Thurman Scott Dickerson
Republican | West Virginia
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Thurman Scott Dickerson
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary and Municipal General
Race
State Representative, District 39
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
National Defense University, Washington DC, MA Strategic Security Studies, 2013-2014
Radford University, Radford, VA, MS, 1998-2000
Bluefield State College, Bluefield, WV, BS, 1993-1996
WORK & MILITARY
Security Force Assistance and Stability Integration Directorate, CTR, 2023-2026
Irregular Warfare Center, CTR, 2025-2026
US ARMY, LTC, 1996-2023
AFFILIATIONS
Richcreek Baptist Church, Congregant, 2023-2026
Kegley Baptist Church, Member, 1990-
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Delegate 39 WV House of Delegates, 2025-2026
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
I am an abortion abolitionist with the only exception being serious medical health risk of the mother--this would have to be carefully and strictly defined.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Serious and demonstrable, as in provable, unwarranted health risk to the mother.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The state should never interfere with churches. Jefferson notwithstanding, outside of the state never establishing a preferred religion, churches should be allowed to do whatever they want, without any strings like charitable organization status.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Does this need a response? Read their strategic documents--they want to overtake the US and dominate global power structures.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
It is, they have been and still appear to be a good, as in pretty reliable, ally. As long as they are, we should continue to support and be supported by them. No country is perfect and I practice realpolitik, not blind loyalty to anything.
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. But I would be interested in ways to phase out Medicaid or Medicare, if it could be responsibly--understanding this is nearly impossible now, due to the number of folks dependent on it who paid in and would be hurt by it. However, only deserving citizens should partake in any of our "safety nets".
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
If I understand this correctly, the government would track you? Over time? It sounds like it could be abused, easily turned to abuse, or contribute to other ethical dilemmas. I cannot see any future where I would support this.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Minimum wage is an issue that should never endanger jobs. Minimum wage should only exist as the "basement" of wages, for entry level type positions that exist to provide a ladder or additional income. I am not even sure we should have one at all.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Regulation of small business, especially, should be minimal, if any.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Eliminate as many purely administrative positions as possible. Actually enforce laws that generate income--as in fines for mine safety-while simultaneously scrutinizing those laws to make sure they make sense and don't stifle positive growth. By positive, I mean growth that encourages healthy society with intact families. Examine our toll system, any gambling revenue and the disposition of those funds. Take a magnifying glass to our jail system and CPS.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
The only function that might be good is standardized reporting so that voters can rank their states performance against others to inform voting, locally. Of course we would need to agree to some basic rules and guidelines for the Feds to follow, and it would be voluntary, especially if the standards were out of step with that states traditions and beliefs.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
They can donate to the federal government and ask for an earmark if they really, really, want to "help".
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Swift, certain and sever punishment and if possible rehabilitation through voluntary hard work and study. If you don't want to work, you can sit in a box all day with an hour or two of yard time and the blandest but most nutritious food we can find and the taxpayer can afford. Properly supervised chain gangs are good.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
You don't let an 8 year old drive, correct? Ok. Enough said, but the devil will be in the details on this.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
I spent a long time in horrible countries and they all had this in common. I don't think we need that here, ever. I am not sure some folks can assimilate.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Violent felons have lost it due to their crimes, but I don't hold with non-violent felons being punished forever in the same way. Other than that and forms of mental handicap or incapacitation? Those would still need significant due process and significant scrutiny, I cannot think of another reason. Suppressors should not need a tax stamp or ATF paperwork and most of the 1986 gun law needs to be re-looked as well. I tend to think the ATF is out of control but I may be in the minority.
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?
Very Conservative
I hate these labels, but that is probably the most accurate. I have a small lowercase "L" libertarian streak though, that stops when society is obviously and demonstrably being harmed in mass. However, I still wouldn't mandate vaccines or ever take firearms or make them hard to own and operate. Liberty is usually worth the pain, and I tend to err to that side I suppose.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
Never. In any way, at any time in my life. Never. That good enough-matter of fact, I would like the death penalty to apply to adult child molesters that harm any child below 12 years of age. Serial aggravated rapists might as well too. I hate this stuff from the bottom of my soul.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No, never.
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
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
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
The Bible is God's word. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no man comes before the Father but through Him. Christianity and its ethics are the best system devised to live a productive, healthy and fulfilling life. Regardless of belief. Last, meek does not mean weak, timid or passive. It means knowing what to do and how to do it while hoping, and praying, you do not have to do anything. It is being well trained; it is preparedness, willingness and commitment.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
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
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear, followed by natural gas and coal. We have a LOT of coal, seems silly not to use it. I could say a lot more about economics, supply and demand, artificial rigging, bad laws and regulations, executive over reach, weak state governments etc.
