Robert "Rocky" Rochford

Republican | Florida

Candidate Profile

Leans Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Robert "Rocky" Rochford


Party

Republican


Election Year

2024


Election

General


Race

U.S. Rep., Dist. 14


Incumbent

No


Links

Robert "Rocky" Rochford websites FacebookXYouTubeInstagramLinkedIn

EDUCATION

Massachusette Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, BS, 1985

U.S. Naval War College, Newport, MA, 2011

WORK & MILITARY

U.S. Navy, Captain, 33.5

AFFILIATIONS

Protect our Children Project, United Pastors of America

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

NA

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

NA

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (2)

Community Patriots Tampa

Berny Jacques

OTHER (1)

Log Cabin Republicans PAC

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)

Berny Jacques - Florida State Representative - Florida House District 59

Mr. Mark Honecker, SES-3, Executive Director/Chief of Staff, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (Ret)

Jaime Arellano - Nicaraguan Journalist Former Political Prisoner

Reverend Ernie Rivera

Pastor Don Hazen, President & Founder, United Pastors of America

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)

Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2024)

WinRed (2024)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)

WinRed (2024)


QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

After consultation with a Doctor and spiritual advisor (if you have one), in cases of rape, or if the mother's life is in danger.

Does the federal government have a role to play in limiting abortion, and if so what federal steps and/or federal legislation would you support?

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that it is the States that should decide laws dealing with abortion. I would like to see the federal government improve the adoption laws, the foster care system, and child protection services.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, was the first public official to use this metaphor. He opined that an authentic Christian church would be possible only if there was “a wall or hedge of separation” between the “wilderness of the world” and “the garden of the church.” Williams believed that any government involvement in the church would corrupt the church. Therefore, the phrase is intended to protect the church from the state not the state from the church.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree


NATIONAL SECURITY

With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.

I think the question is a little vague. My detailed answer would include a combination of A, B, and C. The word "intervene" can imply full-scale war to a strong warning message to the aggressor. The word " selectively" is also vague. It would depend on what is happening and who's being the aggressor as to when to engage with those who seek to grow democracy. The US should not and can not be the world police. We must look inward and ensure that we are caring for OUR citizens first!

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Having served during war in the Middle East, we must stand with our closest ally in the region, Israel. But standing with them isn’t enough! We must denounce all actions by Hamas and Iran and anyone in Congress that spews antisemitism and shows support for TERRORIST organizations. Our leadership must place the strongest sanctions and threats on Iran and not act as though they are an equal member of the world society. They must be treated as the terrorists they are!

What are the causes of decline in U.S. military recruitment and retention?

The US Military is not the place for WOKE policies and programs. Military leadership must never bend a knee to that that would affect our fighting force in any way. From the SECDEF to all of the Flag and General Officers, they should be focused on Readiness, and possessing technologies that are the game-changers with skirmishes and potential wars with our current and future adversaries.


HEALTHCARE

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

Never. Unless it is written in the Constitution, it is not required. Under certain circumstances, you can be quarantined due to having certain highly contagious illnesses, but you are always allowed to decline treatment.

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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

C. Indigent care should always be available for those who can not afford the care. Private healthcare is needed to continue to fund research and help alleviate the strain of Medicare and Medicaid on the States. Pharmaceutical companies are very financially strong and politically powerful. We need companies to return to a time when ethics in business practices wasn't a punchline. I will introduce legislation that will address the necessity for the survival of our country, a return to ethics


ECONOMY

What actions would you take that would allow Americans to retain more of their income and wealth?

Tax reductions. Streamline the tax code. Reduce the size of the Federal Government. Eliminate the Department of Education (turn it over to the states); vastly reduce the size of the IRS; eliminate regulations that only serve a small audience.

Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.

Strongly Agree

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the President to forgive student loans. I would prefer to see a forgiveness in the interest on the loan. Our children were taken advantage of with the ridiculous loans and interest rates that were imposed on them. The astronomical cost of higher education clearly demonstrates a lack of ethics on the part of the governing bodies of those schools.

Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?

No

This is nothing more than a WOKE FICO score. It is all garbage.


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?

There are already comprehensive immigration laws that are just not being followed. I will propose even more comprehensive legislation that will help define the who, what, when, why, and how immigration should work. We must never stop immigration, but stop ILLEGAL immigration! The real challenge will be to locate and expel those who are not here to become law-abiding, tax-paying, productive citizens.


EDUCATION

I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.

Strongly Agree

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

The X Amendment to the US Constitution expresses the principle of federalism, also known as states' rights, by stating that the federal government has only those powers delegated to it by the Constitution, and that all other powers not forbidden to the states by the Constitution are reserved to each state, or to the people. The government exists because of the States, not the other way around. The Federal government was always supposed to be small and the power lies with the States.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.

Strongly Disagree

What makes a society civilized is the Police who enforce the laws and the Prosecutors who punish the guilty. Is it a perfect society with those two elements, no. But when faced with the options, I choose the Police and Prosecutors. Can a society exist without those two elements? I say, no. For those who disagree, I'm curious if you could point out a modern civilized society without them.


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

An update to the 2nd Amendment requires approval by 2/3 of the House and Senate, followed by a signature of the President. Or, 3/4 of the States Legislators demanding a Convention of States to embody a Constitutional Convention where 2/3 vote to accept the changes. Unless there is a call to modify the 2nd Amendment, I accept the law as written.


JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY

The Supreme Court should be reformed to include more seats.

Strongly Disagree


ABOUT YOU

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

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

The purpose of the government was written quite well some 248 years ago: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

NO.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

NO.


VALUES

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Disagree

God granted each of us a will to live and a mind to think. What He did not grant us was the power to think for him. It is not our place to judge how others choose to live their lives. We will all appear at the Pearly Gates and be judged by God. I most certainly yield to Him.

Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.

Strongly Agree

Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.

Strongly Disagree

When someone has reached the age to make a decision regarding which gender they prefer, like any other elective surgery, you have the right to make life-altering changes to your body. This is not an issue for the Government to pay for nor undue if they change their minds.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I will always stand for the Flag and the National Anthem, and kneel before God.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

One person, one vote. One person, one ID. It's simple. If you are for any other system, what are you trying to hide? IDs are required to obtain a driver's license, fly on a plane, buy alcohol, open a bank account, apply for welfare, apply for food stamps, apply for Medicaid and Social Security, rent or buy a house, rent or buy a car, getting married, purchase a gun, apply for a hunting license, stay in a hotel, etc... and to prevent cheating in elections you don't want to require an ID, why?

The Electoral College should be abolished.

Strongly Disagree


EQUALITY

I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.

Strongly Disagree

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree

I intend to introduce legislation called the Riley Gaines Act to ensure this never happens again. I don't believe that Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act aligns well with this cause.


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Agree

I’m also flabbergasted by the topic of climate change. Of course the climate changes. The most recent glacial period of the current ice age ended about 11,000 years ago. We should be talking about how to mitigate the impact of climate change. Instead, we’re presented choices that are expensive, threaten our economy, and may pose risks we don’t fully understand yet. As Floridians we should be looking for solutions to limit damage due to tropical weather systems and flooding.

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

The evolution away from fossil fuels is the correct path to follow. To revolutionize away from fossil fuels is not needed and is irresponsible. There are new discoveries of natural gas bubbles all over the planet. Let's move forward, methodically.

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