MJ Bolt
Republican | Washington
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
MJ Bolt
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary & Secretary of State Special
Race
State Rep., Dist. 4 - Pos. 1
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Eastern Washington University, Cheney, 1992-1993
University of Iowa, Iowa City, 1990-1992
Mead High School, Mead, High School, 1990
WORK & MILITARY
Professional Golf Teacher, 15 years
AFFILIATIONS
Washington State Board of Education, Eastern Washington Elected Representative, Washington State Board of Education
Vice President, Greater Spokane Incorporated Education and Talent Alliance Committee, Member
Spokane Valley Career And Technical Education Advisory Council, Member, Spokane Valley Chamber Business Education Committee
Co-Chair, Greater Valley Support Network, Co-Founder and Leader
Central Valley PTA Council HEART In Hand Outreach, Founder, Central Valley School District Citizen's Levy Campaign
Co-Chair, Horizon Middle School PTA, Vice-President
Ponderosa Elementary PTA, President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Central Valley School Board Director, 2012-2015
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Alex Ybarra
Rob Chase
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
4th District State Representative Rob Chase
4th District State Representative Bob McCaslin
Spokane Valley City Council Member Rod Higgins
13th District State Representative Alex Ybarra, Ranking Member House Education Committee
Spokane Valley former City Council Member Brenda Grassel
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Rob Chase (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only if there is a miscarriage. I believe in the sanctity of life, from conception until death.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I am 100% against these type of providers receiving any tax-payer dollars.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
We have to lower the tax burden on our citizens. Our current policies are crippling our citizens as well as annilihalting our middle class
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I think we need to cut spending overall across the board. There are so many special projects that aren't helpful to most citizens.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
People need to be responsible for the decisions they make. Tax-paying citizens should not have to pay for the decisions of other individuals.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Absolutely not.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Absolutely no circumstances should the government close churches unless there were documented cases of direct harm to individuals rights and/or freedoms.
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. I believe government does not do a good job at providing these type of services and insurance should remain largely in the free market system.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
There are no circumstances that should REQUIRE vaccinations. One-size-fits-all medical decisions do not work for all citizens.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Close our borders to only those that are willing to come to the US legally.
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.
Neutral
I will have to do a lot more research to be able to answer this thoughtfully
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
We need to protect our citizens that are here legally first.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those that do so legally and are thoroughly vetted
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
100%
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Our Judeo-Christian values are what helped shaped our integral founding documents and are critical in protecting our inalienable rights and freedoms. They are also necessary to help guide us in this time of ever expanding governments.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
These policies are going too far in pushing an agenda to force private citizens and their businesses out of work because of their morals and beliefs
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. However, I do not feel it is my place to judge any human for their individual choices, and I strive to love ALL of God's children.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
I disagree with Critical Race Theory philosophy that divides more than unifies by placing blame and shame on individuals based on their skin color alone. I do think we need to work on cultural competency in some of our institutions to make sure that every student and citizen feels safe in their environments, and ensure their backgrounds and ethnicities are honored and valued. This should ultimately bring unity where diverse backgrounds are respected and welcomed.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a grace-based Christian through and through. I am saved by God's saving grace and unmerited favor through Christ Jesus, and not by works! I believe the Bible, the power of it's Word, and the power of Jesus in one's life! I wouldn't be here without Him!
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
We have to ensure our elections our completely fair. It is the foundation of our freedoms. If we don't have true and fair elections, we don't have anything.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
We have to ensure the integrity of every vote and every voter. Whatever it takes to do that, I am in support of. I will support going back to in-person voting if that is what it takes. I also will support policies that promote full transparency of our elections and that take allegations of fraud seriously.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I do not believe it is. This is such a politically charged item.
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.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Article 1 Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution: All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.
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).
Facebook Live Q&A: https://www.facebook.com/ElectMJBolt Be Vigilant Podcast: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4qg6h-11f4158?fbclid=IwAR1vQikRDs_OEXTnPVoj45CkbQCI0cIllMsAy53lv5K45sU665nDk-LVaVw Spokane Valley Speaks Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1940008/10354623-ep-9a-state-politics-4th-district-rep-interview-with-mj-bolt Right Spokane Perspective: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Yr3Ays9rOxz6CrbHTJrFf
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 running to bring our Constitutional Freedoms back to our citizens; to reduce the regulatory burdens on our small businesses, contractors and home builders; to help build a thriving education system that honors student /family choice and values; and to help restore common sense law and order to ensure public safety. These one-size-fits-all policies coming out of Olympia do not work for our 4th District citizens. My vision is a thriving community for all! I have been a community & education advocate for over 15 years. From parenting a child with special needs, to founding Greater Valley Support Network and Co-Chairing the Valley Chamber’s Business-Education committee, as your elected official I have been working to create solutions for our citizens in our community for many years. I am an effective advocate as seen by my election to the CVSD School Board in 2011, and to the State Board of Education as one of two Eastern Washington Representatives in 2016, which I currently still hold. I was elected as Vice-Chair of the State Board of Ed from 2019-2021. I also currently sit on the GSI Education & Talent Alliance as well as Spokane Valley’s Career Technical Education Advisory Council. I have worked across the isles to inform legislators and to help craft and pass better education policies for our students. I am an excellent listener and reach out to those who understand the impact of policies to realize potential unintended consequences. I dig to understand the real impact and have discernment to see the big picture. I have lead the way on the State Board of Education to position ourselves this year to tackle re-alignment of High School Graduation Requirements, one of the main barriers to our students being workforce ready. Because of my work in the community, I am a multi-dimensional candidate, understanding issues across many different parts of society. Although education policy is my area of expertise, I have worked with employees and other community members around workforce needs for years. I was raised on the farm with conservative & hard-working values and have personally seen the impact of increased regulations pushing small farmers out of business.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
If conduct is consistent with departmental policy, I do believe police officers should be personally immune from prosecution. However, if there is an issue, the departmental policy needs to be looked at and evaluated.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
While I agree that we need to support mental health and community programs, I do not believe redirecting funds from the police departments to do this. We need to make sure we are funding the ones that are trying to protect us.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I think there should be no restrictions on gun ownership for those that are law abiding citizens. We need to continue to have thorough background checks, and look at policies that make thieves and those that mean to do harm harder to get to their hands on guns. I do not support any further infringement on our 2nd Amendment rights
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
Absolutely not. Just like when we have car accidents, the manufacturers are not liable unless their was a malfunction with the vehicle.
