Lynda Leventis-Wells
Republican | South Carolina
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Lynda Leventis-Wells
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Supt. of Education
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MED, 1976
University of South Carolina, Columbia, BA, 1975
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Crime Stoppers of Greenville, Currently Board member past President (3 different 2 year terms), Communities in Schools
past Vice Chair, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Past President of the Parish Council 2 years
St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Chairman of the Greek Festival for 2 years and have worked the festival for 25 years, Cancer Survivors Park
Chef and Team Leader for a fundraiser for CHOP Cancer (volunteer), Senior Action, Dancing with the Stars fundraising event for Senior Action (volunteer)
Cancer Survivors Park, Chairman of Fundraising (member), United Way
Past Vice Chair of public policy and committee member (volunteer), SC Law Enforcement Association, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Chairman,Vice Chair and Secretary of Greenville County School Board, various years 2006 - present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
I accept support for many, not endorsements. I will represent all the people of SC. I have many who want to endorse me but accept their support!
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Deborah Long (2014)
Garry R. Smith (2009)
Nikki Haley (2010)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Jackie Hayes (2012)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
QUESTIONNAIRE*
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Agree
Planned Parenthood and ALL abortion for any reason should be eliminated...period! Schools need to teach subjects; math, science, REAL history, English, etc and NO SEL/CRT or mandates of any kind!
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Never.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Strongly Agree
This whole line of thinking about genders is reprehensible to any one with objective common sense!
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Strongly Disagree
Not only that but we need prayer in schools again. When America removed prayer from schools, it helped tumble our education system even further to the liberal left! Restoration in America comes through Christ and prayers of the people!
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
If a Muslim talks about anything, it is somehow acceptable and even praised for being a part of "Diversity". We were founded on Judeo-Christian values and we must return before we lose our nation!
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
Yes! We must have a powerful military but it is the teaching of Christian values throughout America is really what maintains peace. Without God as a central part of our country, including education, we can only make it so far. We must recruit tough, Godly leaders in our military who stand for principle and will not cower to anything pushing against these standards. We have too many weak kneed military leaders who sell out to appease woke leadership and this is wrong.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
There are cases where the government can help those with special needs or particular situations where the citizen does not have the ability to earn a living and has no caretaker but most social programs are just that...SOCIALISM. Government overreach has to stop so people can thrive by being given opportunities. When the government interferes with capitalism, it hinders the individual's success.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
Not in favor of this. The more the government interferes, the more issues and socialism we have going on in schools! We must take NO money from the federal government because there are always strings attached. With state money we have to keep integrity in our system. Every position needs to be audited and any wasteful and unnecessary or unproductive position needs to be eliminated then move that money directly to the classroom. We are swimming in the deep end of the pool with government paid overhead called the Department of Education created in the 70s to expand the control of the government over our kids. Everything has slowly veered off of the tracks since then and now education for our kids as intended by our forefathers would be completely unrecognizable to them if they were alive today! In SC, we have roughly the same budget as NC but they rank in the top 10 in education and we are 44th, with many less school age kids than NC. This is unacceptable and we will not change a thing until we get ahold of the finances in the education department with the sole purpose to move more money into classrooms. This is more funding for students and teachers to create job satisfaction so they do not leave. Lets find out what they want and what motivates them instead of implementing a useless program with no "teeth" in creating a better environment for teachers. It is not that hard to fix but SC keeps adding more fixed administrative costs not even related to the classroom. Why?? Complete nonsense and it must change now!
EDUCATION
Every state should mandate K-12 standardized tests and the use of teaching software which aligns with Common Core standards.
Strongly Disagree
Common Core is a complete disaster and should never be taught in schools!
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
Public school, private school, charter school, magnets or home school...whatever the parents want should be encouraged. This choice in itself does make the public school system better and not worse because of the inherent rules of capitalism...competition breeds more productivity!
Before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL), they must opt-in with written parental permission.
Disagree
Opting into these disastrous programs is the very least we should do but they should NEVER be taught in our schools in the first place...period. Eliminate them all and put the money saved (recovered) back into the classroom in the form of student benefits, teacher satisfaction and safety!
I support the teaching of curricula (such as the 1619 Project, No Place for Hate, Second Step, etc.) that emphasizes slavery and racism as the foundation of American history.
Strongly Disagree
These are all false narratives and should not be taught in our schools. These are all lies of the enemy to go along with woke culture and it is not ok!
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Strongly Agree
We should take very little to no Federal dollars! Special Education funding is needed due to the cost of our students with special needs (very costly). I would love for our SC Education to one day fully funded by our state and cut the federal government out completely!
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Agree
With specific and focused training in addition to taking all of the state's concealed carry licenses and additional training. Having a law enforcement background, I'm concerned where the weapon would be kept in a classroom and the amount of training necessary for teachers to be put in a life threatening situation!
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support mandatory vaccinations for children attending public school?
NEVER!
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
NEVER!
ABOUT YOU
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
The less government the better and our forefathers warned early on that whatever we "give" over to the government will be perverted and that is what has happened in America. We gave over our money system to greedy individuals who formed the Federal Reserve and the World Bank which have completely corrupted our dollars directly causing inflation and a plummeting value of our currency. We are provided free speech, religious freedom by our constitution and must begin following its content NOW.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Not exactly sure what is wanted with this question because in every aspect of our lives, it is clear that liberalism, socialism and more government takeovers of our freedoms and liberties in our lives is not good and hinders the creativity and prosperity of our citizens. There are many sources for these things but cannot point to individual resources except the US Constitution is a great start for EVERYONE to read and learn from. Our constitution should not be compromised yet our society has nearly shredded the entire document with bigger government.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Never.
What books have had the most profound impact on your view of life?
The Bible, Franklin Covey 7 Habits for Highly Effective Leaders
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am conservative and will fight for the student's rights as well as the teachers in the classroom. We MUST allow teachers to teach what they are trained for, let students learn core subjects without the political mess of CRT/SEL, mandates etc. This is wrong on every level! We must audit the entire DOE and redirect more money to the classrooms as I previously wrote. We can make SC a better educated state by sticking to the basics! We do not need more programs and committees like other candidates are proposing but education for students to make them more competent at graduation whether the student is heading into the workforce or entering college.
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2012 Republican Primary 2012 General Election 2014 Republican Primary 2014 General Election 2016 Republican Primary 2016 General Election 2018 Republican Primary 2018 General Election 2020 Republican Primary 2020 General Election
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
We will never have significant change in America until we return to these roots our forefathers instituted!
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
This should never even be a discussion! Sports, bathrooms etc. are for the biological sex only!
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God who died for our sins so we do not have to live an eternity in hell. We have been given rights through the cross imperative for Christians to believe, giving us power, love and a sound mind. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that it is not from works but faith that saves us so that no one can boast! Nothing we can DO makes us acceptable in His sight unless we are saved through the blood of Jesus.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
This is 100% the parent's job and MUST be involved in every situation for any of these.
