Mike Tsichlis
Republican | Missouri
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mike Tsichlis
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
primary
Race
State Representative, Dist. 96
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Ph.D., 1995
Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, M.A., 2012
Saint Louis Univeristy, St. Louis, M.A.P.A., 1986
Saint Louis University, St. Louis, B.A., 1983
Southwest High School, St. Louis, H.S. Diploma, 1979
WORK & MILITARY
Axios Communications, Owner
College & Non-Profit Fundraising Professional, 30 yrs
AFFILIATIONS
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Lifetime Member, Church School Teacher, Scholarship Committee Chair, Librarian, Church Tours, St. Irenaeus Orthodox Christian Theological Institute
Director, Boy Scouts of America, Troop Leader, Merit Badge Counselor, Troop Chaplain
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Member of police and firefighter trained citizen emergency preparedness and response team., City of Crestwood Civil Service Commission
Member, City of Crestwood Business Sign Commission, Chair
Family Support Network, Board Member, Lindbergh Schools Foundation
Board Member, Bohnomme Township Republican Club, Member
South St. Louis County Republican Club, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Treasurer and Director, Lindbergh Schools Board of Education, St. Louis County, 2016-2022
Member and Board President, City of Crestwood, Missouri Board of Alderman, 2013-2015
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Missouri Right to Life
*United for Principled Politics
OTHER (1)
Missouri Prosper
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Missouri Right to Life
Missouri Prosper
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
David Gregory (2017)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
Mike Parson (2020)
State Republican Party Organizations (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Self-reported donations:
"I made a few important political contributions in the first quarter of this year that are not included, one to Scott Fitzpatrick's campaign for State Auditor ($300), Jim Murphy for state representative ($100). and Mike O'Donnel for state representative ($100)."
OTHER INFORMATION
Missouri Firearms Coalition Survey
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
This is a profound personal decision, but it is my belief that abortion ought to be allowed only in the very unusual circumstance that the mother's life is endangered.
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
This is a vitally important freedom of conscience and religious liberty issue.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Never.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We need to massively strengthen our now non-existent border security, fully prosecute accused and arrested terrorists, and expel those with known terrorist ties. Don't arm or fund terrorist-sponsoring nations that only end up seeking to attack the U.S. The Afghanistan debacle was a sad testimony to this.
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
This is an extremely unsettled area of the world, and where many share in a hatred for the state of Israel and advocate its total destruction. We must stand by our most steadfast ally Israel in this region.
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?
This is a freedom of conscience matter that should remain with employees and their healthcare provider.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Work toward reducing and eliminating Missouri property and income taxes.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Legislators need to conduct thorough reviews and audits of state spending and use a zero-based budgeting approach across the board prior to passing spending bills. Entitlement spending would be a starting point.
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?
We are a nation of immigrants and a beacon of hope and opportunity to many around the world. Those who seek and are approved for lawful permanent residency status (i.e. a "green card") with the option to apply for citizenship after five years (or three if married to a US citizen) ought to be allowed entry. This is the lawful process which we must uphold against the mass, unaccountable immigration we are witnessing today. Another limited option might be in the case of refugees fleeing violence and who are in immediate danger. In all cases we must closely vet who is allowed into the United States and be declined if they are found to have links to groups expressing animosity toward America.
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.
Strongly Agree
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?
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?
To follow the framework provided by the U.S. Constitution, tenaciously uphold our rights guaranteed in that document (all of them!), enforce our laws, protect citizens from crimes against their persons and property, secure our borders, and provide for national defense.
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).
mikeformissouri.com
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 an experienced local servant leader who has stood up and taken tough stands for conservative values over the years, including opposing tax increases, pushing for efficiently run government, supporting and fully equipping our first responders, fully securing our schools against intruders, fighting against CRT in the classroom and promoting parents' rights. I want to continue standing up and fighting for constituents in the Missouri state house. Among my priorities would be to advocate for greater school safety, parental rights, protect women's sports, promote greater career readiness for young people, and create an attractive climate for entrepreneurs, job creators, and innovators.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
A number of perspectives enshrined in our founding documents, such as our rights come from God and not government, are essential to our understanding of the role of government in our lives.
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 Greek Orthodox Christian who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and my Savior. He calls us to follow him and live by His biblically revealed precepts and commandments, above all to love one another as fellow children of God. The further away we move from God in our lives and society, the more likely we become spiritually and morally adrift as a nation.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Requiring voter ID as well as eliminating mail-in balloting with the exception of certified, voter-specific absentee voting due to issues such as illness, disability, or being out of country or out-of-town due armed services obligations.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism will only be a threat to security in the US as long as we continue to push division in our schools based on the immutable characteristics of our children. This poison encourages racial resentment and hate when we ought to instead focus on what UNITES us as Americans, particularly the principles inscribed in our founding documents. We have sadly been moving away from the vision of equality and unity espoused by Martin Luther King and need to recover it!
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) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. You can always work toward encouraging cleaner technologies and sources of power without strangling businesses through forced compliance on as yet unproven technologies and less reliable energy sources.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Disagree
This is essential for greater energy independence and consequently improved national security.
