Richard Cole

Republican | Ohio

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Candidate Profile

State Rep., Dist. 5 Ohio General | November 3, 2026

Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

Lake Superior State College, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, BS Mechanical Engineering Technology, 1971-1975

WORK & MILITARY

none

AFFILIATIONS

Candidate did not provide

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

None

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Ohio State Representative District 5, 2026-

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (1)

Franklin County Republican Party

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)

WinRed (2020)

Bobby Mitchell (2018)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)

OTHER INFORMATION

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

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

Very. Very rare instances.

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


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

I believe that a person can work for as much or as little as he or she wants. The main thing is to become the best at whatever you do serving others and the money will come.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

The capitalist system in America is why 4% of the world's population can help the world so much. 8 billion population of world. 340 million in America. Our system is the best one to eliminate poverty. It rewards those who want to work hard.

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

1) Allow Federal Government to only perform the duties the US Constitution lists for them. 2) Be transparent and upfront with aggressive means to eliminate fraud at both the Federal and State level. 3)Stop the Federal Government from being able to borrow 40% more money than they take in through taxes. 4) Hold government elected officials accountable for their actions, which should be according to the US Constitution which they swear under Oath to protect and defend. An Oath is between us and God


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

This phrase is not in the Constitution. Churches can and should be involved in government. Government should not be involved in churches. This was in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to Danbury Baptist Church to let the preachers know the government would let them worship freely. The Supreme Court ruling was wrong about this issue. It was NOT in the US Constitution!

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree

If the service is against God's law, we do not have to provide it.


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.

Private sector health care should only be available. It can be supplemented by private and religious hospitals such as Nationwide Children's in Columbus, Ohio. Government health care only opens up instances of fraud as we now see. In fact, before insurance, a doctor could visit a home at low cost. Now every cost has skyrocketed.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Disagree


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 Biblical!


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree

The left is using these illegal immigrants for representation. Only citizens should be counted in the census and only citizens should be able to vote in any election. Eventually they hope they will be able to vote.


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Strongly Agree


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.

I am a Christian and belief that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.


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.

Strongly Disagree

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

I worked in the Oil And Gas Industry for 44 years. Natural Gas for home heating and peak power demands, Coal for electricity, and fossil fuels for transportation.


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

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


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

To punish criminals and protect our God given rights.

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Strongly Agree

The United States is governed by the US Constitution. End of story!


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

The second amendment is easy to understand. Criminals will use guns even if it is against the law. We need to be able to protect our families.

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