Jesse T Thompson
Democrat | Louisiana
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jesse T Thompson
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
Public Service Commission, Dist. 3
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, BS- Civil Engineering, 1999
Louisiana Professional Engineer and Land Surveying Board, Baton Rouge, Professional Engineer License in Civil Engineering, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
NONE
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
NONE
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Louisiana Democratic Party
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Steve Scalise (2010)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
In the interest of others (women), I believe a woman "should" have the absolute right make her own decision (pro-choice) regarding abortion and government should have no say in this personal matter. Personally, I favor adoption over abortion but consider abortion morally acceptable in the most strict circumstance to protect the life of the mother.
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 believe our tax code should be simplified so the general public can better understand the code and fairness should be increased amongst all taxpayers.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I have not reviewed the budget, so I do not know exactly what spending I would reduce to balance the budget. I probably would treat the budget similar to how we treat our own family tables and put our needs in front of our wants and reduce our wants to balance the budget. I would look to reduce spending on many things that are outside of our homeland except critical defense items; generally speaking, I think we should focus on making our own house better, instead of providing aid to so many others across the globe. For starters, I would eliminate the ridiculous current idea/rule of our government forgiving personal student loans.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Anything worth having is worth working for. Just like many before me, I worked my way through school, took out student loans to afford to make ends meet to get through college (poor life) and I paid my education loans back myself. A lot of our society's problem is people feel the government owes them something. Entitlements have plagued our society. If we want to advance as a society, we should be teaching more people how to catch fish instead of giving folks cooked fish on a platter.
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?
I do not know whether government can close churches (buildings nor those assembled) or not. In my opinion, government should not be allowed to close a church in the sense of denying one's religious freedoms or philosophical beliefs. I do believe the government should have the authority to do whatever is necessary to protect the life, safety, and well being of the public particularly in times of emergency, criminal activity, and cruelty to self or others. Right to assembly probably should not be denied, but at some point if a church (specifically defined as an assembly of people) pose risks to those assembled or to other parts of our community public, the government should have cease & desist authority and if those assembled resist/refuse, at minimum, the government should not be liable for failure to look after the best interests of all persons AND those (assembled) that cause damage to the remaining public should be held liable for any burden borne to our community public.
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 "most" closely matches my view how healthcare should be funded, though none of the 4 options listed closely match my view on healthcare. Healthcare in America should be available for all Americans to purchase with no discrimination of health condition, age, sex, or race. Government based healthcare such as Medicaid should be available to those that cannot afford private healthcare.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
With at-will employment in Louisiana, all employers "should be allowed" to require vaccinations by its workforce; contingent any employee contracts.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
To help eradicated threats of terrorism onto the U.S., we should maintain zero tolerance on American soil and superbly defend our Nation. America should focus on the needs and pursuit for happiness of our own people at home and leave the rest of the world alone.
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.
Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Neutral
I do not think we should do more to physically secure the southern border. I think we should do a better job of enforcing our current laws when it comes to illegals, aliens, and non-citizens.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Any person choosing to become a productive American citizen and timely & successfully obtains citizenship. In my opinion, an anchor baby is unable to choose (on his/her own will as an infant) to be a productive American citizen; thus should not be granted automatic citizenship at birth.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Disagree
I support all schools and any option that is successful in educating our children today; a child cannot wait until tomorrow. I believe public schools are necessary in our society and largely provide sufficient and adequate education - some public schools are better than others, but a public school education is still a good education. If we truly want sustainable and quality public education in our future, vouchers, tax credits, and charter schools are not long term solutions for public Ed.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Disagree
Disagree, the only thing truly necessary in our system of government is for the people to come together and decide what is best for advancing our society ...with a morality that's considered good by all the people. Agree, historically Judeo-Christian values (like-minded and non-discriminatory togetherness amongst Jews and Christians) established a framework for our morality to some extent and probably "was" necessary for our government to be successful at that time.
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 Disagree
Government certainly has the authority to alter our society's man-made rules & can legally define the union of marriage as acceptable to our society.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
A kind spirit, generally with utilitarianism beliefs; one that values fairness, honesty, and helping others in a selfless way. I am for doing what is right for the betterment of the community public. I believe everybody is someone and each of us should try to help people when we can, because its the right thing to do.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
With advanced technology, there are several ways to authenticate one's identity; electronic thumbprint and electronic face recognition are two of many. It is the legal responsibility of each voter to correctly authenticate his/her identity. A photo ID is a simple & acceptable way to authenticate one's identity---something needs to be in place to make sure a person accurately authenticates his/her identity to ensure their vote is being cast and does not cast the vote of another person.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Propose voter authentication and electronic signatures by way of technology advances such as face recognition or electronic thumb/fingerprint. I believe a voter should have the option to register to vote at any single location where he/she is domiciled (lives) or other location where the voter owns taxable property. In addition, regardless where a voter is registered, he/she should be allowed to vote on tax propositions & constitutional amendments at all locations his/her taxable property is subject to. The requirement to vote at the location where one claims homestead exemption should be revoked nor should a voter be required to be domiciled at any one location the majority of the time to be considered an eligible resident voter.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I do not consider racism in America to be a threat to domestic security. America has been a melting pot (of races and ethnicities) for well over a hundred years and America has proven Herself to be a better society together. People of all races and ethnicities from all over the world have come to America for various reasons, usually in search of a better life, or opportunity he/she may not have elsewhere, and when looking across our diverse Nation, one sees successes of all walks of life which the overwhelming majority of Americans support, regardless of race.
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.
A
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
I am in favor of hydraulic fracturing, provided it is done safely and our water resources & environment is protected.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To look after (oversee) the community and to make good & fair decisions on behalf of the community public which established the government. To provide services for the betterment of the community public in a way that the general public would not reasonably or effectively be able to do 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?
Lean Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Visit my public campaign finance disclosures at: https://www.ethics.la.gov/CampaignFinanceSearch (you will have to the various search reports by candidate's name) and particularly take a look at my expenditures which serve to validate my answer to the previous question.
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 a self-employed Louisiana Professional Civil Engineer with relevant education and over 20 years work experience with essential public utilities and I'm seeking a position on the LA Public Service Commission which largely regulates public utilities. This is my first time ever seeking public office and have put my name on the ballot because I believe our community deserves an opportunity to elect a viable & qualified candidate of choice to represent them in such a critically important position that affects all of our family tables and our quality of life. I know people deserve and want someone they have confidence in to represent their interests; someone they can communicate with; someone willing to tell people what they need to know and not just what some may want to hear for sake of being popular. I believe the public has lost confidence in the PSC and many of us believe the government does a better job looking out for the businesses and the utility company's profits than it does looking out for the interests of the people for which the PSC was created; the people's interest should be priority. As an Engineer and problem solver, I understand there is usually more than one way to solve problems. The PSC is largely responsible for regulating complex financing and technical engineering associated with public utilities for which I believe I'm the best qualified candidate for the job. The saying that attorneys read words left to right, accountants read numbers up and down, and engineers read everything in all directions is fitting for the people to elect me (Jesse T. Thompson, P.E.) to serve as your next Commissioner on the Louisiana PSC. I understand the PSC has an enormous regulatory authority (lots of tools in its toolbox) to solve the problems people are having with the high cost of electric utilities. I cannot read music or speak a foreign language, but I have skillsets of Joe the plumber, a dumb--- welder, & Jacque of trades with enough common sense to usually be able to figure things out and fix things the right way. As a Louisianan, I too, am experiencing life-changing burdens of high cost light bills which the PSC is tasked to regulate in a "just & fair" way for consumers (best interest). I understand if one wants different results, you have to change what you've been doing. I have 50 years of life experience to know that everybody is someone and that people generally rely on government to look out for their interests; ...and government should do what is good for the people. As your next Louisiana Public Service Commissioner, I will do what is "just & fair" for the people according to how the people define "just & fair". I am a lifelong Louisianan of Iberville Parish where I live, work, raise my family, and proudly call home. I am married to my best friend, Sarah Prestridge Thompson (former Republican), we are proud parents of three; 2 teenage sons and kindergarten daughter. Over the last 25 years, I have been fortunate to work in communities in PSC District 3 up & down the river to bring betterment to municipal public utilities like drinking water & sewer to our doorsteps, other public works projects like roads and drainage, as well as gained valuable and relevant project development experience to deliver low cost electrical power in Louisiana. Not only have I been fortunate to work in our communities, I have also volunteered helping our communities during and after times of most storm disasters over the years from helping at a shelter for weeks with well over a thousand Orleans Parish Katrina displaced evacuees, to sandbagging & relief efforts during flood events, to serving cooking/serving a hot meal in Jefferson Parish during recovery aftermath of IDA when our community had no potable water, gas, or electrical public utilities in Grand Isle for several weeks/months. If the people elect me to serve as their next PSC Commissioner, my priorities will be the public and whatever the people decide the priorities should be. I believe some of the current priorities of our community public include: government (PSC) doing a better job for the public ratepayer, stabilizing the cost of electric utilities & maintain affordability, reversing net metering for residential solar generators/customers, and having a healthy and sustainable oil & gas economy for Louisiana. My name is Jesse T. Thompson, P.E., and I humbly ask for your support and vote in this upcoming election on TUESDAY Nov. 8th and I ask for your continued support to turnout and vote again on Dec. 10th if a runoff election is necessary. Please consider voting early in this critical TUESDAY election; early voting is the week of Oct. 25th through Nov. 1st, excluding Sunday. Thank You! Best, Jesse T. Thompson
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
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Our 2nd Amendment right should not be denied to able, law-abiding Citizens. To protect public safety, the current Federal (NCIS) background check and along with certain State restrictions on gun ownership are needed.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
