Timothy Kerner Jr.
Republican | Louisiana
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Timothy Kerner Jr.
Party
Republican
Election Year
2023
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 8
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Louisiana, Lafayette, B.A., 2015
Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, J.D., 2019
Loyola Institute of Politics, New Orleans, Fellow, 2020
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Catholic Church, Member, Knights of Columbus
Member, Treasure Lafitte, Co-Founder
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Mayor Town of Jean Lafitte, 2020-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Plaquemines Parish Republican Executive Committee
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Republican Women's Organizations (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (5)
Bishop PAC (2019)
Charles Henry (2019)
Garret Graves (2019)
LA Committee for a Conservative Majority PAC (2019)
Timothy Kerner (2017)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
This is a very complex issue. I believe no innocent child should be killed. However, how could you tell a woman who has suffered rape she must keep that child? I always strongly oppose abortion, but that questions morale weight ways heavy on me.
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?
The State of Louisiana has handcuffed itself to its own mandatory budget requirements. There must be a constitutional convention to allow year to year flexibility to our ever changing world. Funds continue to increase for healthcare and education, yet we have been slowly declining down national rankings. I believe there needs to be an investment in trimming the unnecessary government waste and be more efficient with our dollars.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
As of recent, I think now spending over the cap would have allowed us to pay off debt and put funds in a rainy day budget for when we have a down year. We must start handling our government entities like a business are we will continue to waste dollars we can be more efficient with.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
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?
Separation of church and state. Although people have created creative loopholes that allowed them to con their way out of taxes as we’ve seen with B.S. University in Ohio, allowing government to shut down churches based on “legitimacy” creates a dangerous precedent for government to redefine what “legitimacy” means.
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.
C-D. Government shouldn’t be in the healthcare business. However, in extreme cases some people may have no other choice due to no fault of their own.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Never. Rushed vaccinations should never be mandatory. Government should leave the choice of vaccinations to the public. It should be the individual’s choice, especially with Big Pharma’s track record with requiring hepatitis B shots for children to bail out big pharma or branding opioids as “non addicting.”
NATIONAL SECURITY
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
I surely do not agree with everything Israel does, in fact I condemn some of it. However, if Israel would let their guard down even for a moment they would be in danger. I believe much of their stances has kept them safe.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Full citizenship.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
Parents need to be given their rights back as parents and their tax-dollars should follow their child.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
Christian values has helped shape my convictions and principles that I believe benefit our country, but I wouldn’t strongly agree with that statement. Although, I think our country will benefit from having more leaders with my values.
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.
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 am a Christian who prays every morning and every night. I will raise my daughter to be as well. It has helped shape my moral compass and who I am.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Ensure identification and install stronger methods of verification for mail in voting.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I believe it is being used as a tool to disrupt domestic security, but I do not believe racism, in of itself, poses a legitimate threat to our domestic security this year or going forward.
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.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
help establish Justice, work to establish domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare of the public, and promote the pursuit of an individual’s pursuit of happiness.
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).
I am one of the only Mayors in the State of Louisiana to eliminate property tax. Jean Lafitte has no property tax. In fact, I’ve never implemented a tax or a tax increase as Mayor. I’m a member of the Knights of Columbus.
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 believe coastal restoration and preservation is one of the best investments we can make. My aim is to make government more efficient and reform our tort law. I a committed to making a difference for my state and District and will use state funds to reduce the risk of investment instead of sending pet projects around my district. I also am a firm believer in quality of life projects and believe quality of life projects help attract entrepreneurs to the area that creates jobs. Florida, Texas, and even Mississippi have done this along their cost and it has brought with jobs and prosperity. Louisiana is falling behind.
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 am a strong advocate and defender for police officers, but to answer strongly agree is just too absolute for this question.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Although, we should increase mental health and community programs that prevent crime, we shouldn’t take away from our departments to get it done.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
No more restrictions. 2nd amendment is clear in its writing.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Gambling should be limited to existing forms and should not be de-regulated or expanded.
Neutral
Gambling is destroying many lives.
Children should be protected from sexualization on the internet, in public schools, and in the public libraries
Strongly Agree
