Mark Curran
Republican | Illinois
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mark Curran
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL, B.S., 1985
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL, J.D., 1990
WORK & MILITARY
Lake County, Illinois, Sheriff, 2006-2018
Lake County,Illinois, Special Prosecutor
Lake County, Illinois, Special Assistant, US Atty
AFFILIATIONS
Illinois Republican Party, Member/Volunteer, Illinois Sheriff's Association
Member, National Sheriffs Association, Member
St. Joseph's Knights of Columbus, Member/Volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Lake County Sheriff, 12
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (5)
Dan McConchie
David Clarke
Illinois Family Action
Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC
National Right To Life
OTHER (3)
Lake County Republican Party
Northfield Township Republican Organization
Republicans of Wheeling Township
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
National Right to Life
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2016)
Nick Sauer (2017)
Paul Schimpf (2014)
State Republican Party Organizations (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Family-Pac (2013)
Joe Walsh (2018)
Nick Sauer (2017)
Richard & Elizabeth Uihlein (2018)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
International Union of Operating Engineers (2015)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I favor only one exception in the prohibition of abortion: the jeopardization of the life of the mother.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Simply stated, there is no such clause in the Constitution. When we read what the founders authored, we see that the First Amendment is more heavily weighted towards protecting the rights of those practicing religion that it is on prohibiting religion from the public sphere. Often, this imagined clause of separation of church and state is used to justify the curtailment of individual religious freedoms, which I find abhorrent. I believe that there should be no official established religion in America. Beyond this, I see no need to make any further distinctions.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Neutral
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
It is critical that all of the nation's current resources to fight terror are properly funded and staffed. This includes our counter intelligence agencies, the FBI, and very importantly, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is also imperative that the policies of these departments are geared towards vigilant follow up and pro-active measures to combat threats before they result in harm to Americans. In my view, the safety of our people can only be assured when we recognize that there is a portion of the overseas Muslim population that believes in waging jihad against The United States. We have certainly seen the results of this mindset before, and we will again unless we understand the true danger.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Neutral
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
We are blessed to live in a nation that has the best healthcare system in the world-bar none. When it comes to further improving that system, we have to be careful not to do things that run counter to free market principles. Having incentives to recruit and reward the very best and brightest heath care professionals is important. Financial incentives also motivate research and development of life-saving treatments. I am a believer in a preventative medicine approach that heads off costly and debilitating problems before they start. There is also incredible waste and fraud throughout the Medicaid, Medicare, and insurance networks that needs to be taken fare more seriously. I also believe that people should be able to purchase insurance policies across state lines . I take a different tack than some other conservatives do in that I believe that preserving Medicare and Medicaid-for those CITIZENS who truly need it-must be a high priority.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
I believe in preserving Social Security. However, if we are to maintain this important benefit, we must face a hard truth: to properly fund these programs we need to balance cutting costs with raising revenue. I am NOT in favor of raising taxes on the middle class to address this shortfall.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
It is a hard truth that balancing the budget-with the budget deficit we now have-is not possible without some sort of raise in revenue. I am very much in favor of curtailing government spending and eliminating redundant bureaucracy and wasteful spending. But in order to accomplish a balanced budget, it will take a combination of increased revenue and budget cuts. I do not believe that the middle class or upper middle income earners should have their taxes raised to achieve this.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
In limited cases, I would be open to legislation helping to pay a portion of the student debt for those entering certain professions such as the medical field or other in demand industries. I am firmly opposed to a wholesale student loan forgiveness which is unfair to those who have already paid their debts and is untenable for the national budget.
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Agree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Immigrants have always contributed to a vibrant, hard working America. I welcome anyone who chooses to come to The United States to create a better life for themselves and their families. We have immigration laws that must be universally followed. It is the height of unfairness that some individuals do the work to immigrate legally while others feel entitled to sidestep the proicess-a process designed to protect the security and interests of the American citizenry. It is important, however, that skilled jobs-as in the tech industry-be available to qualified American individuals. When granting work visas, this priority should guide the granting of work visas.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I am zealous about safeguarding the rights of law-abiding gun owners. The social upheaval America is experiencing serves to illustrate how vital it is that any American adult citizen be able to legally purchase a firearm. In very exceptional instances of documented severe mental health impairment, gun ownership could be prohibited-but any such restriction must be thoroughly considered before enacted and done on a case by case basis.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Neutral
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
1. Tax policy that favors and incentivizes American companies to headquarter and manufacture in America. 2. Fair trade policy that seeks to remedy the remaining great disparity in trade deals. 3. Civil and religious freedom policy that safeguards the rights of American citizens-particularly as it pertains to governmental intrusion into the exercise of Constitutional Rights.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Does racism still exist in America? Of course it does, as it does in every nation. Have we made enormous strides-particularly in the last fifty years? Absolutely, we have. I have spent many years in law enforcement. I have encountered instances of racism-and in many of those cases it was directed towards latinos to a degree the media does not report in favor of a continued focus on the Black Lives Matter movement. Those cases-and all other cases-of racist conduct on the part of law enforcement are not acceptable and should be stopped. However, I do NOT believe that there is a common thread of systemic racism running through American law enforcement or the military. Racial strife and division-as it is being encouraged by leftist politicians and organizations-is what poses a threat to our domestic peace and security. That is abundantly clear as we watch chaos unfold in our cities.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
During my primary, I secured the endorsements of numerous pro-family organizations including Illinois Right to Life and the Illinois Family Institute, and I was honored to receive the National Right to Life endorsement in the general election. I am proud to say that I have been reliably pro-life for the entire duration of my adult life and will steadfastly remain so. My conservative values also extend to the fiscal arena. During my twelve year tenure as Lake County Sheriff, I consistently came under budget and enjoyed a reputation for solid management of county resources.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
N/A
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am unbought. Unlike Dick Durbin, I have received no corporate backing, and I am not beholden to anyone other than the Illinois voters. My extensive background in the law-both as an attorney and as a sheriff of one of Illinois' largest counties-makes wholly qualified to represent the interests of the people in this state and the country at large.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian believer. Simply stated, I believe that there is a God. I believe that my purpose on this Earth is to show love to others and to give all I can in service. I believe that both in this life, and in eternity, I will be held accountable for what I do. These beliefs are what motivate me to work hard and act with integrity in all I do.
