Christian Mirch
Non-Partisan | Nebraska
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
Christian Mirch
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
Member of the Legislature, Dist. 6
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Juris Doctor, 2018
Creighton University, Omaha, BS, 2011
WORK & MILITARY
Omaha Police Department, Police Officer/Detective, 2008-2018
AFFILIATIONS
Rotary - Millard, Member, Boy Scouts of America
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 (8)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Kay Orr
Pete Ricketts
Dave Heineman
Don Bacon
OTHER (2)
*Nebraska Farm Bureau
Omaha Police Officers Association
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Governor Pete Ricketts, Lt. Governor Mike Foley, Former Governor Dave Heineman, Former Governor Kay Orr, Congressman Don Bacon, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Former Congressman and Mayor Hal Daub, Omaha City Councilman Don Rowe, Omaha City Councilwoman Aimee Melton, Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding, Former State Senator Theresa Thibodeau, State Senator Brett Lindstrom, State Treasurer John Murante, Douglas County Commissioner Mike Friend, Douglas County Commissioner PJ Morgan, Douglas County Sheriff (Ret.) Tim Dunning, the Douglas County Sheriff's Deputies Association (FOP Lodge 2), the Omaha Police Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, and the Transit Workers Union - Local 223
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
Party affiliation: Republican
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
My personal belief is that abortion should be limited to instances where it is required to save the life of the mother. However, I understand that, as a representative of District 6, it is my duty to vote based on what the majority of my District believes is best for our state.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
By requiring taxpayers to fund abortions the state would force individuals to betray deeply held religious beliefs which would violate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Our tax code is outdated and is stifling progress. We need to make significant changes to our current tax structure and reduce the tax burden placed on Nebraskans, especially the property-tax burden. In order to adequately address out tax structure, we must first continue to control and reduce our spending. We then must work with our agricultural producers, urban industries, and citizens to revise our tax structure and make our state more competitive.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
One area would be reviewing our competitive bidding process for private contractors, especially those that serve DHHS and DAS. Another area would be cutting regulations, we regulate approximately 47 industries, including barbers, massage therapists, and manicurists, as well as many others. These regulatory schemes can be necessary in some instances but also create an additional tax to small businesses in the form of licensing fees, maintenance fees, and inspections. The regulations also cost the state money, in that the state is required to employ administrative staff to oversee, investigate violations of the industry regulations, and prosecute perceived violations. Because the business owners are entitled to due process at, almost, every stage of regulatory action, the state must employ administrative hearing officers to review the claims. Reducing needless regulatory schemes will result in an overall reduction in the state’s budget.
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
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
There are exceedingly few circumstances where the government could lawfully close a church. The only circumstance that immediately comes to mind would be where there is a facially neutral (meaning that the law does not target any religion) and generally applicable (meaning the law applies to society in general) law that is being violated. See Employment Division v. Smith, 494 US 872 (1990). If criminal conduct is taking place and putting individuals safety at risk the government may be entitled to intervene.
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.
Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. With that said, the state should work to improve healthcare options, access, and overall quality. There are a number of ways to accomplish these objectives, one way being to entice quality medical personnel to the state through rural health initiatives which provide greater practice freedom and student loan forgiveness programs.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Schools have required vaccinations for decades for serious health concerns. Private employers may require that employees obtain vaccinations in order to become employed or to maintain their employment. However, outside of education or private employment, mandates that require individuals to obtain vaccinations should be closely scrutinized or prohibited entirely. Further, religious and medical exemptions should be honored in all cases.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We must continue to work with our allies to fight terrorism and to prevent terrorist organizations from establishing basecamps or other operational/training centers.
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
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should welcome applications to immigrate to the United States from all persons who are searching for freedom and we should streamline the process for reviewing and granting these applications. However, our vetting process should be stringent to ensure that we are preventing those who would seek to harm the United States from gaining access to our country.
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.
Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
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
Neutral
The United States Supreme Court addressed this issue in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). I personally believe that marriage is outside of the purview and legitimate function of government. Therefore, government has no business regarding marriage.
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 in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and became man.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I believe that we should ensure that our elections are secure.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Voter ID
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism, or prejudice and discrimination in any form are a terrible plight in our world. However, I do not know that it is a domestic security issue, without more information. However, if acts of violence based on racism or discrimination arise there is a legitimate concern for public safety.
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.
Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. There is a balance that can be struck and I believe that the United States is the most environmentally responsible producer and user of energy that results in carbon emissions.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
At its core, government has two legitimate functions - ensuring public safety and maintaining a sound infrastructure to promote commerce.
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
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
N/A
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 a former Omaha Police Officer. I worked in every precinct and on every shift. I also served in the Criminal Investigations Bureau and in the Special Operations Section - Gang Unit. I attended law school while working as an officer and upon graduating, I had the opportunity to work for the Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court. I now work as an attorney in private practice and serve part-time as a police officer for a small town west of Omaha to help that community. As a police officer, I have seen where improvements to our criminal justice system are needed and as an attorney, I see where we should cut red tape, burdensome taxes and needless regulations. We need to solve our state's high tax burden, find ways to reduce the impact of inflation on our citizens, and ensure that affordable housing and healthcare is available to all Nebraskans. As your State Senator, I will work tirelessly to be a consensus builder who accomplishes legislative goals that serve all Nebraskans, while ensuring that every Nebraskan is holding onto more of their hard-earned money.
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.
Disagree
Co-responder programs are valuable but we should be investing money into those programs without taking away from law enforcement.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
We have a number of federal, state, and local laws regarding firearms including the purchase, ownership and carriage of such weapons. We need to focus on enforcing the laws currently in place and seeing that appropriate sentences are handed down for violations of the laws we currently have.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
This would expand litigation beyond gun manufacturers or any issues involving guns into other areas of the economy based on court precedent set by allowing firearms dealers to be sued for the criminal acts of third-parties.
