Rick Hillenbrand
Republican | West Virginia
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Rick Hillenbrand
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
House of Delegates, Dist. 88
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
State University of NY, Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, Bronx, Bachelor of Engineering, 1978
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Master of Science, 1984
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Campbridge, Ocean Engineer, 1984
WORK & MILITARY
Navy, Commander, 20+
AFFILIATIONS
Boy Scouts of America, Council and Regional Executive Boards, National Commissioner Service Team (past), Area Commissioner, Council Commissioner, District Commissioner, Unit Leader, Bluffs on the Potomac Property Owners Association (elected 4x)
President, VP, Secretary, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Trustee, Treasurer and Worship Leader II
Lynnhaven Baseball (PONY League), Assistant Coach, Republican Party
County Executive Board Advisor, Member, American Legion, Member
National Rifle Association, Member, American Society of Naval Engineers
Member, Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers, Past Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
WV House of Delegates, 2023 - current
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
None
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
West Virginia Farm Bureau
West Virginians for Health Freedom
LIBERAL (1)
West Virginia Building and Construction Trades
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Big I (Independent Insurance Agents) | West Virginia, & Citizens for WV Election Integrity
Contractors Association of West Virginia, & Communications Workers of America, District 2-13
Community Bankers PAC, & Gas and Oil (GO) PAC
Health Freedom PAC West Virginia, & International Union of Operating Engineers
Trump Administration Acting Under Secretary of Energy (and prior Ass’t Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy) Steven Winberg, & West Virginia Appalachian Laborers' District Council (affiliated with LiUNA!)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I believe that life begins at conception; however, I am comfortable with the current law in WV which permits elective abortions within 8 weeks of the pregnancy (14 weeks in the case of a minor) for cases of reported incest and rape along with medical necessity if the life of the mother is endangered.
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
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
They should not receive funding to support abortion programs. Funding for other parental education programs, including birth control, for both women and men should be permitted.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
"Aid in Dying," or euthanasia, is a slippery slope which can lead to the denial of medical services for treatable conditions because a person is "undesirable" or past a certain age. (Ref: https://www.newsweek.com/canadians-without-life-threatening-diseases-are-being-encouraged-consider-suicide-opinion-1868692 )
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Never, unless known to be engaged in illegal activities such as terrorism.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
To force someone to do something against their religious beliefs is suppression of religious freedom.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Having previously served a full career in the Navy, and held a Top Secret SCI clearance in the past, I believe China's long term objective is world dominance along with imposing their form of communism on all the people under their subjugation.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. They are one of our strongest democratic allies in a critical part of the world.
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
Some combination of B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options, and C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. For those who are considered to be traditionally uninsurable, having a government option is important.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Vaccinations are one of man's greatest discoveries and have saved countless lives. However, in a free society, we need to allow people to choose what is forcibly injected into their body, as long as they are willing to accept the associated risks.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Capitalism, following the rule of law, all the way.
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Government should not artificially raise minimum wage. Raising minimum wage has been shown time and time again to create a spiral affect that ultimately raises the costs of services, and the wages of those earning more than minimum wage.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
Those responsible for investing peoples money should be solely guided by fiduciary and pecuniary motivations.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
If you think our current border situation (2021-2024) and mass unfettered immigration is the "humanitarian thing to do" take the 6 minutes to watch this video (maybe more than once so you don't miss the subtle answers to some second order questions). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6tSqGCfoCI
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The 2nd Amendment clearly addresses the right to bear arms. We have enough gun laws on the books, they just need to be enforced.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
ABOUT YOU
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
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Promoting the General Welfare, providing a Common Defense, ensuring Citizens Rights and Freedoms, maintaining Law and Order and Equal Justice in the eye of the law, and ensuring Economic Growth and Stability. I like the AI answer: Governments exist to create a structured environment where individuals can live safely, pursue happiness, and thrive, balancing the needs of the community with the rights of individuals, aiming to create a harmonious and prosperous society.
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
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Agree
Sadly, not every parent is well equipped to make decisions for themselves let along others, but generally, nobody has a greater right than a protective parent when it comes to making decisions for their minor children.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
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.
Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a practicing Christian that believes that Jesus Christ is my savior, and my place of worship is the local Episcopal church.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Voting is a right and a privilege. We need fully transparent elections with complete integrity. We should not allow those who would seek to fraudulently vote to cancel out the vote of any legitimate voter.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Disagree
The framers of our Constitution knew that a compromise that would allow those from less populated states to have a forum where they were on equal footing as the more populated states, such as the US Senate, was critical to the continued longevity of this country.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is real and comes in all forms. White against black, black against white, etc. Unchecked racism, especially when used as a weapon to divide, could lead to the downfall of the US.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Institutions in and of themselves are not racist. Some people are racist, and their racist influence on organizations and institutions should not be permitted. In God's eyes we are all equal and all God's Children.
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
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
I don't like any of the choices. REASONABLE environmental laws and regulations make sense & have done good. Unreasonable laws and regulations, such as emissions standards that require "undetectable" (or less than can be measured) are detrimental to society. Government needs to stop picking "winners and losers" as it tries to force the US off of fossil fuels and on to "so called" "green" energies. When permitted, free enterprise will find the right pace to find substitutes to fossil energies.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
As a submarine qualified Naval Officer and engineer, I am partial to nuclear power.
