Jerry O'Connor
Republican | Wisconsin
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jerry O'Connor
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
Repr. to the Assembly, Dist. 60
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking, Madison, WI, Graduate, 2001
Minnesota Bible College, Rocester, MN
WORK & MILITARY
The National Bank of Waupun (NBW Bank), President & CEO, 14
AFFILIATIONS
Charis Pregnancy Help Center, Board Chair, JBO Memorial Center for Low Vision Help
Board Committee, eCenter For Hope & Vision, Inc., Board Treasurer
Wisconsin Bankers Assn, Past Board Chair, Community Bankers of Wisconsin
Past Board Chair, Rotary Club, Past Board Chair
FDL County Capital Resources Board, Past Board Member, FDL County Economic Development Corp
Past Board Member, Waupun Industrial Development Corp, Board Treasurer
FDL Area Agri-Business Council & County 4-H Horse project, Past Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
1 term as a State Assembly Representative for the 52nd Disstrict
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (6)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Wisconsin Family Action PAC
Pro-Life Wisconsin Victory Fund PAC
Wisconsin Right to Life PAC
Andre Jacque
OTHER (3)
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin REALTORS Association
Jeremy Thiesfeldt
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
200 + composed of local voters, city, town, county and state elected officials
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Eric Hovde (2024)
Glenn Grothman (2024)
Republican National Committee (2023)
Ron Johnson (2023)
WinRed (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Pro-Life Wisconsin (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION*
*Election Transparency Initiative's Candidate Pledge and Survey
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
To save the life of a Mother and child
“Women’s Right to Know” informed consent materials must include information about Abortion Pill Reversal.
Strongly Agree
This is an extremely emotional time for a woman with an unplanned pregnancy. The decision will have long-term consequences that will follow the woman for the rest of her life. Transparency and informed decision related to the consequences of this decision should absolutely include the offer of a reversal pill
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Assisted suicide or euthanasia is something found in countries that believe there is not purpose for life, no future and no God. What is going in across our northern border in Canada is frightening. I strongly oppose legalizing these activities.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Personal choice? This is not a government choice. Taxpayers should never be required to fund activities that so oppose their fundamental values of life
ECONOMY
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
This is a violation of free speech and free expression. We should reject any demand from a minority of influencer that organizations should surrender their values to satisfy ideologies that want to rule the minds and hearts of a people. Investments are made to provide and protect people's resources. We should not subordinate our responsibilities to someone else's worldview if it is not compatible with your own.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
This is a concept has made a middle class possible and is a rejection of excessive government control
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 construct should this be true? I say none
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
The First Amendment clearly states that the government will not interfere with the governing of religious activities. I stand behind the language of the entire first amendment rights
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
Historically, Marxist, socialist countries provide health care to citizens in exchange for diminished individual rights. I stand against the government being the sole provider of health insurance coverage therefore I support a joint offering of private and public health insurance. I support Medicare and Medicaid for those who have no other means of providing for their healthcare.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
My body, my choice! This is where this phrase is best applied. The government is not granted this right in the constitution, which serves as our social contract.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
This is the biggest threat to America on the global stage and we better to stand up to their tactics on all fronts
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel is the only true democracy in the Mideast and deserves our support. What we cannot afford is for the caliphates to control this entire area of the Mideast.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
It is simple. Finish the wall and enforce U.S. immigration laws.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
It is time to end the stranglehold of the public school that systematically underperform when compared to private K-12 options. The money follows the parents choices
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
We need to get adults back taking care of children and not ideologies that over-ride common sense and the role of parents
Parents have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
This is the role of parents- not government. Marxists countries take that control of the children. We do not need to surrender our children to the state in America
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
These are personal choices and taxpayers should not be compelled to pay taxes for transitional services to fund these choices.
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
We have never needed government to make this decision in the past. I find no reason to depreciate the value and impact traditional marriage has in supporting long-term sustainable societies.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a conservative Christian. Over the history of America we find that with a God-minded consciousness serves our people and society far better than the secular minded ideas that have become popular in recent years. It is these ideas that leads our nation to a moral, family and societal decline that has robbed hope from so many people.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
You cannot do get on a plane, get a driver's license, or buy a variety of products without the proper id. The same should be true for casting a vote which is the most important civic right we have in America.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Disagree
The founding Fathers of this country understood the need to not allow large cities to have a outsized impact in political contests. The largest welfare dollars go to inner cities and the liberal establishment gets their power from those who have become dependent on government. If we were to eliminate the electoral college, a dozen states could control the white house for decades.
EQUALITY
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
Boys are boy and girls are girls. I find this idea of boys being allowed in women's spaces to be a total violation of the privacy rights we have always held for women. This idea of opening these spaces is totally unacceptable. If accommodations are needed, create a private 3rd space for boys or girls suffering from gender dysphoria
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
While much progress has been made in race relations since the 1960's, the divisive language used since the election of Barrack Obama has taken certain segments of society backwards 40 years. I stand with MLK when he said that he did not want his children to judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Race is not the problem in America. It is character that impacts our domestic security
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Fake news. Destructive demands. This "theory" is failed and needs to be dismissed
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
A and C
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
In addition to our oil based products, the U.S. needs to invest in nuclear plants that are working affectively in many other countries. T
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The direct role is to serve the constituents who elect them. This begins with providing lawful protection from harm and provide infrastructure that allows a community to thrive. This can be applied to local and global security related issues. Government should take care of those in need, period. However, we need to be wise and not provide assistance at a level where recipients choose to rely on taxpayer funded services rather than contribute their fair share to society. Constitutional Republic:
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
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
Commonsense conservative
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Neutral
Police department need their funding to be sustained. If community programs prove to be effective, they should be funded separately
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I am not a gun owner. In supporting the language of the 2nd Amendment I cannot support restrictions on gun ownership. Show me any big city where restricting have reduced crime. Once again we see character is the real source of violence.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
This could be supported with the proper training and accounting for the needs a school district. Too often it is too late for law enforcement to arrive in time to stop a crime
