Mitchell Skelton
Republican | Tennessee
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mitchell Skelton
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 71
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Wayne County High School, Waynesboro, 1988
Lipscomb University, Nashville, Marketing, 1992
Heritage Christian University, Florence, Biblical Studies, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Lipscomb University College Republicans, Chairman, Wayne County Young Republicans
Founder - Chairman, Wayne County Republican Party, Member
Wayne County Republican Women, Auxiliary Member, The Butterfly Foundation
Former Board Member, Wayne County Soccer Association, Former President
Tennessee Tech University Parents Association, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe humans are created in the image of God and therefore life begins at conception. The only circumstances in which an abortion should be considered/allowed is in the case where the life of the mother is in imminent danger from loss of life herself.
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
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I do not support raising taxes. Any changes in the tax code should be to reduce the tax burden on American Citizens and Businesses, especially small business owners.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I would support the abolishment of the Federal Department of Education. I also believe that we should pay special attention to reducing foreign aid until such time as we can take care of issues in our own country and balance the budget.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
I believe we have a strong national interest in funding K-12 education so that all of our children have the basic education needed to survive in life. Post-secondary education, while important, is something each person needs to have access to but not guaranteed free of charge.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Any law requiring a person or business to violate their religious beliefs are inherently unconstitutional.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Under absolutely no circumstances should government be able to regulate churches in the practicing of their religion. No person in the government be they an elected official or employee of the government should be able to close churches.
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.
Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. Private insurance companies should be allowed to compete across state lines and laws restricting the formation of groups/associations for the purpose of purchasing insurance should be repealed allowing various private associations to provide access to healthcare for their members and negotiate rates based on the group.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Under no circumstances should the government or a business have the right to know about any person's individual health care choices.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We should protect our own borders first. Our National Defense forces and Intelligence Agencies should monitor terror groups outside of our borders with action taken only as necessary to provide for our National safety.
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
America should not be promoting a terrorist state such as Palestine. Israel and America stand and fall together, our support should be with the interests that serve Israel.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
America must fully build the wall and reinstate the "remain in Mexico" policy.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Only those people who go through the legal process of immigration and wait their turn should be allowed to come to the U.S. I believe that there are true cases of asylum where we should admit individuals, however, the current administration has abused this process to admit anyone regardless of their situation.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Agree
I believe that funding for education should be tied to individual students and parents then should have the choice as to where their children are educated.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Our rights and freedoms are given to us by God at birth. As American's we are blessed to live in a country that did enshrine these rights and freedoms in the Constitution.
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. I believe in the bible as the inspired word of God. All of my decisions and beliefs are filtered first and with priority to what the Bible says concerning an issue.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
All people who can be verified as a legal citizen with voting rights should be allowed to vote.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I feel comfortable with Tennessee's current voting laws. I am 100% opposed to a federal takeover of elections.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I do not believe we have an issue of "systemic" racism in the U.S. Racism is a sin and should be decried and eliminated from ourselves as individuals.
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.
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
America's economy and national security are both weakened because we do not have energy independence. We need to return to the policies of the previous administration for the sake of our economy and security.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
I believe government should be limited to the very basics at the federal level and that our people are better served by government that is closer to the people.
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).
As someone who has never held public office, I don't have any publicly available interview or media reports other than a few news articles announcing my candidacy.
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?
As the State Representative in the 71st district I will be focusing on the issues concerning Tennesseans. Tennesseans in the 71st district are concerned about improving our K-12 educational system, repealing the breadth and scope of "emergency powers" we experienced during the pandemic, and removing much of the regulation that affects our everyday lives.
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?
I believe we should enforce the laws we currently have on the books. I am a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment and the people's right to defend themselves.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
