William L Oden
Republican | South Carolina
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
St Leo University, St Leo FL, BA, 1991
Trot State University, Troy AL, MA, 1992
Webster University, St Louis MO, MA, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
US Air Force, MSgt, 23
SC State Guard, COL, 27
AFFILIATIONS
Sumter County SC Habitat for Humanity, Board Member, Sumter County SC Chamber of Commerce
Member of the Military Affairs Committee, SC Special Forces Association, Member and Honorary Green Beret
Palmetto Family Council, Board Member, Central Carolina Technical College
Technology Advisory Board Member, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 31, Trustee
Hidden Wounds, Chairman of the Board, SC State University
Member of the Board of Trustees, Sumter County SC GOP, Chairman
SC Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
None
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Gov Henry McMaster
Lt Gov Pamela Evette
US Senator Tim Scott
US Congressman Ralph Norman
US Congressman Joe Wilson
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
State Republican Party Organizations (2024)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
None
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
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
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?
That minimum wage was not intended to be enough money to support a family. I feel that it is for younger and possibly college individuals to be able to get started and prepare for higher paying jobs.
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
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
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
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Since I am prior military, I had to take lots of shots to ready for deployment to any part of the world. With that said I don't believe that individuals should be forced to take a vaccine as a requirement to keep their job.
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?
Yes, it is very important. As a Christian I believe Genises 12:3 "I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. "(NIV) Israel is a very important strategic partner and friend.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
A country cannot be sovereign if it's borders are not controlled.
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
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
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.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe that Jesus came to earth as a man and died for my sins and through his sacrifice I have everlasting life if I trust him as my Load and Savior. I believe God has ordained my steps and his Holy Spirit guides my everyday activities as long I stay focused on him. Our country was founded on Biblical principles and once we started to stray away from those principles, we started to become divided.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Almost anything we do as US citizens requires a photo ID, therefore the most important thing to our country and Republic, voting, should require a photo ID.
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?
No, I believe that racism itself is not the problem, it is the pushing of the false narrative that it actually exists in our country today to such a point that people are being discriminated against because of the color of their skin or national origin.
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
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
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear
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?
I think the purpose of the government is spelled out in the Preamble to the Constitution. To establish justice (for all legal citizens), ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare of the people, preserve the freedom and rights of its citizens.
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
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 only restrictions that I think should be put on gun ownership are if a person has been convicted of a violent crime especially if a gun was involved. I do believe that individuals should be given safety training on properly handling a gun to protect themselves and others.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
Yes, but only with proper training and careful security. There are many teachers with military and law enforcement background that can be used as a force multiplier to assist in case of an emergency. There would need to be protocols established to identify those teachers to law enforcement for the safety of both. I believe it would be a deterrent to bad guys if they knew they were going into a well defended situation.
