
David F. Charles
Republican | Kentucky
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
David F. Charles
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 74
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Morehead State University, Morehead, 1983-1985
WORK & MILITARY
Montgomery Co. Sheriff's Office, Sheriff, 2019-2026
Mt. Sterling Police Dept., Chief, 1987-2018
AFFILIATIONS
Montgomery Co Adapt, Chairman, 2015-2026
Montgomery Co. Sportsmen Club, President, 2020-2026
Mt. Sterling/Montgomery Fraternal Order of Police, Lifetime Member/Former President, 1994-2026
Kentucky Sheriff's Association, Board Member, 2020-2026
National Rifle Association, Member, 1985-2026
Mt. Sterling/Montgomery Co. Parks and Rec, Chairman of the Board, 2004-2024
Montgomery Co. 4H, Volunteer, 2019-2026
Boy Scouts of America Troop 53, Leader, 2001-2010
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Montgomery County Sheriff, 2019-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
House of Representatives District #74, 2026-2026
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Ky. State Fraternal Order of Police
Judge Executive Chris Haddix
Mt. Sterling Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 56
Senator Greg Elkins
Commissioner Daniel Carmichael
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Only in the preservation of the mother's life or if the pregnancy is the result of rape/incest.
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 promotion of a religion of favor is prohibited. It does not, however mean separation from religion. Our nation was founded on these principles and they must be our guiding light going forward.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
No one should ever be compelled to compromise their moral or religious beliefs.
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?
I believe it is vital for several reasons, they are an invaluable partner in an area of instability, they are a democratic government, almost all aide provided to them results in American jobs and most importantly Israel is the birthplace of Christianity.
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.
Medicaid and Medicare must remain available for our most vulnerable citizens. Other taxpayer funded programs are needlessly driving up the costs of healthcare.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
Our health is not the government's concern and is an invasion of our privacy.
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?
A free market will better dictate wages than the government. Economic mobility will be most effected by education/training which must be made available to improve our workers and workforce thus helping our employers.
I support using taxpayer funds to lobby the state legislature.
Strongly Disagree
Taxpayer funding should NEVER be used for this.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. Audit of each tax collecting division by The Ky. State Auditor every two (2) years. 2. Publishing every taxpayer funded entity's budget on-line along with quarterly expenditures. 3. Any new tax would have a sunset clause in four (4) years and could only be reinstated through a ballot measure.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
Our laws are laws for everyone, everywhere. When municipalities subvert these laws it weakens our nation as a whole.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Our educational proficiency has steadily declined since the creation of the Dept. of Education, it's track record speaks for itself. Under the 10th amendment I believe it is unconstitutional as it is a state's issue. I believe the grants and student loan sections could be moved to another agency to insure they continue uninterrupted.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
To rehabilitate those offenders that can be, to remove those who cannot to prevent them from creating more victims. A staggering percentage of crime is committed by a very small percentage of the population.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
The government should use automated-enforcement cameras to track speeding and criminal activity.
Strongly Disagree
Not automated enforcement, that should always be a human component.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Almost all gun ownership laws are failures, I do support felony and domestic violence prohibitions after they have been adjudicated. I do not support any red flag laws.
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?
Conservative
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
Never
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
Never
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian who believes the Lord bestowed upon us the greatest gift, his son Jesus Christ, so that our sins may be forgiven and we obtain salvation. Matthew 7:1 warns against hypocritical and harsh judgement of others and I try to use this as my daily guide.
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
Gambling is an addiction and preys upon those most vulnerable.
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's upbringing, including their religious, health, and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to transition or encourage a child to transition to the opposite sex constitutes child abuse.
Strongly Agree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
In Kentucky it is the Law and it should remain so.
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
Never
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear energy advances are rapidly gaining on hydro, coal and fossil fuels.
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
History has detailed many swings in climate that predated any humanity involvement and will continue to have cycles. In the late 70's we were being warned of the coming ice age which evolved into the global warming. This year the ice cap increased in size negating that one as well.
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