Mike Riccio
Republican | West Virginia
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mike Riccio
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
Primary
Race
House of Delegates, Dist. 90
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Neshaminy High School, Langhorne, HS Diploma, 1996
AllState Career School, Lester, CDL-A, 2011
WORK & MILITARY
Volunteer Firefighter, Firefighter/Lieutenant, 1996-2019
AFFILIATIONS
Berkeley Baptist Church, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Abortion should only be allowed if the mother's life is in imminent danger. Personal autonomy changes when you are carrying another person inside your body.
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
Chemical abortion drugs should only be used if the mother's life is in imminent danger. However, these drugs should be tested for safety, reactions, etc., and require a consultation from a medical doctor in the event of a patient's current medication causing a conflict or adverse reaction.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer 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
When the government supports laws such as this, they are encouraging people of all ages to commit suicide. There should never be "encouragement" to commit suicide in any way. There are already way too many people, especially young people, that are committing suicide on their own.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
The minimum wage should not be changed by the government. When the minimum wage is raised, it begins a cascading effect of inflation, increased living expenses, etc., which puts everyone in the same situation as before, if not worse off.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None. Under the 1st Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Any private business should have the right to make their own decisions regarding what, when, and where they will provide services and to whom.
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.
C. The implementation of more government healthcare demolished the middle and working classes. The premiums for healthcare have exponentially increased since 2010.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None. People should have personal autonomy to make decisions about what they put into their body.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
We are in debt to China; many of our materials and products are made there and brought to America. We are so intertwined with a competitor and adversary of the U.S. This puts America in a vulnerable position; we need to begin separating ourselves from China to boost our national security.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, because they are America's closest and most trusted ally in the Middle East. Israel seems to be the only true democracy in that part of the world. There are many people in America that share the same history, culture, religion, morals, and ethics as those of Israelis as well.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
The majority of immigrants coming across the border are not true asylum-seekers. The cartels control much of the border now, increasing the trafficking of drugs, sex slaves, child laborers, and known terrorists. The military should temporarily come down to push back on the cartels, and the wall should be finished. The "Remain in Mexico" policy should be reinstated, and state/local police should be given permission to detain illegal immigrants across the nation.
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
This allows for healthy competition among the schools, giving all the schools a motivation to be better and more appealing to parents.
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.
Strongly Agree
Parents should be able to view their child's medical and educational records to make decisions regarding their health and well-being, because that is their job as a parent, not the government. The state should only intervene in exceptional and emergent cases where there is a significant reason.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Gender transition services are optional and studies have shown that, statistically, this is not a solution that provides a better outcome for most people with the desire to use these services. The government should not pay for optional services that do not provide a better outcome for the majority of patients.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
*I believe that God is the Creator of the universe. The void we feel can only be filled by believing, trusting, and following Him. *There are only 2 genders that God created, and He does not make mistakes. *Marriage and sexual relations are between a man and a woman, ordained and gifted by God. *Children should, when possible, grow up in a 2 parent household. Both parents should be equal partners, supporting and encouraging the betterment of each other in their respective roles. *Always respect your elders, care for them, and humbly listen to their wisdom. *I do not believe in forcing my beliefs, opinions, or views on others; I would rather lead by example.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism will always exist in society, but I do not think there is enough violent racist movements that would be big enough to threaten the domestic security of America. The media like to highlight any incidents of racism, which makes many believe that violent racism is rampant in every town in the U.S. However, the statistics show that this is simply not the case.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
CRT also teaches children that their future success will be measured by their skin color. This doctrine should be banned in schools and flagged as racist propaganda.
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.
C. We are well over 30 trillion dollars in debt. Our country cannot afford to spend money on unreliable renewable energy, while also depending on foreign countries for raw materials and supplemental energy. We should focus on reliable, cheaper energy like coal, nuclear, etc., that is entirely produced on U.S. soil.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Compressed natural gas, hydrogen, coal, and nuclear are the most reliable types of energy that can allow us to be energy independent.
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?
The Preamble of the Constitution spells out the only purposes a government should have. I firmly believe that the government is only there to establish justice, settle disputes between states, provide a military and police force to protect the states, encourage health, safety, and peace among the people, and allow us to fully pursue life, liberty, and 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?
Very Conservative
I consider myself to be a Constitutional Conservative.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Without a strong police force, you cannot have a community that feels safe enough to have programs or hold events for those programs.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Gun ownership is a right afforded to us (as consenting adults) under the Constitution. So, there should be only 2 restrictions on gun ownership. First, if a person chooses to lose their rights by committing a serious felony. Second, those that have a severe diminished mental capacity, especially if they are a danger to themselves or others.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
However, the teachers should be trained and certified to use firearms, and the guns should be concealed and secure on your person.
