2013 Survey Response: A CONSISTENT ETHIC OF LIFE IN PUBLIC POLICY 1.  A consistent ethic of life (see here, here and here) focuses on the major life issues of abortion, euthanasia, persistent poverty, unjust war, capital punishment, the use of nuclear arms, violence, racism and exploitation.  While these are nationally debated issues, there are community manifestations of these that municipalities can address.  Will you as a city council member do all in your power and authority to implement public policies and facilitate community action that further a consistent respect for all human life?   Answer: Yes. COMMUNITY PREGNANCY CENTERS 2. In recent years attempts have been made in several states by pro abortion advocates to pass legislation targeting pro-life pregnancy centers, even though such centers provide those states with valuable community services. In Washington State, HB 1366 and SB 5274 required: 1. The listing of non-provided services both orally and in writing.  This sets a dangerous precedent allowing any organization with political clout to saddle its competitors with burdensome requirements of saying or listing what they do not do.  In January of 2011, a federal judge ruled in Maryland on a similar law that "the Ordinance violates the Freedom of Speech Clause of Article I of the Constitution of the United States" (pg. 2) and has a "lack of viewpoint neutrality ... a particularly offensive form of content-based discrimination" (pg. 20).  2. These bills allow any Planned Parenthood employee, private citizen, or government entity to bring petitions for injunctions even if they are repeatedly thrown out of court.   A local pregnancy center, surviving on donations, cannot defend itself in Superior Court pro se (without representation) and cannot afford to pay a lawyer to defend them even once, yet alone multiple times.  3.  These bills do not regulate conduct, but instead are directed only at the speech of pregnancy centers.   Do you support the work of community pregnancy centers and will you oppose efforts to suppress them?  Answer:  I support the work of community pregnancy centers and I will oppose efforts to suppress them.  PUBLIC LIBRARY PORNOGRAPHY 3. The US Supreme Court in its 2003 ruling United States v. American Library Association, Inc, upheld the use of library internet pornography filters.  Chief Justice Rehnquist stated for the plurality that "to fulfill their traditional missions, public libraries must have broad discretion to decide what material to provide to their patrons.  Although they seek to provide a wide array of information, their goal has never been to provide 'universal coverage,'" and "most libraries already exclude pornography from their print collections because they deem it inappropriate for inclusion."   In 2010, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that public libraries' use of internet filters does not violate the state constitution. Will you as a city councilor appoint, recommend or request (depending on your level of authority) only library board candidates who oppose the inclusion of pornography in public libraries, whether by internet or printed materials? Answer:  I will support only candidates who oppose inclusion of obscene materials whether by Internet or printed materials.     REGULATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES  4. The U.S. Supreme Court in Young v. American Mini Theaters, Inc., (1976) and Renton v. Playtime Theater, Inc., (1986), concluded that municipalities have "substantial governmental interests" in protecting and preserving the quality of life for its community against the adverse secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses while allowing for "reasonable alternative avenues of communication."  Land Use Studies from cities around the United States were cited in both U.S. Supreme Court cases documenting the harmful secondary effects including 1. Increased Crime - rape, sexual assault, prostitution and illegal drug sales; 2. Decreased Property Values - both residential and commercial; and 3. Urban Blight - people and businesses fleeing the community.  Will you diligently seek and maintain zoning ordinances, licensing procedures, permit requirements and operational regulations which serve to minimize the adverse secondary effects of Sexually Oriented Businesses?  Answer:  Yes.   ABORTION 5. Even dedicated proponents of abortion acknowledge that life begins at conception.  What do you believe?  Does a unique human life begins at conception?           If not at conception, when?  ___  3 mths  ___  6 mths  ___ 9 mths  ___  1 yr  ___ 18 yrs? Answer:  I believe life begins at conception.     6. The 14th Amendment states "nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, 1973, stated that "if this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment."  The Court regrettably concluded though that "we need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to the answer."   Do you believe that the right to life of the unborn child is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment? Answer:  Yes.   7.  Is taking the life of a pre-born child through abortion ever permissible?  Check all that apply: Answer:  Personally, I believe abortion is never permissible.  Realistically, however, there is no chance all abortions will be criminalized.  Failing that, I would support laws that restrict abortions beginning with late-term abortions and eventually prohibiting all abortions except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incest--which is about as far as I can see abortion restrictions going.  I don't believe abortions should ever be allowed for physical deformity, gender selection, for race, economic hardship, or to punish a spouse.   _____ No, it's never permissible _____ Yes, to save mother's life _____ Yes, in cases of rape or incest _____ Yes, for physical deformity _____  Yes, for genetic predispositions _____  Yes, for gender _____  Yes, for race _____   Yes, for economic hardship _____  Yes, to punish spouse _____  Yes, it's always permissible   8. Do you support parental notification and/or consent before a minor (under 18 years of age) could have an abortion? A judicial bypass of parents would be allowed when necessary.  A 2013 poll commissioned by Human Life WA, found Washington State voters are widely supportive of laws requiring "parental involvement" in abortion decisions for girls under the age of 18 (62-29% with just under 10% undecided).  Read a summary of the results here.  Do you support: Notification?  Yes Consent?    Yes    PLANNED PARENTHOOD 9. The nation's biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, in the 2011-2012 fiscal year received a record $542.4 million in government funding and aborted a record 333,964 babies.  Should Planned Parenthood be contracted with to make community presentations, provide literature, birth control chemicals or devises, and/or abortion services? Answer: No.   GAMING 10. The hotly debated casino off I-5 near Ridgefield would be one of the largest in the nation.  What is your position on the building of this casino? Answer:  Opposed.   CONTRIBUTIONS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS 11. "Religious communities are the largest and best-organized civil institutions in the world, claiming the allegiance of billions across race, class, and national divides. These communities have particular cultural understandings, infrastructures, and resources to get help where it is needed most" (World Conference of Religions for Peace).  Southwest Washington has a broad range of religious communities that contribute substantially to the welfare of families, children, seniors, the homeless, sick, and refugees.  They are a highly valued part of our community which respects and defends human life at every stage.  Are you an active member in a church, synagogue, temple, mosque or other religious assembly? Answer:  Yes. If so, you may state here where at:  St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Portland. FAITH-BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS 12. The White House's Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships ensures that religious and other community organizations are able to compete on an equal footing for participation in Federal programs without impairing the character of such organizations and without diminishing the religious freedom of those served.  Does the collaboration of government with faith-based charitable works lawfully ensure fair treatment of religious organizations, and is it good for our communities? Answer:  I'm a bit uncomfortable with too much government entanglement with religious organizations primarily because of the impact government can have on those organizations.  Just ask Catholic organizations that have to provide birth control or will.   QUALIFICATIONS 13. Please state your professional experience, community involvement, education and other qualifications for a mayoral or city council position. 20 years of municipal government legal experience especially in land use and finance areas.  After only 7 months on the council, I pushed through a utility tax rebate.  I hope to promote economic development in Washougal if elected to a full-term.   14. May Life Pac post your returned survey on our website?  Surveys are posted only with your permission.  Yes.