Bill Ritter
Republican | Georgia
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Bill Ritter
Party
Republican
Election Year
2023
Election
Special SD 11, HD 119 and HD7 Runoff
Race
State Representative, District 119
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Aurora College, Aurora IL, 1982
Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, IL, AA, 1980
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Winder Barrow Boys and Girls Club, Vice President, Winder Rotary Club
Past President, Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, Past Chair, Current Member
the Georgia Club Foundation, Past Member, Piedmont Casa
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Barrow County School Board, Four
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Timothy Barr (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
None
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Neutral
Planned Parenthood can be used to educate and prevent pregnancies.
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?
Tax codes should be simplified. I would love to see a fair tax or some movement toward it.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I think certain national programs should be eliminated or reduced. IRS can be reduced by simplifying tax codes. National Educational Department can be eliminated and moved to state and local levels. DC is over funded and too much fat. As a fiscal conservative, I would like cuts.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
Grants, Scholarships, loans all should play into a decision to attend college. All students are not four year college material. Technical Schools and two year programs should be considered. Paying for all college tuition is not prudent.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
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 am not sure any of these answers directly appeal to me. I think we need Healthcare Reform. I think there should be an affordable national healthcare option for citizens that want a PPO type option, similar to Kaiser. And I think we should maintain private insurance as we have it, via employee plans or Healthcare ,guv. Medicare and Medicaid should continue in a similar manner.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None......Vaccines are a personal choice. Get them if you want, let them be if they don't.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We need to continue to be vigilant through Homeland Security and through the protection of our borders. I do not think we need to get involved in wars or conflicts in the middle east. Rooting out terrorism outside our country is a financial burden we do not need.
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.
Neutral
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Controlled immigration is necessary, but there should be a connection to a current resident. The process needs to be put in place to vet and allow in an expedient manner. No one without a relative currently legal should be allowed.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Disagree
Private schools should not be funded by local governments.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
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 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 was raised Catholic and went to a Catholic Grade School. I now identify as Christian and attend a non-denominational service
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
None.....I think are voting system has been challenged and has proven to work. Just ensure the process that is in place is followed in all circumstances
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No.....I do not see this as a threat
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
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 think this question is too broad to lump all environmental laws into one basket. I think there are some jobs that can actually be created through some laws, however, job growth is top of my priority list.
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?
Government should provide the framework for us to live within. It should not be overly controlling and it should not fly in the face of the constitution. Our process and procedures have been in place for hundreds of years and work. I feel strongly against people that want to change our government to an autocratic of socialist form of governing.
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).
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?
Did not answer
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?
None
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
