Emily Berlin
Non-Partisan | Michigan
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
Davenport University, Grand Rapids, Bachelors, 2006-2010
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
West Elementary PTC, Treasurer, 2026-
Kids Food Basket, Volunteer, 2012-
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Complete list of candidate's Campaign Finance Reports can be found on the Kent County website.
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Agree
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
Schools should provide compassion, support, and practical resources to students experiencing an unwanted or crisis pregnancy while keeping the focus on the student’s education and well-being. I believe schools should help connect students and families with appropriate counseling, academic accommodations and community resources. Students should be treated with dignity and without judgment, while schools respect the role of parents and families in making personal decisions.
ECONOMY
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Neutral
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I support government funding of public education from Pre-K through college because education is an important investment in our children, families, workforce, and communities. At the same time, funding must be responsible, transparent, and focused on student outcomes. We should ensure that resources are reaching classrooms and students, support programs that demonstrate value, and hold districts and institutions accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
To me, separation of church and state means that public schools should not promote, require, or favor a particular religion, while also protecting every student's constitutional right to practice and express their faith. I believe schools should respect students and families of all faiths. Students should be free to express their beliefs without discrimination, while the school itself remains neutral and focused on providing an excellent public education.
IMMIGRATION
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.
Agree
I believe enforcing federal immigration law is the responsibility of the federal government, and communities have a legitimate interest in safety and the rule of law. At the same time, as a school board member, my responsibility would be to ensure that every child in our district has access to a safe, welcoming education and that the district follows applicable laws regarding student privacy and access to education.
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Disagree
I believe public schools should focus on educating students and providing a safe, supportive environment rather than serving as a provider or referral source for abortion or gender-affirming medical services. I believe parents should be involved in significant medical and personal decisions affecting their children.
Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Agree
Students learn best in an environment that is safe, respectful, and orderly. Schools should have clear expectations for behavior and consistent, age-appropriate consequences when those expectations are not met.
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Neutral
I believe schools should provide students with a thorough understanding of American history, our founding documents, and the principles upon which our government was established. Students should be encouraged to understand and appreciate our country and its history, but schools should teach the facts and encourage students to think critically rather than requiring them to adopt a particular political viewpoint. Let them learn and develop their own informed views.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Disagree
I believe there is value in having federal programs and baseline standards that provide consistency and protections for students across states.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development
Human anatomy/the reproductive system Physical and emotional health outcomes
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
Language Arts, Mathematics, Physical Fitness, Science, American History, Vocational Learning, Civics, Personal Finances, Art & Music, Social Emotional Learning, Foreign Language, Information Technology
Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.
Agree
Yes. I believe public schools should prioritize strong academics while also helping students develop character, responsibility, respect, critical thinking, and the skills needed to become responsible citizens. Students should learn our history, government, and founding principles so they understand how self-government works, but schools should not tell students what political beliefs to have. An educated community is a strong community.
School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.
Agree
VALUES
Biological males should 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 Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian. My values are built on a strong foundation of love, patience and kindness!
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
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.
Agree
Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.
Agree
School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.
Disagree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
Choose not to answer
What political party are you affiliated with?
N/A
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Disagree
