Derek Keeney
Republican | Georgia
Candidate Profile*
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Derek Keeney
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 52
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Phoenix, Phoenix, MBA - Accounting, 2005
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, B EE, 1989
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Etowah Scholarship Foundation, Board Member; Chair
Salvation Army, Advisory Board; Chair
Sam Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, Member; Staff-Parish Relations Committee - member and chair; Administrative Council; Chancel Choir
Cartersville-Bartow Youth Soccer Association, Board member
Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce, member; Board Member
Etowah Valley Soccer Officials' Association, Board member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Bartow County Board of Education, 8
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (1)
*Stand For Health Freedom
OTHER (1)
Georgia Republican Assembly
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Georgia Life Alliance
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Matthew Gambill (2022); Scot Turner (2016); State Republican Party Organizations (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Matthew Gambill (2018)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate answered the Georgia Life Alliance survey.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Never.
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?
If there is illegal activity occurring in the church, which is sanctioned by the church, it may be closed.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Infiltrate, investigate, and eliminate.
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
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.
D. Healthcare is not a role of the government and has only gotten worse as government intervention has increased.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government should never be allowed to require vaccinations. Neither should public schools. If the employer or school is private and does not take public money they may require vaccinations as that is their choice to limit their marketplace for potential employees.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I am a Fair Tax supporter. Changes in the tax code which move in the direction of a Fair Tax would be strongly supported. I do not like tax exemptions or tax credits, as taxes should not be used to modify behavior. Taxation is necessary for a limited government. Being necessary, taxation should be broad and low.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Government spending on social programs should be reduced to balance the budget. The role of the government is the safety of the citizens and to preserve liberty. The individual, family, neighbors, churches, and community are responsible for the local needs. Eliminating government involvement increases the reach and scope of the money that supports local needs through non-profits, individuals, families, neighbors, churches, and the community.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Public education should be provided through high school. Beyond high school is a choice. Taxpayer funding leads to inefficiency and poor quality.
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 have immigration laws that need to be enforced. If there are problems with the laws, they need to be addressed by the legislative branch; not overridden by the executive or judicial branch. Generally, those that are going to love and contribute to the United States of America should be considered for legal immigration.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
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.
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
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The general purpose is to preserve our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Not really sure.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Nope.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I am a liberty-minded constitutional conservative. I believe in a limited government and I believe in self-determination. We should be much more reliant on ourselves, our families, our neighbors, our churches, and our communities and much less reliant on the government. My legislative priorities are to reign in government overreach and return power to the citizen.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
So said John Adams
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 Christian that believes Jesus Christ is the son of God born of a virgin. I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirt, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Georgia SB 202 is a great start. My fundamental position is in-person, with ID, on election day, using hand-marked paper ballots. Now let us begin our discussion.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racsim is not a threat to domestic security in the United States. Acceptance of and certain responses to racism is.
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.
Strongly Agree
