John S. Gray
Republican | Virginia
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John S. Gray
Party
Republican
Election Year
2023
Election
General and Fairfax County and Loudoun County School Boards
Race
House of Delegates, Dist. 25
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, BBA, 1976
WORK & MILITARY
U. S. Marine Corp, Sgt, 1969-1973
CertifiedPublic Accountant, Owner, 1976 - present
AFFILIATIONS
Prince William Community Health Center, Treaurer - 20 years of service. Only original founder still serving, Fellowship Squarer Foundation (provides housing for deserving seniros
Treasurer - Six years of servie, Lake Ridge Homeowners Assn - former president, President ((2000 - 2007) & Secreetary (1997 - 2000). I NEVER raised the Dues!
NoVA Football Officials - HS (and college) Football official, 1989 through present., PWC Chamber of Commernce - Board member, Treasuer and other
Various 1989 - 2014., RNC member since 1976; RPV for manyu years., Member and donor
Woodbridge LIttle League - Team Coach and Baord member, 1989-1997
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
PWC Board of Supervisors - Magisterial District candidate and 2019 R Candidate for Chairman, Various
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Rich Anderson - Current RPV CHair, former State Delepgate
Ruth Anderson - Former Occoauan District Supervisor
Veterans VOTE!
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Republican National Committee (2017)
Scott Lingamfelter (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
ActBlue (2007)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
UP to fifteen (15) weeks of pregnancy
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Planned Parenthood is a private organization regardless of its erroneous status a "Public Charity". Its history when started was as an eugenic organization to reduce the "Negro" population is a disqualification to receive public funds by itself. It disguises it's real mission by claiming to "provider health care for women". Where is the healthcare of the babies it aborts?
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
I am, at this point, neutral on this because at least the patient has a "say" in their end of life decisions. That said, I don't think the state has the right or obligation to participate in that decision.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The VA tax code needs to confirm, to the federal tax code. There are numerous exceptions that serve as a disincentive to Virginia's. As an example the federal code allows business to write off in full, in the year of purchase, capital assets. Virginia does NOT allow that. On a personal tax return, we must continue to INCREASE the standard deduction and personal exemptions PERMANENTLY. We also need to exempt ALL pensions as being taxable, including IRA and 401(k) distributions.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
First of all, the budget is balanced as required by by our Commonwealth's Constitution. That said, the VA State Dept of Educat6ion should be dissolved. Education is a local matter. The VA State Department of Education is far too controlled and dependent on the useless federal Department of Education. One or both needs to be dissolved and since the federal won't be, then dissolve the State department. The State should center it's attention and only be funding those essential problems which CAN NOT be resolved WITHOUT it. Government should NOT compete with the private sector.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
No, absolutely not. It is NOT the obligation of of taxpayers to pay for post secondary school education. We can see how true this is just through the financial disaster created by the federal takeover of student loans by the Obama administration. And who decides who goes to a community college and who goes to an Ivy league school? Talk about socialism!
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
If this is true, then there is no freedom of choice. Ridiculous concept to even consider.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Absolutely NONE!! The government is establishing religion. Germany already has this with its tax on church membership and attendance. Government can NOT be involved in the operations of any church whatsoever. The 1st amendment guarantees us freedom of religion. If the government can close a church, it can decide which one can open in the 1st place. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES can any government at any level close a church.
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.
Selection "C" is closest bu not by any means the entirely of my view. I do believe government (taxpayers) has an obligation to offer health care to the medically UNDER-served and medically uninsured (as evidenced by by 20 years of service to the Community Heath Care Center but I don;t believe that extends up through those who economically CAN provide for their own healthcare options.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
NONE! That is a very personal decision to be made by each individual.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
This is far beyond the office of Delegate for which I am a candidate. However, the US can first by stepping up its military activities against ANY sort of terrorism instead of worrying about "Diversity,m equity and inclusion" in our military. DEI has NO place in our military. In addition, the US should assist other countries in breaking down intelligence firewalls that preclude the sharing of terrorist activities to aid the common good of all nations.
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
This again is far beyond the office of a Virginia State Delegate however BDS is as bad a policy as DEI is. Lets put the shoe on the other foot and apply BDS policy to the Palestinian Authority and see how that fits.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Congress could not find $ 5 billion dollars to secure the southern border in the prior administration but it can find $ 100 billion to fund the Ukrainian war. Yes, the US can do eons more to secure our southern border.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Qualified immigrants who follow the law to enter our country legally.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
Our public schools aren't just failing. They have already failed, thanks to teachers unions. If teachers unions can support the "choice" of abortion vs life, they sure should be able to support the parental right of who teaches their children and what their children are taught. The teachers unions and federal/state bureaucrats have been given a century to find the solution and they have failed miserably which has failed our children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren miserably.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Our country was founded on the Judeo-Christian concept and it worked wonderfully for two and an a quarter centuries. Changes were needed based on changes circumstances, no doubt but the changes presented have failed miserable over the last quarter century and are just unacceptable. Our children, families and society are changing for the worse and the "woke agenda" of the left has to be stopped dead in its tracks.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
There are two biological genders, male and female. It applies to the human kingdom as well as the animal and plant kingdoms. Yes I know humans are part of the animal kingdom. If one wants to "identify" as a member of the other gender, that is their right (has anyone ever seen one of the plant or animal kingdoms try to change to the other gender?) but that one person can not change their chromosomes to the other gender. That can not happen. They are still either male or female.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Agree
I agree marriage is God-ordained, sacred and of one man & a women. The only reason marriage needs to be recognized by government is so it (government) can earn fees from it. I have no problem, with anyone (male/female or same sex) marrying in a civil ceremony. It is a CIVIL marriage and should be recognized as legal in all respect but I do NOT believe a civil marriage to be recognized as a God-ordained marriage. And neither does the government for that matter.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am an Episcopalian and I miss the "old" Episcopal church, never to be seen again. I think for the most part all Protestant churches have fallen to the "Social Justice" Issue of the week. They have lost their way on following the Word of God. I attend church weekly but yearn for the Episcopal Church of the bygone era.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I need a photo id to buy my medications. I need a photo ID to drive my car. I need a photo ID for just about everything except to vote. If a voter is "lega" and can legally vote, there is no reason why the voter cannot show a picture ID of themselves. .
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
REQUIRE PHOTO ID>
EQUALITY
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
The only people who care about race are the racists.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Only to racists.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
The first premise is reparations should NEVER be paid anyway. Our country has not had slaves for close to 2/3's of its existence. Why it is it leftists say we should not punish a child for the sins of their "illegally present" parents yet out of the other corner of their months they say punish others for the sins of their families from six generations ago? We've paid over $50 TRILLION in LBJ's Great Society social programs since the mid 1960's. Reparation have been paid.
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.
Choice "A".
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
It made us energy independent in the prior administration. But let us ignore African child slave labor (while winking and nodding our way to IGNORE That) just so we can say we protected the environment.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government should center its attention on the essential problems which CANNOT be solved without it. It should NEVER provide services or address a problem that the privater sector can address more expeditiously and efficiently.
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
Conservativer
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I don;t have a published media presence.
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 USMC veteran, serving from 1969 to 1973. I am the father of four, grandfather of four and married to my HS "sweetheart" for 52 years. My campaign motto is "HANDS OFF OUR KIDS". I want to eradicate the "woke agenda" which is ruining everything it infects I strongly support parental & student rights, school choice and tax credits for home-schooled students.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
Nothing further to ad. The "woke" culture is just wrong on this., Taking this immunity away is adding exponentially to the crime wave we are seeing. We need to support the blue, not sue them.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
SWAT teams means and enforces public safety. It saves lives. It doesn't stand for Social Worker and Therapists. We need more mental health and community programs but not at the expense of public safety.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. The 2nd amendment gives me the right to own a gun.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
The gun didn't wake up that morning and decide to break a law. The lawbreaker did. Lets sue the manufacturers of eating utensils because eating with a knife and fork makes us fat. Lets sue the car manufacturer because a drunk driver killed an innocent.
