Connie Petersen
Non-Partisan | Nebraska
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Connie Petersen
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
Member of the Legislature, Dist. 16
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Wayne State College, Wayne, Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology, 1999
Wichita State University, Wichita, Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology, 2003
Wichita State University, Wichita, PhD in Community-Clinical Psychology, 2007
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2021
WORK & MILITARY
Behavioral Health Specialists, Inc., Norfolk, NE, Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Director, 2007-Present
COPAC, Inc., Brandon, MS, Counselor, 2006-2007
Mississippi State Hospital, Whitfield, MS, Psychology Intern/Resident, 2005-2006
South Central Mental Health Center, El Dorado, KS, Outpatient Therapist, 2003-2005
R-Way, Wayne, NE, Residential Rehab Staff, House Manager, Community Support Provider, 1995-2001
AFFILIATIONS
Nebraska Psychological Association, Member of RxP and Professional Affairs Committees, State of Nebraska Board of Psychology
Secretary, State Probation Services Advisory Board, Member
Springbranch 4-H Club, Club Leader, State Justice Behavioral Health Committee
Board of Psychology Representative, Northeast Nebraska Problem Solving Court, Provider Representative
American Psychological Association, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
In incidents of rape, incest, or to sustain life of the mother.
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.
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?
I do not believe that government has a right to close a religious institution unless illegal activity is occurring and in which case, the individuals involved should be held accountable for their actions.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
My belief is our country must remain diligent to protecting the lives of Americans. We need rules and expectations in place and enforced to insure that our country remains safe from destructive forces of all types. This includes protection at all of our borders and ports to insure that individuals coming to this country are doing so for a better life and not with ill will to harm our 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.
Disagree
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. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
I do not believe that a government, school or employer should be allowed to require vaccinations. Submitting to a vaccination should be based on the individual and/or their Parent/Guardian.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Nebraska is among the least tax-friendly states for retirees in the country. We have to change this fact to make Nebraska a state retirees can afford to fully retire in. Nebraskas public school depending highly on taxes. Funding for schools needs to remain the same, however, we need to find a more realistic and efficient method of funding schools then 55% of the funding coming from taxes.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
The average effective property tax rate in Nebraska is 1.61%, which ranks among the 10 most burdensome states in the country for real estate taxes. High taxes are a major barrier to our state. If we are taxing our citizens to help pay for expenses throughout the state, we have to be fiscally responsible for our spending. We have to live within our means. We have to reduce unnecessary spending by finding more efficient methods to meeting the needs of Nebraskans.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
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?
The steps are quite clear and well spelled out. In most cases, someone must sponsor or file an immigrant petition. The person should wait until the petition is approved and a visa is available in their category. They can then apply for an immigrant visa, get a medical examination, complete the interview and wait for a decision on their application. With that said, there may be extenuating circumstances that I would want us to have compassion for, but the rules then need to be very well spelled out ahead of the decision and applicable to all races, religions, and backgrounds as to not discriminate.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
I believe it is the rights of the parent to make educational decisions for their children as long as their choices still allow for the child to receive a standard of education. That standard is necessary to set the healthiest of foundations for them throughout their life. As stated earlier, while I agree public education continues to need the same level of funding to reach their potential, we have to find alternative ways in additional to taxes to fund education.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
I believe there still needs to be an investigative objective process to insure that departmental policies were followed, and that departmental policies are not in need of changes/updates. I back law enforcement and support them while they are engaged in a very difficult task to ensure citizens follow the law.
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?
I believe that citizens of Nebraska, except for those prohibited from possessing a firearm (as deemed by law), have the rights to gun ownership.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
We must hold the individual responsible if they discharge a firearm irresponsibly or in a manner that causes harm, not the dealer who has followed the rules or the manufacturers who are running a business and providing a product. Neither the dealers or manufacturers are responsible for the actions of the individual.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The elected officials within the government have a responsibility to understand the concerns of those they represent. They have a responsibility to have a mature and healthy voice at a smaller table to verbalize the wishes of their constituents. They are to be the change agent of improvements for the state/nation. They have a responsibility to understand and review the laws of the land and insure proper enforcement of the laws. They have a responsibility to look at how we live in a fair and responsible manner.
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).
Unfortunately, as I am new to politics, I do not have any publicly available information. I hope over the course of this year to have a number of interviews and media reports that further validate my responses to the questions here.
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 have immense passion to address our healthcare crisis and create plans to create a system that can meet the needs of all of our citizens. I am a strong supporter of 2nd Amendment Rights, Religious Freedoms, support Farmers and Agriculture, teaching youth how to have a voice and become amazing citizens. I have proven I “Stand up for Rural Nebraska” in my involvement across numerous committees throughout the state. If I was elected, I intend to be a strong voice for Nebraska.
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.
Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
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 Christian of Lutheran faith. I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe that I am just one being on Earth put here to do the right thing, to teach others how to do the right thing, to live a good, clean life, to teach my children how to be good Christians, and that my time is limited on Earth. One day, I hope to reach heaven and have glorious conversations with those loved ones who have passed before me.
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 believe voter verification is absolutely necessary. Voters have a significant period of time between elections to obtain the necessary identification in order to verify who they are. We require drivers to be able to verify they have taken the necessary steps to drive. Photo identifications can be obtained even if someone is not ready or able to drive in order to verify who they are.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
The character of an individual is more of a threat to domestic security then their race. We have to build a nation of people with good morale character and values that people are created equal. Many of our ancestors believed the same thing: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
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.
B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. We have been given Earth by our creator. We have a responsibility to protect it, to protect the citizens and animals that live within it, or unfortunately this planet will no longer be sustainable for generations after us.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
Unfortunately, this is an area that I lack knowledge in and would need to gather additional research from those skilled and knowledgable in this area to cite my stance on this topic. My crude understanding of hydraulic fracking is a drilling technology used for extracting oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, or water from deep underground. I would say today that if doing such methods puts our planet's sustainability at risk, I would not support it.
