Stephen Ross
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Stephen Ross
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 63
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Elon University, Elon, BA, 1973
NC State University, Raleigh, MPA, 1975
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
St. Marks Church, member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
City Council for Burlington, NC, 1992-2000
Mayor for Burlington, NC, 2000-2008
Representative NC House of Representatives, 2012-2020
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (1)
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
LIBERAL (1)
Carolina Federation
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (12)
Amy Galey (2020); Buck Newton (2016); Charles Jeter (2016); Committee to Elect Republican Women (2019); Dan Forest (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (29)
Allen McNeill (2018); Amy Galey (2019); Bryan Holloway (2014); Chuck McGrady (2018); Dave Craven (2020)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Anthony Foriest (2010)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
North Carolina Advocates for Justice (2016); Service Employees International Union (2020)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion is morally wrong and Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided. In the current legal environment where abortion is a "constitutional right," I believe the state should still seek to reduce the number of abortions through promoting a culture of life, funding crisis pregnancy centers, and banning all late-term abortions. If the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, as I pray that they will, North Carolina should then seek to restrict or eliminate abortions as much as legally and politically possible. I think exceptions for rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother are reasonable and acceptable in the first 14-20 weeks of pregnancy.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
If Roe v. Wade is overturned by the US Supreme Court, how far are you willing to go to roll back North Carolina's statutory abortion law that allows abortion up to 20 weeks?
As I stated in Answer 1 above, if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the General Assembly has a moral responsibility to eliminate abortion on demand. I believe there should be a narrow exception for rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Would you support a limitation on chemical abortion that protects women from taking abortion pills without the care and supervision of a qualified physician?
Yes
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Closing churches is a clear violation of the First Amendment. Gov. Cooper's unconstitutional closing of churches during the COVID pandemic should never happen again in North Carolina. The government has no authority to close churches. Period.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
The government should have no influence or control over the church. The church -- and individuals with varying religious beliefs -- should have great influence over the direction of our state and country. I bring a Christian world view to my governing philosophy, recognizing the many beliefs present in a pluralistic society. But my Christian faith guides every decision I make in life.
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)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
Option C most closely approaches my view. However, I would add that the VA provides important, taxpayer-funded healthcare to our veterans. I would say that in general, the federal government spends entirely too much money and has too much control over the country's healthcare. We would be better off from a fiscal sustainability standpoint with less government involvement. However, Medicaid and Medicare are here to stay and should be funded for all who need and qualify for these services.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government vaccine mandates are counter-productive. While there are examples of vaccines that have made America safer, healthier, and better off long-term (for example, the polio vaccine), when this is accomplished through a government mandate, it makes the public more skeptical and vaccine hesitant. If there is a life-saving vaccine, such as the COVID vaccines, the public should be encouraged, but not forced -- and never forced by the government. Private employers should be protected and allowed to maintain their own hiring policies. (This protects churches and religious institutions from government and legal intrusion too, by the way.) In all of these circumstances, there should be robust religious exemptions for all vaccines.
ECONOMY
The government should do more to close the gap between the working class and the wealthy.
Strongly Disagree
The government should not have a role in picking winners and losers or "leveling the playing field" in a free market economy. We have a social safety net and should do our part to take care of the poor, but government interference to "close the wealth gap" is inappropriate, restricts freedom, and makes America less prosperous and generous.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I would prioritize lowering the taxes families and small businesses pay through broad-based tax reform, lowering the personal income tax and increasing the standard deduction. I worked on these reforms during my time in the General Assembly and would like to continue those efforts.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
States should allow parents to use the Opportunity Scholarship Program to fund private school for their children.
Strongly Agree
In what situations does a parent not have the right to know what their child is being taught in public school?
Never. Parents should ALWAYS have a right to know what their children are being taught in school. Period.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Again, never. There is not a limit to parents' First Amendment rights and their ability to advocate for their children.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I believe that the gun laws already in place in North Carolina are sufficient. I would strenuously oppose any efforts by anti-Second Amendment activists to confiscate guns or restrict lawful gun ownership.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Would you support legislation that prohibits biological boys from competing on girls sports teams?
Yes
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
There are certain core services that government should do but I don't believe as some do that governments role is solve all problems. We need more personal responsibility and freedom with less government.
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
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
12 year record as a city councilman-8 year record as a Mayor-8 year voting record in the NC House of Representatives
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I have nearly a 30 record in public service in which time I have aways stayed true to my core values. My voting record was one of the most conservative in the General Assembly and I am proud of the record we have achieved over the last 10 years in NC
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised in a family with strong Christian roots and my parents instilled in all of us a foundation where God is at the center of every life decision. I view one of my main roles as a father to instill this same foundation in my daughters and grandchildren. I have been blessed with a wonderful family all who continue to put Christ at the center of their own families. My family and I know the love of Christ is endless and he is with us at every step in everything we do.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I voted for Voter ID many times as a Representative and will fight to make it a reality -- after many long years of judicial opposition -- if elected to the NC House.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
See above answer. I would push to fully implement North Carolina's Voter ID law.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
There are racist people out there, as there are racist people in any given country anywhere on earth. Is racism the gravest threat to our domestic security? Of course not. America is a fundamentally good country with good people. We need to stop the division and hate that comes from the fallacy of the Left that America is in any way a racist nation.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
Option A comes closer to my view. There is a place for government regulations that protect our environment and natural resources. However, we have to do everything we can as a state to eliminate unnecessary burdens on job creators. While I was in the General Assembly, I championed regulatory reforms that cut red tape and allowed employers to relocate to North Carolina, expand their operations, and create jobs. I would continue that work if I were to return to the legislature.
