Rhys Read
Republican | Illinois
Candidate Profile*
Insufficient Information
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
DePaul University, Chicago, IL, MBA, 1976-1979
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, BS, 1973-1976
WORK & MILITARY
Wespath Pensions|Investments, Controller and Treasurer, 2007-2016
Peer Bearing Company, Director of Accounting, 1998-2007
Katch, Tyson & Co, Senior/Supervisor, 1995-1998
AFFILIATIONS
Illinois Chess Association, Treasurer, 1998-1999
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Trustee, Des Plaines Library Board, 2000-2009
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Illinois State Treaurer, 2002-
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).
Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Up to the point of viability. I would favor a restriction after 15 weeks to only if the mother's life is in danger.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Disagree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Disagree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Disagree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I do not believe in a minimum wage. I favor a system like the Scandinavian countries which
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
On a state level, I would share SNAP, Medicaid and voter files with the appropriate federal agencies to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse. I will sponsor legislation to increase transparency in taxes by including tax amounts in leases and commercial enterprises. I would reverse energy restrictions embedded in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. I will promote comprehensive pension reform.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The government should not enforce any law that either encourages or discourages a particular religion. Acknowledging the Judeo-Christian basis of our laws and customs is not a violation of the separation of church and state.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
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 support none of these options. Instead, I would establish self-funded individual accounts with income bases support up to a stated minimum annual funding. Unspent balances would be invested, and earnings would be tax free. The government would also secure lending to the account in case of overdrafts.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
We need to secure health databases from government intrusion as an extension of unlawful searches.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Israel is one of the United States' most supportive allies. The unceasing attacks against Israel are also attacks against the United States and the fundamentals of Western Civilization. I also acknowledge that the Jewish people are the native people of Israel, and they have always been present in Israel. No Arab nation has had administrative control of the region in almost a thousand years. They were defeated and removed by the Crusaders and the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1091.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
I would support legislation eliminating sanctuary cities in Illinois and require local officials to partner with federal law enforcement agencies to apprehend individuals who have broken United States law.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
I believe in 100% school choice by parents.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
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
Sex is binary and immutable. Any teacher teaching the anti-science position that children can change their sex, and attempts to hide transitioning from the parents, should be prosecuted for sexual child abuse
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Neutral
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Agree
I specifically support the expansion of online poker in the state, as I consider poker a game of skill with random elements rather than a strict game of chance.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in following the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. I believe spiritual believes and values are an individual thing and no belief or prohibition of belief or faith should be perpetuated by the government.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
We need a universal voting id with a chip reader to record voting and ensure valid vote totals. The issues with voting integrity must be addressed.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
One of the fundamentals of our country, and of human decency, is a person should not be punished for the sins or crimes of others.
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
Biological males cannot become female and vice versa. There are over 1,000 genes on the XX-XY chromosome, so there are over 1,000 differences between man and woman.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
Man made climate change as a global threat is the biggest and most expensive science falsehood ever created. All government spending to fight this nonexistent problem needs to be ended immediately.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Natural gas is the cheapest, most abundant, and cleanest form of energy generation as the waste products from the combustion of methane are the just carbon dioxide and water. Illinois should also use our extensive nuclear and coal reserves.
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?
Lean Conservative
I am a Libertarian leaning Republican.
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 keep the general public safe and secure in their life, liberty and property.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Two laws I would like to see enacted: 1. if a crime is used in the commission of a crime, even if the gun was not fired or a different person than the one committing the crime held the gun, then the perpetrator would be ineligible for bail or a plea-bargaining agreement. 2. if a minor commits a gun crime their father would be specifically held responsible for the gun crime.
