J Eric Ager
Democrat | North Carolina
Candidate Profile*
Leans Liberal
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
J Eric Ager
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 114
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
A.C. Reynolds High School, Asheville, NC, High School Diploma, 1992
United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, B.S., 1996
Atilim Universtiy, Ankara, M.A., 2005
WORK & MILITARY
United States Navy, Commander, 25
AFFILIATIONS
Project HNG, Executive Director, Garmisch Community Scouts
Committee Chairman, Ankara Youth Sports League, Commissioner
Fort Hunt Little League, Coach, Lee - Mount Vernon Soccer League
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
LIBERAL (4)
NCLCV Conservation PAC
*Sierra Club North Carolina
*Progressive Turnout Project
Equality NC PAC
OTHER (1)
*North Carolina League of Conservation Voters
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Sierra Club
Equality NC
Sheet Metal Air Rail Transportation (SMART) Union
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe that healthcare decisions should be between a patient and their healthcare provider. As was the case prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion should be allowed prior to viability of the fetus.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Disagree
If Roe v. Wade is overturned by the US Supreme Court, how far are you willing to go to roll back North Carolina's statutory abortion law that allows abortion up to 20 weeks?
I will not support a rollback of North Carolina's statutory abortion law.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
While this is a challenging decision for all involved, I would support laws that put people first when making the most difficult decisions in life.
Would you support a limitation on chemical abortion that protects women from taking abortion pills without the care and supervision of a qualified physician?
Choose not to answer
I would look carefully at the details of any such measure to ensure that the rights of women are protected in any legislation.
ECONOMY
The government should do more to close the gap between the working class and the wealthy.
Strongly Agree
The widening wealth gap is one of the biggest challenges that we face as a state and a country. The legal landscape has tended to favor those who can pay for access to lawmakers and it is critical that we work toward leveling the playing field to bring our economy back into equilibrium.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The tax code should be changed in a way that lessens the burden on the working class while ensuring that the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Neutral
I would support proposals to increase the ability of students in need to pay for college, but I would want to study any specific proposal before making a decision on this important issue.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
Individuals and businesses that provide services to the public should not be allowed to discriminate against law-abiding citizens.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Government should not be able to close churches.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
Church and state should remain separate institutions because the constitution requires it. Our government should not seek to control law abiding religious institutions in any way and religious institutions should not seek to make government an instrument of their religious ideology.
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.
Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available to all who need it, along with private healthcare options.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government, schools, and employers should be allowed to require vaccinations if necessary to ensure the health and safety of the public, workers, or students.
EDUCATION
States should allow parents to use the Opportunity Scholarship Program to fund private school for their children.
Disagree
The state has the responsibility to offer free education through high school, but it should not be responsible for funding education that does not meet public school requirements. Private schools should be funded privately.
In what situations does a parent not have the right to know what their child is being taught in public school?
Parents always have the right to know what their child is being taught in public school.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Parents should only be restricted from speaking in school board meetings if their goal is disruption instead of a genuine interest in working to improve the school system for all.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
A moral framework is important to a well-functioning society, but the United States was founded on the belief that we are all free to choose our own moral and religious framework under the rule of law.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
I believe that Critical Race Theory is an academic theory that is useful to study and understand, but like most academic theories, does not fully explain all that it seeks to. The institutions in the United States are as imperfect as we humans are, but our goal is to work to make them better so that they serve everyone in our communities.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Agree
Citizenship should be the only requirement to vote in our elections and requiring everyone to obtain a photo ID in order to take advantage of their rights as a citizen is not consistent with our values as a country.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I would propose that we do everything we can to encourage citizens to participate in our democracy. This would include support for more opportunities to vote early and by mail. I would support measures to make election day a state and national holiday to celebrate our democracy.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Our great country has been a success because we are built on the idea that all men are created equal and efforts to limit freedom based on race are a threat the bedrock of our values as a nation.
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.
When considering legislation we should take both short-term and long-term economic consequences into account. While stricter environmental laws and regulations may cause some economic difficulty, they generally are worth the short-term cost because they will have important economic benefits over the long term.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government's purpose is to provide a way to make decisions as a community and provide services that are too costly for individuals to undertake on their own.
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?
Moderate
I don't think the labels that are often assigned in politics are helpful in the effort to make common sense decisions that help us as individuals and communities to build better lives for ourselves and our posterity.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Did not answer
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 focused on making common sense decisions based on what works for regular people rather than what might work in politics. My top priorities include affordable, accessible mental healthcare, working with farmers and environmentalists to improve our soil, air, and water, and ensuring that all North Carolinians have access to high-speed internet so that they can participate fully in our world today.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
We need to direct funds to mental health and community programs, but police department funding should be based on the needs of our community and requirements for protecting citizens every day.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Did not answer
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Agree
Marketing practices that encourage ci
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Would you support legislation that prohibits biological boys from competing on girls sports teams?
Did not answer
