Kevin D. Raper

Republican | Tennessee

Candidate Profile*

Leans Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Kevin D. Raper


Party

Republican


Election Year

2022


Election

General


Race

State Rep., Dist. 24


Incumbent

No


Links

Kevin D. Raper websites FacebookX

EDUCATION

Tennessee Tech. University, Cookeville,TN, Educational Specialist, 1998

Tusculum University, Greeneville, TN, Master of Education, 1996

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, B.S. in Mathematics Education, 1987

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, Member, First Baptist Church

Member, Bradley County Republican Party, Member

Bradley County Republican Women, Member, Bradley County Education Association

Negotiator, SPCA, Board Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Bradley County Commissioner, 4

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)

Tennessee Right to Life

*Patriot Parents

OTHER (1)

*Tennessee Employees Action Movement PAC

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)

Cleveland Professional Firefighters Union

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

It should not be allowed under any circumstance.

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.

Disagree


ECONOMY

What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?

One change needed would be eliminating the marriage penalty tax.

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

Any funding that is used to promote abortions should not be included in the budget.

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

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?

Government should only close churches in extreme cases where atrocities, torture, or murders are taking place.


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.

B

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

None, this should be an option for parents and individuals that are 18 and over.


NATIONAL SECURITY

What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?

In order to protect the United States, we should use any means necessary to eradicate Islamic terrorism.

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


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?

The US government should define specific guidelines and enforce them.


EDUCATION

I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.

Agree

Public school monies should never be used for educational choices. Other types of schooling options should have separate line items for funding.


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Strongly Agree

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 believe a person is born again by the sacrifice Jesus Christ made and through his resurrection we can have eternal life.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?

There should be a Federal law requiring voter identification to remove possibilities of voter fraud.


EQUALITY

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Yes, racism is a threat to domestic security because there are people that perform needless hate crimes. Each individual is a child of God.

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.

This is one answer that requires a healthy combination of both viewpoints. It is more about balance.

I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.

Neutral

We need to find environmentally safer ways to get natural resources. We need the oil, but not at the expense of destroying many acres of land.


ABOUT YOU

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

The general purpose or government is to facilitate, guide, and protect Americans. It should not be a set of laws micromanaging people’s lives.

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).

My actions and votes on the County Commission demonstrate my conservative beliefs and support of the Constitution.

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! The only times I have ever attended court was jury duty or as an innocent bystander.

What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?

I am a lifelong educator, but believe we are in need of more changes in public education. I strongly support legislation to assist Veterans and first responders. Finally, I believe Tennessee legislators can continue cutting taxes with financially prudent budgets.


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?

We should keep things the way they currently exist without any further restrictions.

Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.

Strongly Disagree

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