Bernie Scolaro
Democrat | South Carolina
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
South Dakota State University, Brookings, M.Ed, 1983-1984
WORK & MILITARY
Sioux City West High School, School Counselor, 2000-2021
Bishop Heelan Catholic School, Counselor/Psychology teacher, 1993-2000
Catholic Charities, Social worker/program director, 1984-1992
AFFILIATIONS
Sioux City School Board, Director, 2022-2023
League of Women Voters, Board member, 2022-2023
Sioux City Education Assoc., President, 2018-2020
Siouxland Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Board member
National Education Assoc., lifetime member, 2000-2026
Iowa School Counselor Assoc, member, -2021
American Red Cross, DSHR volunteer, 2001-2023
Siouxland Hospice, volunteer, -2023
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State House 118, 2026-
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (1)
Planned Parenthood Votes South Atlantic
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic Votes
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 Disagree
Planned Parenthood provides a variety of educational and healthcare services.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Medical necessity for life of parent and/or child.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Disagree
Medical and moral decision by patient and doctor
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Disagree
Medical and moral decision of doctor and patient-
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Disagree
Drugs are part of the medical and moral decisions that must be based on a case by case basis.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Must be increased. A living wage is necessary for everyone.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
People have a right to own businesses and build but the rights of private land ownership must also be respected.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Show accountability of programs with data driven results. Tax the top 1 percent. Do not cut essential services but programs can be streamlined and done efficiently. We shouldn't be funding ICE or using our local law enforcement to work with ICE in our communities. ICE has more money than any program and does not need to take our police officers away from doing their own job.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The state is governed by the US Constitution. We are diverse with many different religions and freedoms and all should be respected. Public money is for public schools. That does not take away the freedom of someone choosing to send his/her child to a private institution.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
A person should not be in a position to go against their moral beliefs ; however, there may be jobs not suited for people unable to serve the public because of their own biases or beliefs.
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.
B. At this time, I believe that private healthcare options along with healthcare insurance provided by the government as needed seems to meet the needs.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
This sounds like government overreach and can be potentially misused. I do believe that people should have access to insurance even with preexisting conditions.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Agree
China, North Korea, Russia
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes..but that does not give blanket acceptance of everything they are doing in Gaza.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Agree
I believe this is a local decision. I believe in due process and this helps that to happen. I believe in establishing a path to citizenship for those who have been here and who have family here,
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Disagree
The Dept. of Education should not be defunded. They work with the states and communities and help provide federal funding for public education which is necessary.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Neutral
I believe in sharing ideas and learning from other countries. This must be carefully balanced with national security.
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
Parents should work with the schools and medical professionals as long as this is not endanger the child's physical or emotional well-being.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Neutral
Individuals learn, explore, and ultimately should decide what is best for them and who they are. No one should force anyone to transition - or not transition. It is abusive to leave an individual feeling that they do not belong or fit in the constraints of their body. Decisions are made with the individual, medical team, and supports.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Disagree
The federal government decided that same-sex marriage is legal. Again, this is a decision that is about the individuals, and their personal and moral beliefs. The government does not need to play God.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Agree
Gambling can bring in state revenue. There also must be safeguards as in any activity, abuse or addictions can happen.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am an Italian Catholic who believes that God is love. We must believe in the good of all people and not judge people who are different than us or don't believe the same as we believe. I respect that there are different religions in our country. I do not believe we should force one religious belief into our government as it does not provide the respect for those with different upbringings and beliefs.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Photo identification provides proof- if there are financial or some other legitimate reason that one is not able to obtain photo identification to vote, then we must find a way to help them get what is needed in order to vote. We do not want to prevent anyone from exercising their constitutional right and duty to vote.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Neutral
I need to understand more about this. I think there needs to be an honest acceptance of the past injustices.
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.
Disagree
First of all, this isn't really an issue as maybe 1% is transgender. I would prefer medical personnel to make decisions on transgender athletes - and probably assess when they transition. I am more concerned having a male who transitioned as a female going into a male bathroom. I have spent time in Europe where bathrooms have stalls for both male and female and I have never felt afraid. I don't think our government needs to worry what bathroom someone uses.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Agree
Pollutants and how we treat our land and has an effect. Do not build data centers and concentrate on funding programs that decrease energy waste and gas emissions.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
solar power , upgrade energy grids, support public transit, put a moratorium on data centers.
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?
Liberal
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 prevent and deter further crimes, and to keep the communities safe.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Agree
I believe parents do as well but there should be some guardrails in place to report, and prosecute predators online.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Agree
The US is governed by the US Constitution, state and federal laws.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
There should be locked storage of guns, background checks, no weapons of war on the streets. Permits should be required just like drivers licenses.
