Clemson Turregano
Democrat | South Carolina
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Clemson Turregano
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 33
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
The Citadel, Charleston, BA, 1983
Syracuse University, Syracuse NY, MA, 1992
Syracuse University, Syracuse NY, MPA, 1992
Syracuse University, Syracuse NY, PhD, 1995
US Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, MA, 2002
WORK & MILITARY
SC National Guard, SGT, 1979-1983
US Army, LTC, 1983 - 2004
AFFILIATIONS
Boy Scouts of America, Numerous positions, Consortium for Humanitarian Service and Education
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (4)
Moms Demand Action
Vote Vets
Center for Freethought Equality
Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate interview. "The Importance of Non-Violence in a Democratic Process with Clemson Turregano."
Emily Mayer interviews Clemson Turregano, a military veteran running for South Carolina House District 33. They discuss the recent attempt to assassinate the former president, the importance of non-violence in a democratic process, and the need for common-sense gun reform. Clemson shares his perspective as a gun owner and emphasizes the importance of firearm safety and responsible ownership.
The Arena YouTube. 16 Jul 2024.
Candidate Interview. Frogmore Stew with Grace Cowen. 30 May 2024.
Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
This is a medical decision made between a woman, her doctor and her beliefs. I do not believe medical decisions should be legislated. We need to trust women and the medical profession to make the right choice for each person.
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.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
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?
We should have a minimum wage to allow businesses to pay workers appropriate salaries and not become a drain on the local economy. When businesses are paying only a survival wage it means their employees are taking more resources from government.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
Yes
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I don't believe they can or should unless that church is a front for fraud or is actively promoting the overthrow of the government.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
I disagree that this should be a law. If a business wants to refuse potential revenue and it is not a service dominated by a public ethic, it is up to the business owner.
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.
It is interesting that the choices provided actually cover two totally different and non-related policy options. For the first two choices, I go with B. When we make sure everyone is insured, overall costs decline. For the second two choices, they are inaccurate and I choose neither one. I vote that we have medicare as an option for those who need and want it, but there is some form of co-pay according to ability and economic status.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
In every case. Having lived all over the world and seen the outbreak of polio, smallpox, measles and yellow fever, I have absolutely NO problem with mandatory vaccinations. None.
NATIONAL SECURITY
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?
Israel is and has always been a staunch ally of the United States. We need to maintain that relationship.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
And we did. I was proud of Republicans as they put forth a bill to support a stronger defense on our Southern border, but the current Republican candidate influenced the vote to his advantage and the bi-partisan bill was not passed. This was a sad day because we could be enjoying stronger defenses now. That advantage was taken away because people put party before country.
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.
Disagree
Strongly disagree. Parents always have the right to choose their education. As a former Dean of a Private School I do NOT want public funds going into any private schools. That is why they are called private schools -- they are private and independent of government (outside academic requirements). We need to protect the Private school option and keep it clean of government interference. In addition, school vouchers are a tax on the school districts. Public money is for public schools.
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Disagree
The language in the question is misleading and inaccurate. I simply do not agree with the way this question was worded and the inaccurate and inappropriate use of the word 'abuse.'
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Agree
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Neutral
Again, I disagree with the language in the questions. It is a leading and misleading question.
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 Disagree
In our country we have a separation of church and state. This question is an open violation of that principle. If you want to believe this in your faith tradition, please do. But don't force it on me. The question states that if I do not believe in god I cannot be married. That is unfortunate because there are a lot of Buddhists, Hindus, and Agnostics who are all happily married.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I simply believe that people should practice whatever tradition they are comfortable with, exposing others to their beliefs and helping others to find the beliefs that suit them. Faith beliefs are neither science nor history and should remain separate from government and out of our schools.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Agree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. We have systemic racism as the result of our history.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Disagree
As a college professor I can tell you that CRT does not say this and it is being misused in this question. Do we have systemic and unconcious bias about race that has worked its way into our systems. Yes.
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.
Wow. Who writes these questions? Again, this is a combination of different views thrown together to answer an unrelated question. If I have to answer, I will say D because it is the only answer that is focused and not a double barrelled answer.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Natural Gas.
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?
Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty.
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?
Moderate
I am a hard fiscal conservative and lean towards individual freedoms when it comes to social issues.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Choose not to answer
Again, a dumb question. This is not an either/or. It is an and. We can do both. We must do both. Looking at one without the other creates untenable situations.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Gun owners should be licensed and trained in public and gun safety. People should not own automatic weapons nor military style weapons unless they are trained in their use. All guns should be registered.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No
