Jeff Tennant
Republican | Arkansas
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jeff Tennant
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 35
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville,AR, Ag Economics, 1979
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
FFA, Boy Scouts, NC FFA Foundation, Arkansas LeadAR, Stuttgart Jaycees, Arkansas Jaycees, New Community Church-RaleighNC, Easter Seals/UCP, N. Ridge Villas HOA, AR Republican Party, Central United Methodist Church-Fayetteville AR, In many of these organizations I served as chapter president or officer, state secretary of AR FFA, Chairman of NC FFA Foundation, Deacon in churches, Outstanding Young Arkansan in AR Jaycees
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
AR State Representative, 1989
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE*
*Additional information was received after the evaluation was assigned and was not considered in the Panel Evaluations, therefore it is for additional educational purposes only.
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
In medical emergencies only, especially those that threaten the 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
I took care of my dying late wife for several years, and assisted her in her last years, days and hours as she transitioned from this life to the next. Home hospice was fantastic and our palliative care team of doctors and nurses worked with me and my daughter to ensure Susan was comfortable, at peace and not in pain as her body went through a natural dying process - medications are readily available to comfort a person as their body proceeds from this life to the next.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Arkansas is the third highest state in the nation in state and local sales taxes imposed on its people, and we spend 2 or 3 times more per person in this state than bordering states. And, we will have a near billion dollar surplus at the end of this fiscal year. We must cut taxes, save some surplus, don't spend it recklessly, and constantly look for ways to trim fat in state spending - in any business I've ever started or managed, excessive waste and spending inefficiency creeps in and must be dealt with constantly through good, thorough, watchful, common sense management, much like we did on my family farm growing up. Moreover, Since I took office in 20cut taxes by more than $160 million. Legislators share my desire to further reduce taxes, which we will do he 2-4-5.9 plan. That will cut our top marginal tax rate from the current 6.9 percent to 5.9 percent over four years. The plan will simplify tax tables and brackets, and provide a sizable increase in standard deductions.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
We need to consider budget impacts on any agency cuts OR increases and not do "across the board" revenue increases - I have always utilized performance based budgeting and spending allocations in my business work and would do so at state government. I have also, as president and CEO, monitored my spending to budget, as RSA allows for -- I highly support the Arkansas Revenue Stabilization Act (RSA) which prioritizes which government programs are to be reduced and in what order, this is essential to best manage our state's needs with available revenues. I will put more detail on this on my website, TennantForSenate.com.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
I am a strong believer in funding education K through 12 but too many obstacles with increasing at this time beyond that - already plenty of subsidies, Pell Grants, etc, going to help fund public education beyond secondary. More on my website, TennantForSenate.com.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Government does not need to overreach to infringe upon people's rights and liberties to uphold their moral and religious beliefs in business.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
The government should never be allowed to close a church, however, the government can advise church bodies and fellowships of disasters and public emergencies, such as a robber or murderer being chased by police onto a church parking lot or facility such as a daycare, or a wildfire burning toward a church building, and church leaders should be always readily accessible and available to make a quick decision regarding the safety of their congregation or facility users with regard to gathering at a church building.
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
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Vaccinations should not be required under any circumstance but such medicines may be made available to those who choose to recieve them in an effort to quell a pandemic and provide for the public's well being.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We should protect our borders and support law enforcement and our military to police and mitigate this serious threat, and we in Arkansas should cooperate fully with federal agencies and the military to combat this atrocious existence in our society today, ever a threat, remember 911.
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
I support Israel's sovereignty, and strongly support our extraordinary relationship with this democratic nation and its existence as God's chosen people.
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?
People who wish to immigrate to our great nation should undergo rigorous testing and vetting and be properly assimilated into this nation, in order to become law abiding and productive citizens, AND be provided a reasonable and rewarding way to become citizens of this nation, as my son-in-law so proudly did.
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
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly 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
Strongly 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 practicing Christian, raised in the Methodist Church, saved and baptised while a practicing missionary Baptist (ABA), and now continuing to serve in the church my great-great Grandfather helped found, and where my parents were married: Central United Methodist Church.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
As a former election commission official, and a believer that integrity in elections is sacrosanct, the entire election process needs review and fixing to avoid any fraudulent or illegal activities that are alleged to have happened, blamed on covid, in the last presidential election.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, racism is not a threat to our domestic security, we have the tools available to us to mitigate racism at state and local levels, ensuring all races can live and work in harmony, and we must be sure to fully fund and support our police departments and law enforcement agencies as they work with any threats, not just borne of racism.
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.
a
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?
I believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense, and believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals.
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).
There have been several articles written about my conservative stance, history and values, one of which is: www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/feb/25/gentry-businessman-jeff-tennant-files-for-state/
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 true Reagan Republican, having attended his inauguration, and been inspired by conservative values since then, but even before then growing up on a farm in NW Arkansas, learning how to squeeze a dime out of a nickel and always listening, learning, and applying common sense with imagination to get the job done. My legislative priorties revolve around business support and development to help bolster our economy and provide great jobs and careers, education and training to include vocational training/apprenticeships/internships, and great world-class affordable healthcare so people can live and work at fuill wellness - all of these are somewhat predicated on making high speed internet available to all my constituents across the district, now only about 7 in 10 have such power, and it's needed by 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.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
