Thomas Goodwin
Republican | Ohio
Candidate Profile*
Conservative (Conditional)
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Thomas Goodwin
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Republican Legislative Primary
Race
State Representative, Dist. 55
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Miami University, Oxford, OH, B.S. Finance
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, MBA
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Bethany House Services, Board Member, Education Matters (formerly Lower Price Hill Community School)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (4)
*Cincinnati Right to Life PAC
Cleveland Right to Life
*Ohio Advocates for Freedom and Liberty PAC
Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I am firmly pro-life.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Public taxpayer dollars should not be allocated to organizations that provide abortion services. Even dedicated funds for non-abortion services should not be permitted as these funds still subsidize administrative functions that support the abortion services.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Assisted suicide is unethical, immoral, and should be illegal.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Speaking specifically about state income taxes in Ohio: we need to amend the bottom tax bracket so that no tax is owed at or below $40,000 in taxable income due to the rapid increase in inflation. The remaining brackets need to adjusted downward slightly and do away with the $ plus a % in each bracket because as you hit the next tier your effective tax rate jumps significantly and gradually goes down as you earn higher income toward the top of the bracket. The top bracket needs to be split in two with the new top bracket being more than $300,000.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I would incentivize state agencies to share resources in more administrative functions like accounting/audit/bookkeeping, HR, IT, etc. and look for areas that represent duplication of work, tasks, job functions. For instance, both the Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), especially the state parks, and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) have seasonal mowing. The equipment and labor could be shared. Likewise there are nearly 20 types of state law enforcement agencies ranging from state troopers to wildlife officers and workers compensation fraud investigators. We could pool these state-certified (OPOTA certified) and not lose a single officer but greatly streamline administrative overhead.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Agree
As opposed to directly funding any and all college education it would be better for the state to subsidize fields and programs that benefit our state, economy, and society. Examples would include vocational schools/trade schools, teaching, first responders, nursing and medical doctors, engineering and advanced technology, and so forth.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Just as no one should be forced to participate in a religion or financially support a specific belief they should also not be forced to provide their product, services, time, or knowledge to a belief or issue that they oppose.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
There are no such circumstances.
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?
They should not be allowed to mandate vaccines. It should always be the citizen’s choice for themselves and their dependents.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Federal issue. I am running for state rep. State resources should continue to focus on home grown terrorists and extremists, e.g. Sovereign Citizens.
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.
Neutral
Federal issue. I am running for state office.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
While this is a federal issue, we are seeing drugs coming through the Mexico border and spread across the U.S., including Ohio. Just today, March 23, the Ohio State Highway Patrol announced a $23,760 in cocaine from a traffic stop in Scioto County.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should follow the existing federal immigration structure. Continue screening for criminals and terrorists.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
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
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
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 lifelong Christian, I’ve attended non-denominational as well as Baptist and Methodist. My father was a minister for a number of years until he retired.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I would maintain absentee voting, early in-person voting, and Election Day voting, all of which having ID verification requirements for election integrity.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. Extremists like the KKK as well as extreme liberal groups are a domestic security threat but Racism is the cloak that they use for their rhetoric and propaganda to gain supporters in their favor.
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
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Provide basic needs of infrastructure and public safety.
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
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
My Twitter feed and Facebook page are good places where I share my views publicly.
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 responsive. I actively listen and respond. One of the reasons I’m running is because I was not getting return phone calls or emails from elected officials. I believe everyone who’s identify can be verified as a constituent deserves a response to a letter, email, or phone call.
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 am an Auxiliary Officer and our training is always with the safety of the general public in mind. The one thing we can’t control is the action of criminals though.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
That is a separate issue to be funded. Just as I wouldn’t take the funding from schools to reallocate to mental health, I wouldn’t take it from law enforcement agencies either. Two separate, albeit complementary, societal needs to be funded.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Current FFL background checks and needing a court order to take a firearm away from someone otherwise legally allowed to possess it are sufficient.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
Guns don’t kill people. People do.
