Jeffery Pepper
Democrat | Michigan
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jeffery Pepper
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
Special General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 15
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, BA, Communication Arts, 1974
Wayne State University School of Law, Detroit, Juris Doctor, 1977
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
State Bar of Michigan, member, Dearborn Rotary Club
member many years, Knights of Columbus, Co-Chair Tootsie Roll Drive for Developmentally Disabled Children (2x)
Dearborn City Beautiful Commission, member many years, Dearborn Civil Service Commission
member many years, Dearborn Police and Fire Pension Board, member many years
Dearborn Community Crisis Center (Suicide hotline), Executive Board, Dearborn Bar Association
President, Wayne County Family Law Bar Association, President
Dearborn Democratic Club, Executive Board
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
none
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Wayne County Commissioner, 1974
Judge of the 19th District Court, 1986
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Small Business Association of Michigan, Michigan Realtors Association, Wayne County Commissioner Sam Baydoun, Dearborn Democratic Club, Alabas Farhat (former candidate for 15th District Special Election), Cynthia Pepper, wife.n
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
John Walsh (2008)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (10)
Abdullah Hammoud (2020)
Beto for America (2019)
Doug Jones (2017)
Hillary Clinton (2016)
Joe Biden (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe in the constitutional right of privacy for the individual to make reproductive choices. Abortion should be legal, safe and rare.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
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 believe the tax code should be progressive. The highest marginal tax rate should be increased for high wage earners.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
defense budget.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Agree
K-14 should be guaranteed.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
As a business owner, I would not provide service to an individual wearing, say a swastika T-shirt and I would oppose government requirements that I do so.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Under no 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.
B
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
When public health and safety is involved.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Quit fighting pointless wars in the middle east and quit selling arms to rogue regimes. Quit electing "muslim ban" cretins like Trump to high office. reactivate the Peace Corp.
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 Agree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Any properly vetted person from anywhere should be allowed to apply for immigration to the US.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Choose not to answer
This is a poorly conceived question. I support school choice including private schools, home schools and publically supported charter schools. I do not support voucher programs or tax credits.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Disagree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly 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
Strongly Disagree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Choose not to answer
I disagree with the distillation of CRT in this question. I support history being taught as history was experienced from all perspectives. I support continued academic discussion of CRT for the purposes for which it was developed and taught. I agree that Republicans have totally highjacked and misrepresented CRT.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Be kind. Be charitable. Be informed. Be helpful. Be empathic. Be inclusive. Be non-judgmental. Aspire to the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Agree
Other reliable forms of voter ID should be required or an affidavit of identity.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
More early and mail in voting. resist voter suppression legislation.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. Obviously.
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
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
As part of an overall transitioning strategy from reliance on fossil fuels to green technologies.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Did not answer
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?
Liberal
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I'm sorry, but this question is akin to asking for a photo id to "validate" someone's eligibility to vote. I stated that I view myself as "liberal" and I believe my answers establish that I probably am.
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?
Nothing.
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 support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Neutral
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Did not answer
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Agree
