Stephen Edwards
Libertarian | Arkansas
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Stephen Edwards
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 50
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Henderson State University, Arkadelphia
WORK & MILITARY
Marine Reserves, E-4, 8 years
AFFILIATIONS
Sebastian County Libertarian Party, Chair, CASA
volunteer, Comprehensive Juvenile Services, volunteer
Kimmons Junior High Mentoring Program, volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Representative District 77, 2016/2018/2020
State Representative District 50, 2022
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe that once you exist, you have a right to life, and your existence begins at conception. However, exceptions allowing abortion should be made when the life of a mother is at risk. Also, no mother should be forced to carry to term a baby with a terminal prenatal diagnosis. Exceptions for young rape victims should also be made.
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.
Agree
While I certainly sympathize with those who believe this is their only option, I would be hesitant to support assisted suicide laws that weren't very limited in who they applied to. A situation that I could support would be persons in a vegetative state that have their feeding and hydration tubes removed allowing them to pass away. I believe assisted suicide in this situation would be far more humane.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The income tax (16th Amendment) should be repealed.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Nationally speaking, we should end our involvement in overseas conflicts and policing of the world.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Taxpayers should not be paying for anyone to attend college. College tuition has risen 8 times faster than wages since the 1980s, according to Forbes. This has been a result of government-backed student loans increasing demand, which ultimately increases tuition. We should be getting government less involved in student loans.
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?
None!
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.
I'm somewhere between C and D. We should be moving toward more free market options in healthcare. Insurance should be used for catastrophic and unexpected injuries and major health issues such as a car accident, cardiac arrest, or cancer. Direct primary care (pay as you go) clinics should be used for minor injuries and sickness. Citizens should not be forced to pay into a federal health insurance program if they do not want it. However, I think its prudent to keep a Medicaid-style program in existence for those who are truly unable to provide for the cost of their own medical necessities.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Governments and publicly-funded schools should never be allowed to force vaccinations on people. Concerning vaccines, our government should strive to be a source of credible information and advisement during viral outbreaks. However, vaccinations should only be administered on a volunteer basis. Employers and business owners should be free to set up their own guidelines and requirements for employment.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The U.S. should stop meddling in the business of other countries around the world. Stop supplying arms to various militaries and rebel groups around the world. Stop the drone strikes that kill civilians, including children, and ultimately radicalize surviving family members, cancel the sanctions that hurt the most vulnerable in these war torn countries, and promote free trade.
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
I believe we should cancel boycotts and sanctions and promote free trade around the world.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Neutral
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Immigrants who have been vetted and have been evaluated for communicable diseases.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
I also support education funding which follows the student in the form of Education Savings Accounts.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
Liberty and the recognition that we have inherent rights are needed for a system of limited government.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
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
Neutral
I agree with this definition of marriage, and because it is God-ordained and sacred, government should not be involved with marriage. Therefore, gay and straight couples should be able to marry who they want with private contracts ,a private ceremony, all free from government overreach.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
The words “Critical Race Theory” have become extremely divisive among so many. Some take it to mean one thing, while others interpret CRT to mean something else. Let’s be honest about our nation's past, be willing to look at the world from various perspectives, and move forward together.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
When asked, which is the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all you heart, all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
As of right now, you have to be registered 30 days or more in advance of the election. The law should be changed to allow those who aren't registered to register the same day of the election. Also, for those who had been convicted felons and have served their time in prison, should have their voting rights restored once released.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I don't believe racism is a threat to domestic security. However, I think surrendering too much control to government and its enforcement officers (the police) has had a very negative impact on race relations. Government's failed war on drugs in particular, and government's refusal to recognize that all citizens, regardless of color have a right to bear arms are major reasons why police intersect with inner-city residents everyday. People of color are disproportionately cycled through the judicial system, given life-long criminal records for drug crimes, making it more difficult to find meaningful employment. This creates more poverty, which creates more crime, and becomes generational. We need to end the failed war on drugs and stop giving police a reason to interact with individuals if they are not hurting anyone.
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.
I'm an advocate of free markets and a healthy economy. I also understand that this world is the only one we have, and that we have to take care of it. My hope is that we can do both.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To protect the rights of 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?
Choose not to answer
As a Libertarian, I believe in self-ownership and personal responsibility
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
League of River Valley Voters District 77 debate on Facebook 2020.
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?
My legislative priorities include doing away with much of the occupational licensing requirements that make it difficult for low-income people to obtain licenses to start businesses or develop new skills. We also need to address criminal justice reform. Prison should be reserved for those who are a danger to society, not those convicted of victimless drug crimes. We also need to work to bring down our sales tax rate and control government spending.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Disagree
This policy should be overturned immediately. No person should be above the law and no one should be immune from prosecution if they violated someone's rights.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Neutral
We need to do away with the failed war on drugs so our brave police officers can get back to solely focusing on crime that involves a victim. From the taxpayer savings generated from a leaner and de-militarized police force, I would advocate for tax cuts.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
There should be no restrictions. To truly protect public safety, we should start discussing what gun restrictions are needed with those in government.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Agree
iVoterGuide Notes:
After evaluation, candidate notified iVoterGide that his answer should have been, " DISAGREE. Lawsuits toward manufacturers and dealers concerning firearms should only be made because of a faulty product or firearms not operating as expected. Nobody should be subjected to a lawsuit simple because somebody else disagrees with the right to manufacture or purchase a firearm."
