Karl Gillespie

Republican | North Carolina

Candidate Profile*

Conservative (Conditional)

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Karl Gillespie


Party

Republican


Election Year

2020


Election

General


Race

State Rep., Dist. 120


Incumbent

No


Links

Karl Gillespie websites
Karl Gillespie phones
Karl Gillespie emailFacebook

EDUCATION

Southwestern Community College, Sylva, General, 1982

Franklin High School, Franklin, General, 1980

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

Macon County Farm Bureau, President

Southwestern Community College, Board Member

First United Methodist Church, Trustee Chair

NC Cattlemen's Association, Vice President

Macon County Republican Party, Executive Committee

Macon County Planning Board, Chairman

Macon, Jackson, Swain Cattlemen Association, Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

County Commissioner, 4

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (1)

*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF

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

If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, North Carolina should repeal its law allowing abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Circumstances when the mothers life will be lost and the child's life is lost.


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.

Agree

Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.

Strongly Agree

Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.

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?

The First Amendment reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." To me that is very clear guidance.


NATIONAL SECURITY

The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.

Agree


HEALTHCARE

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.

Disagree

How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?

The healthcare system must become more efficient, both the delivery of healthcare and payment. We need to place an emphasis on intervention and becoming a more health society.


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


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.

Agree

State, sheriff and local law enforcement agencies should be required to participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) Program to enhance the safety and security of their communities to identify and detain aliens.

Agree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

Those that comply with the existing immigration laws.


EDUCATION

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Neutral


2ND AMENDMENT

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?

Yes

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

National data base that prohibits ownership of guns by anyone with a history of harming themselves or others and risk of violence.


OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.

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?

Broadband expansion. Expanded educational opportunities. Affordable healthcare.


JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY

I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.

Strongly Disagree


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.

All of the Macon County Commissioners meeting are recorded and can be viewed at www.maconnc.org. My stance and positions can be viewed there.

What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?

Serving on the Macon County Board of Commissioners and being a small business owner.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.

No

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?

My family goes back five generations in the NC House 120th district. I have been in business since 1999 and have worked in the private sector my entire life. I have been involved in production agriculture for many years and have served as a Macon County Commissioner since 2016.


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Agree

I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.

Strongly Disagree

I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.

Strongly Disagree

Parents should have the right to know what schools are teaching their children about sex and LGBT issues and should have the right to opt their children out of any instruction to which they object.

Strongly Agree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a Methodist, born again Christian. I try to maintain a Christian lifestyle, practice what Wesley referred to as "practical divinity".

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