and other essential infrastructure and a fairer flatter tax structure that eliminates the income tax.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
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 believe all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, but through Christ's unmerited grace and suffering, believers have the hope of eternal salvation. That the Bible in it's original language is the inspired Word of God which contains fundamental principles about how to best live our lives and order our society. That the Christian Church's influence on western civilization has brought about the freedoms and prosperity the west now enjoys.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Strengthen procedures to ensure only qualified voters are registered on the voter roles, better ensure the authenticity and chain of custody of absentee ballots and ensure voting machine source code is transparent. Results should be verifiable via audits prior to certification.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Ethnic conflict, be it called racism, tribalism or gang conflict is less intense in America than the rest of the world due to class mobility and opportunity regardless of cultural background. It is the movement away from a ethnic blindness (critical race theory) that is the greatest threat to American society. Good policing and mutual respect of all communities can be a big help to bringing us together.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
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.
A. We have the technology to protect the environment while expanding the economy. Electricity has done more to improve the quality of life and health than just about any other single innovation. Kentucky is a net energy exporter with one of the lowest electric costs in the nation. Particularly in the next decade, increased energy production can expand Kentucky's economy and be a benefit to all without negatively impacting the environment.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
