Ethan J. Barnes
Republican | Arkansas
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ethan J. Barnes
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 22
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, B.S. Business Administration, 2017
WORK & MILITARY
Small business owner, Current
Centennial Bank, AVP, Loan Office
Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce, Past President
AFFILIATIONS
Republican National Committee, Member, Republican Party of Sharp County
Treasurer, Republican Party of Arkansas, Statesman
Quad Cities Rotary Club of Sharp County, Past President, Paul Harris Fellow, Spring River Area Chamber of Commerce
Immediate Past President, Ozarka College Foundation, Board Member
Highland School District Charitable Fund, Board Member, Highland Elks Lodge #2539
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Life is a precious opportunity that God has granted us. Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder." Who are we to take life away from the unborn? I am against taking life away from the unborn. I do support child placement/adoption if need be (as an alternative to abortion). However, I do support the mother's final decision in the event of an unjust incest or rape pregnancy. Some situations are extremely unimaginable for a male to comprehend. If a woman is raped, that is emotionally damaging for life, and God almighty will handle that offense on His own terms. Ultimately I want babies to live a happy and healthy life in a safe home! We should not be taking life away from the unborn. We should not be playing God. Adoption is an option to be considered when facing the decision to save a 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 used to kill innocent lives.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
I do not support aid in dying laws. Seek help from your friends, family, neighbors, or a licensed mental health counselor. Your life is precious, and it should not be taken for granted. We have a major mental health crisis going on in the United States. It is now the time to address the elephant in the room. It is OK to ask help. Do not be afraid.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Eliminate the state's individual income tax. Lower taxes will increase economic growth and will ensure that taxpayers reap more benefits from their hard work. More dollars in our pockets equal more money in the Arkansas economy. Our communities can grow when the consumer has more to spend.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Instead of sending United States Taxpayer dollars overseas to fight foreign wars that do not involve America, we should first be taking care of our Veterans who are suffering within our own domestic borders. We need to be taking care of Americans first by reallocating funding to those who rightfully need it. We should also consider better internal self-auditing of our own government spending. We need to hold those accountable who are spending our tax dollars in areas that are questionable.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Agree
We should be ensuring Americans are educated on a higher level than beyond a high school diploma or GED. America should be #1 in education on a global standard. We have some of the finest educators in the world in America. Knowledge is power and by assisting students to obtain an education we will build a better society. In response we will have educated members of society who will continue to pass education on to generations to come.
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 small business owner you have a right to refuse service to anyone.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None. The First Amendment provides that we as citizens are able to peacefully assemble. The government cannot close our religious organizations.
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. My focus would be on making sure we help people who cannot help themselves while making sure that no tax dollars are spent on people who simply won't help themselves. We cannot have Americans sick and dead in the streets, but we also cannot overspend on private healthcare institutions.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None. Although, child and adolescent immunizations that are approved by the FDA and proven to be effective against disease are important to our national health. We should not force anyone to vaccinate their children or self if the vaccine has not been first approved and tested. It should be the ultimate final decision by a legal guardian or individual if they want a preventive immunization. The government should not impose regulation on one's individual health choices. It is your choice to have a medicine, or to not have a medicine, but I do hope that you will make a healthy decision for your children and their classmates when it comes down to scientifically proven immunizations. We do not need children dying over skeptical conspiracies.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Stand by our founding principle of faith in God Almighty. We should not be allowing sanctuary cities in the United States. All we are doing is inviting terrorist groups into our county.
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.
Choose not to answer
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
We are allowing drugs and illegal aliens into the United States openly. We must secure our southern border- what's left of it.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The U.S. is a melting pot of people from all over the world. The beautiful piece about America is that if you want to come to our country legally, you can. One should go through the proper channels and obtain citizenship in the United States to be able to have access to American rights. We need citizens to have tax identification numbers, pay their fair share of taxes and contribute to society. This is how we build a nation like our Founding Fathers imagined.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Agree
We as a society should take a close look at what our public school systems are teaching our children. I am a firm believer that public schools are the backbone of our communities. If a student is not receiving the education they need then we need to take a hard look at education reform. We need to keep it simple and not forget the basics of education. We should not send public taxpayer dollars to private schools without having some sort of say so in how the funds are utilized.
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
Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
I believe it is important that we educate students on the fundamental matters of education, but not to inflict the idea of teaching racism into our public school systems.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I am a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ. It is our job to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I pray God will work through me to glorify His Kingdom in the Arkansas Senate; I feel as if this is my calling. One of my favorite verses: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
We must ID ALL Arkansas voters to protect our election integrity. Non-citizens should not be able to vote in our elections.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I may consider proposing legislation that allows Arkansans the right to register to vote up until the day prior to Election Day. Cutting the ability to register to vote off 30 days prior to the election discourages new qualified voters from casting a ballot. Also cutting registration off 30 days prior eliminates younger voters who may be turning of voting age in that time period from being able to cast a ballot. We should consider allowing the period for registering to vote to be reduced from 30 days to the day prior to Election Day. I do understand the Early Vote time period and how it is important to have voters registered prior and approved, but affording the right to vote to qualified voters with ID allows for a better representation of the people.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Unfortunately there are people who are racist. When one sees color instead of who the person actually is on the inside it can inflict conflict in certain parts of the country. When conflict arises between Americans it can cause a threat to domestic security like we have seen around the United States. The movements we have seen have often been destructive in our larger cities. All lives matter, regardless of color. Purple, pink, black, white, or blue, we all matter.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
If we provide reparations on the basis of race then that is enabling a continuation of racism amongst society. Society needs to look past the color of one's skin and look on the inside of the human being. God loves all His children.
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 must take care of the Earth. We do not have another home once we have destroyed the Earth. We cannot leave destruction for generations to come. Reduce, reuse, and recycle!
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
If done properly with the correct safety regulations, I am OK with hydraulic fracking. We must protect the wildlife and our drinking water systems with the proper safety measures prior to extraction.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The government has a general purpose to provide a balance to the interests of the people with the interests of the community. The government/country provides her people the opportunity to have representation in its' laws and regulations that affect our daily lives. The government provides three limited separate and independent branches of checks and balances for our people. These three systems afford our citizens fair and balanced opportunities.
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
I am a conservative Republican.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/apr/03/critical-race-theory-sticking-point-among/
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 not a career politician. I am a common folk Arkansan who is sticking my neck out to make a difference. I care so deeply about District 22 I have resigned from my banking job to devote the time needed on the campaign trail to residents in Independence, Sharp, Fulton, Izard, Lawrence, and Cleburne Counties. I can bring a financial background from my career to the Senate. We have a real problem with our representation currently, and I refuse to sit back any longer and allow lukewarm representation for our Senate District 22. We do not need lifelong career politicians calling the shots. If either two of my opponents had business to handle they should have already presented legislation by now. Wasting a seat in our body of democracy is sickening. Serving in our legislature should be an honor and service, not a career. Using a position to climb the political ladder is wrong. Do your service and go back home. Take a chance on the new guy; I WILL work for the people of Arkansas! Vote Barnes for a Better Arkansas because you matter to me. I will be available. I will return phone calls. I will not waste my seat. I will always vote the way District 22 sees fit. We matter in North Central Arkansas. My priorities are to put YOU first, not an agenda.
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
We should always protect and back the blue when acting in good faith. If we have an officer who is abusing the power of the badge, there should be prosecution for unjust actions if their actions were not in good faith. Better departmental policy will eventually weed out those who do not fit the mold of true and fair law enforcement officer. I am thankful we have good law enforcement in our District 22.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Agree
If there are excess funds available that go hand in hand with the police department's community programs and mental health needs, then I am OK with this community assistance outreach. I am NOT OK with defunding our police departments if they need the initial funding. Many of our rural departments are already struggling enough; we need not to take away from our police if the initial need of funds remains with the department. Rather, we should explore utilizing excess revenues that are in surplus.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. We do not need to create any new restrictions regarding gun ownership. If we begin imposing restriction on gun ownership, all we are doing is allowing further restrictions down the line to be made. I will always fight to defend and protect the Second Amendment.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
Guns don't kill people. People kill people. It is not the fault of firearm dealers and manufactures that a firearm is developed. This is a free trade economy. Guns being available to citizens enables individuals to protect themselves from harm's way. I will always fight to defend and protect the Second Amendment.
