

Joe Kear
Democrat | Washington
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joe Kear
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary & Secretary of State Special
Race
State Rep., Dist. 17 - Pos. 2
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Chillicothe High School, Chillicothe, HS, 1969
WORK & MILITARY
Daimler Truck Plant, Inspector, Certified Mechanical Inspector, Production Technician, 1984-2005
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Business Representative/Organizer, 2005-2017
AFFILIATIONS
Skamania County Democrats, Vice-Chair, Secretary
Underwood Conservation District, Associate Supervisor
Labor's Community Service Agency, Navigator
Northwest Oregon Labor Council, Delegate
Southwest Washington Central Labor Council, Delegate
Cape Horn Conservancy, Volunteer, Contributor
Automotive Machinists Pension Trust, Trustee, Secretary
International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 1005, Secretary-Treasurer
Skamania County, Participant, Community Draft West End Subarea Comprehensive Plan
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Precinct Committee Officer, 2010-2022
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (1)
Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Washington State Labor Council
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (10)
Bernie Sanders (2016); Bob Dingethal (2014); Carolyn Long (2018); Devin Kuh (2020); Donna Sinclair (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Roe v. Wade guidelines should be maintained.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Disagree
Planned Parenthood gets funds for women's health care and family planning. In many cases it is the only service provider for women.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
Washington has a good policy to provide death with dignaty
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Did not answer
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Did not answer
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Did not answer
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Did not answer
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.
Did not answer
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Did not answer
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
We need to support working families and eliminate hardships with our tax code.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Did not answer
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Did not answer
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Did not answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Did not answer
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Did not answer
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Did not answer
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Did not answer
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Did not answer
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Did not answer
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?
Did not answer
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Did not answer
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
Did not answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Did not answer
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Did not answer
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Did not answer
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Did not answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Did not answer
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Did not answer
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Did not answer
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Did not answer
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.
Did not answer
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Did not answer
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