Lela McNinch
Republican | Nebraska
Candidate Profile*
Leans Liberal
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Lela McNinch
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
Governor
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Israel, Tel Aviv, Homeland Security Certificate, 2010
University of Nebraska, Kearney, Bachelor, 1992
York College, York, AA, 1987
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
E-Free church, York, NE, Worship team, Fox Hollow Neighborhood Association
President, Gold Star Families, Promoter
UNO criminal justice/criminology, Adjunct Professor, Church of Christ
Sunday School Teacher, 1st United Presbyterian Church, Choir member
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.
OTHER (2)
*Jason Frost
*Lisa Kovanda
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Lynn Mariano, former US Pentagon Security Director
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion should be allowed when the life of the mother is at risk. Abortion should be allowed up to 6 weeks in the case of rape and incest.
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
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I will work in collaboration with the unicameral to develop a feasible flat tax without deduction loopholes.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I would reduce spending in the department of corrections by not building a new facility, but rather utilize unused building across the state to house inmates based on custody level and crime. I will reduce spending by auditing all state agencies to address unnecessary expenses. I would specifically address the Department of Education to eliminate unnecessary redundant positions and activities. I will closely review the spending at the university to determine if it is needed or if it serves a non-essential purpose.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
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
Every business and individual should always have the freedom to choose who they serve. If they choose to discriminate based on anything, it will reflect on their business and person and the individuals should accept the consequences of their failures based on their behavior.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Government can never close churches.
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.
B. Healthcare insurance funded by government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. For individuals receiving government funded healthcare, there needs to be a sliding scale of care provided to individuals based on disability. Quality of care needs to remain high regardless of government funded insurance or private insurance.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
The government, school or employer should never be allowed to require vaccinations. All medical decisions should be left to the individual.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The USA should continue to target high profile known terrorists with drone strikes.
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
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
A reason I would like control on our borders is for the protection of the millions of families and children coming across the river. Remember, I was on the border for 3 months, living in a border town. People are being exploited. They are raped, beaten, robbed, terrified and killed or left for dead in the desert or mountains. People are being packed into truck trailers, locked in and often abandoned on a road. Eliminate human trafficking, indentured servitude and forced labor.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
I believe anyone who meets the legal requirements should be allowed to immigrate to the US. Individuals should always be required to file the appropriate paperwork to allow for vetting before acceptance to the US.
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
The foundation of our democracy was based on religion and education. We need to continue to embrace our Judeo-Christian values and beliefs as we serve all residents in education and government.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
Each person is protected under non-discrimination laws currently established. I DO agree that if discrimination is discovered, the perpetrator should be charged with the full extent of the law with fines and potential jail time.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Neutral
I believe marriage is God ordained, and sacred for one man and one woman. I also believe that civil unions should be recognized for the protection of couples who have made a life commitment to each other. All benefits legally and civil recognized by marriage should be recognized in same sex couples so they can take family medical leave or provide legal medical decisions to their partner.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
NO, I believe the media is greatly responsible for the division and creation racism in the nation, by continuing to label individuals based on race, gender, culture, religion, job or class. The media perpetuate and inflames the issue.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe God is the creator of all things and Jesus is the Christ and Son of God who died on the cross for my sins. My faith is woven into the fabric of all I am, all I do and decisions I make. I believe that God allows us free will in all decisions and He alone is our judge for decisions we make. I feel that we are called to love humanity, care for people and demonstrate our love for God and Christ based on our behaviors and actions towards others even if we personally don't agree with their lifestyles or decisions. We are called to love above all else. As I lead the residents, I will model that behavior and send a clear message to all, that respect, acceptance and integrity is essential to our country's success, unity and survival. The Christianity I practice has no hate in it.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
NO. A current photo ID verifying US citizenship must be required to ensure the sovereignty of our nation.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I believe we can enhance the security and integrity of our voting by bringing polling booths into senior living homes, rather than having a second individual “drop off” their ballot in a vote box. Also, re-registering to vote each time we renew our ID or driver’s license would help to eliminate dead people voting. Additionally, I believe a “hand count” of votes by a human should take place first, followed by a machine count to verify the information. Any machine used should be subject to inspection at any time to ensure the security of the count and the machine.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
NO, racism is not a threat to domestic security. The media creates more racism and division than actually exists.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
No. People should use their circumstances as motivation to launch themselves to greatness. We all have access to education, jobs, and opportunities. People should not be funded based on experiences, discrimination, and cruelty from the past. We need to learn it so it never happens again, but move forward.
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.
We need to work to balance a sound environment with sustainable jobs. In the US we can only do so much to effect greenhouse gasses or environmental change. If people can't work it causes more damage to the economy, mental health and families.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
I believe there need to be restrictions on fracking.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The government serves as a foundation for the protection and guidance of citizens. It should serve in an advisory role but allow states and citizens to govern themselves with little federal interference. The government organizes all agencies and coordinates responses to care for citizens for the basic human needs and protections but does not have the authority to mandate requirements or actions to residents. The government should ensure the protections of our rights and liberties without interference.
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?
Lean Conservative
I believe the government should be in place to serve, protect and assist citizens. I also believe people are responsible for themselves and the decisions they make. I think we need to keep people protected and care for them without stealing their honor and integrity by providing excessive governmental handouts. If we allow government to care for us totally, we lose all control of our freedoms.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://vimeo.com/686937765/a6e2f7ae1d?fbclid=IwAR02N-Z23v2ktwKzvEMkw1naNboRJ8xR-6g_lL8zlD6GpLQ98a1mwxZGanA https://www.facebook.com/groups/298779755189945 https://www.lelamcninchforgovernor.com/
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. I have never been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
My top three motivators to run for office are first, education. We have fallen away from the core curriculum of education leaving our children unprepared for the workforce or global competition upon graduation. This has a ripple effect on the State and Nation in economic burden, high prison incarceration and a criminal activity. Second is the high rate of suicide in our State overall, with suicide being the second leading cause of death for our youth. Other medical issues will fade, but mental health and suicide will remain an issue for us. We need to focus more efforts into saving lives in our State for our children, soldiers and those effected by depression or other chemical imbalances of the brain. Third, is to truly rework the tax system for the State. I feel the burden of high taxes and therefore motivated to make momentous change to lower the burden for myself and others. I will work with our legislature to prioritize education, tax relief and high-quality, affordable healthcare for all.
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
We need to keep and increase funding to law enforcement and also dedicate funding to mental health and community programs.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Restriction on gun ownership should be a medically verified extreme mental health disorder and restrictions by individuals who have committed a violent crime against another person. If a person is a threat to themselves or others, they should be restricted on purhasing or carring a gun. Respect my rights, and millions of others who carry or have weapons. Many enjoy hunting or carrying while we hike, fish, camp or ride. It is for my safety against predators, whatever that looks like. I also believe that if I'm authorized to carry in one state, I have met the qualifications to carry across the nation. The ONLY aspect of constitutional carry I take issue with is that it doesn't address education and training. It is common sense to require education and skills training. We mandate education for driving before you recieve a license. It will only serve to help everyone stay safer.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
A gun is a tool. The perpetrator of the crime is the only guilty party.
