Ava Harvey
Independent | Mississippi
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ava Harvey
Party
Independent
Election Year
2023
Election
General
Race
Rankin County Board of Supervisors, Dist. 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Jackson State University, Jackson, Bachelor of Business, 2001
Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, Master of Divinity, 2016
Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Doctor of Ministry, 2018
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor, FACE-IT Fellowship
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Dr. Jessie Kelly, Sr.
Pastor Stanley James
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should elective abortions be allowed?
I am opposed to abortions. However, in cases where a licensed physician believes and is convinced that there are qualifying dangers to the life of the mother, I would rely on his or her professional insight. In the unfortunate cases where rape, incest, and sexual violation of minors, those mentally challenged, and the elderly are involved; I believe that there needs to be concession in consideration of the mental, emotional, physical, and psychological health of the victims.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, county or local governments.
Disagree
Planned Parenthood offers other services besides abortion. There are alternatives and health-related educational information that are vital and important to underserved communities.
I support laws which allow a municipality to enact a Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance.
Neutral
I firmly believe that everyone should have the freedom to live where they choose. If such laws are within a Sanctuary City, the individual should have the right to stay there or leave. Imposing laws that dictate where people can live and freely enjoy the pursuit of happiness as outlined within our Constitution is challenging to accept.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Neutral
While I firmly disagree with abortion, I am consciously aware that there are exceptions in rare cases where incest, rape, sexual violation of minors, those mentally challenged, and the elderly are involved
ECONOMY
I support using taxpayer funds to lobby the state legislature and/or U.S. Congress.
Strongly Disagree
Taxpayers funds should be used to enhance and improve the lives of the citizens. Lobbying should be done through means that are not shouldered primarily by taxpayers.
It is the responsibility of county government to provide subsidized housing at taxpayer expense.
Agree
Whenever there are citizens living below the poverty level, there needs to be assistance to help provide a "ramp-up" to independent living. Part of the funds generated through taxes are to provide for the enhancement and improvement of the lives of the citizens. Where there are citizens who are unable to live within houses, other troubling issues may arise. Crimes such as burglary and thief are only a few of the possibilities. We shouldn't want people to live in the street
Taxpayer-funded incentives, such as property tax abatements and taxpayer-backed loans for private development, are both legally and morally justified.
Agree
Private development will help to generate business opportunities for a community, as well as jobs. Taxpayer-back loans are like any other loan that should be paid back in time with interest.
Property taxes are far too high and should be radically reduced or abolished.
Neutral
Some taxes are too high, but not all. I would consider taxes on goods and services for living (groceries, fuel, basic necessities for life) to be considered in tax-cuts. We cannot arbitrarily cut taxes across the board. We need tax money for our schools, roads, bridges, police officers and safety.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I do not believe that the government should close churches. However, in the interest of public safety, I believe that the government should offer informed and proven data with directives to help churches make the decision on whether or not to close. I am opposed to closing the doors of the church, yet I am also aware that pandemics and epidemics are exceptions and not the rule of order.
Individuals, organizations and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their civil rights and/or religious freedom.
Agree
The concern that I have is when someone would use ethnicity, race, or class as a qualifying measurement to refuse services. I do not believe that it is right to refuse services to particular groups of people based on the color of their skin or the social-economic class where they reside.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
I would rely upon the informed and proven medical researchers who practice and study diseases, viruses, and outbreaks to determine if vaccinations are necessary for the public. We should allow those who have expertise in these areas to have the benefit of recognition.
Taxpayer-funded healthcare is a fundamental right for all Americans.
Agree
Access to quality healthcare should be a right. We should not want an unhealthy society. A country, state, city, town, county, or community with unhealthy people may eventually create a health crisis.
IMMIGRATION
I support 287(g) agreements between the Sheriff's Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify jailed criminals who are in the United States illegally.
Agree
I agree the jailed criminals that are within the United States illegally should be identified and deported.
County officials should have the right to proclaim their county a sanctuary county for illegal aliens.
Disagree
There are a few concerns that I have about proclaiming a county a sanctuary place. One of my concerns is the possibility overreaching and creating a county that is hostile to minority groups.
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe that there is One God who has manifested Himself to creation as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. I believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world through His sacrificial death on the cross at Calvary. My values are Christian. I have compassion for the least, the lost, and those who are often left out. I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. I believe that everyone should have equal protection under the law. I believe that it is Unconstitutional to discriminate based on color, age, race, or ethnicity. All men are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights.
A county jail inmate should be housed based on the inmate's preferred gender identity and not on the inmate's biological sex.
Disagree
The inmates biological sex is what the jail should base housing on inmates upon.
Socialism oppresses individual rights and is incompatible with the truths upon which America was founded.
Agree
Socialism is dangerous because it dismisses the need for individuality and freedom.
Gender ideology should be taught and promoted in our county's public schools and juvenile justice programs.
Disagree
There are too many dangers in teaching and promoting gender ideology within the public schools and juvenile justice programs. First and foremost, we are educating impressionable minds that are not mature enough to understand the nuisances and gravity of the long and short term ramification of this complicated issue.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
Campaign finance reports filed by candidates for a county office should be available for public online access on the county elections website within 24 hours of filing deadline.
Agree
Finance reports should be completely transparent.
Ballot measures which include bond issues should fully disclose both the potential tax rate increase and actual monetary increase for the average single family residence.
Agree
Yes, ballot measures which include bond issues should disclose potential tax rate increases and actual monetary increases to every tax paying household.
Expanding voting rights by allowing people to vote without photo identification is more important than requiring photo identification to discourage voter fraud.
Agree
I think the expansion of voting rights is essential to have a larger participation in the electoral process. Many elderly no longer have driver's licenses and it may impose unnecessary burdens upon them to acquire state-approved photo identifications. We should make voting easier, not more complicated.
What is your understanding of, and position on, Ranked Choice Voting (RCV).
The problem that I have with RCV is that the candidate with the most votes can lose. It makes it more complicated to have a clear winner.
EQUALITY
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) instruction should be required for all county employees.
Strongly Agree
Yes. Too many employees lack diversity training and are often being offensive unaware. A better work place is an environment where employees are sensitive to the needs, understanding, and perceptions of other employees.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Taxpayers should subsidize green initiatives such as electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure for solar and wind-generated electricity.
Agree
I believe that we can be more conservative with energy and natural resources. If government can reduce some of the adverse effects of our changing environment, it's better for everyone.
ABOUT YOU
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am an Independent thinker with Christian values. I live by the Bible and the law of love.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
I think there is too much emphasis placed on directional politics. The average person is doing their best to provide for their families and choose to be left alone to improve their lives. They are not interested in the government interfering with their personal lives.
Please list your business investments and/or real estate, specifying any holdings currently proposed for eminent domain.
None
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Requiring bail reflects systemic racism.
Agree
I have seen discrepancies in bail amounts. I'm hesitant to say that it's all related to racism, but there needs to be more consistency in this matter.
I support redirecting funds from the Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
The Sheriff Department and District Attorney Offices need all the funds that they can receive. We should look to other funding sources to support the mental health community and various community programs. It is up to elected officials and community leaders to partner together and look for ways to help, guide, assist, and offer pathways to improve the lives of everyone who may have mental challenges.
What crimes should not be prosecuted?
All crimes should be prosecuted.
2ND AMENDMENT
In the effort to balance protecting public safety with the right to bear arms, what restrictions on gun ownership should be removed or expanded?
Everyone has the right to bear arms which means those who carry arms also have the right to use them. It is only when a firearm has been used to commit a crime that this right should be reviewed for that individual. Law abiding citizens should not be limited in their gun use. I have owned guns all of my life and I intend to bear them.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support mask mandates.
Agree
I agree that mask are not perfect but they provide a form of partial protection from infectious diseases. I wore mask during the pandemic and still contracted COVID but I realized at that time; mask were the best option that we had as a nation.
Any emergency executive order (EO) should be subject to review and override by the County Commissioners Court in a special meeting called no later than 14 days following issue of the EO.
Agree
Executive Orders should be subject to review and override when they have become burdensome or ineffective.
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Disagree
I do not believe the marijuana should be legalized for recreational use. However, under physician care, if a doctor prescribes it for his or her patient; I trust the professionals in their assessment.
LOCAL
Please list up to six issues or projects that you think need the most attention, in priority order.
1. Economic Development 2. Jobs 3. Healthcare 4. Infrastructure Improvement (roads, bridges, etc.) 5. Healthcare 6. Safety
I support annual financial audits of every county department by an independent, third party auditor.
Strongly Agree
Every County department should be audited independently annually.
What salary changes do you support for elected officials on the county payroll?
I support a freeze in salary changes for elected officials but merit increases for employees after the annual employee evaluations.
What is your position on the revenue neutral property tax rate?
I believe the revenue neutral property tax rate is confusing to the average person. Tax rates should be simple to understand and should not require multiple calculations to assess them.
