A CULTURE OF LIFE AND THE COMMON GOOD
A Culture A Culture of Life and The Common Good require respectful, inclusive dialog and broad application of moral principles valuing the sacredness of human life.  Direct threats to human life include first of all abortion, which takes nearly a million US children annually; embryonic stem cell harvesting; euthanasia; and cloning.  Additional threats to human life include persistent poverty, capital punishment, racism, unjust war, nuclear arms proliferation and exploitation.  Every person's life must be respected.  One's personhood or worth must not be determined by another's arbitrary choice.  No one exists solely as a means to someone else's happiness.  The choices we make, as individuals and as a society, must be weighed in light of their impact on human life and dignity.  Do you acknowledge both the breadth of pro life issues, and the primacy of some of those issues, namely abortion, embryonic stem cell harvesting, euthanasia, and cloning? YES

ABORTION
Even dedicated proponents of abortion acknowledge that life begins at conception.  What do you believe?  Does a unique human life begins at conception? YES


If not, when?   ___ 3 mths    ___ 6 mths

___ At Birth    ___ 1 yr   ___18 yrs?

Is taking the life of a pre-born child through abortion ever morally permissible?  Check all that apply:

_____ No, it's never permissible

___X__ Yes, to save mother's life

_____ Yes, in cases of rape or incest

_____ Yes, for physical deformity

_____  Yes, for gender

_____  Yes, for race

_____  Yes, to punish spouse

_____ Yes, it's always permissible

CONSTITUTION
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 State has a compelling interest in protecting human life beginning at conception? YES

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN ABORTION
 Peer reviewed studies have shown that parental involvement laws reduce the occurrence of risky sex in teens, and 37 states currently have some form of them.  Either the teen refrains from engaging in sex or is more careful before having sex.  These laws help teen mothers and fathers get the support and guidance they need from parents in this important decision.  Not having them risks parental estrangement or alienation from the child when in the greatest need and denies the dignity of the family.  Minors already must have parental approval for even the most minor types of medical procedures or medications and should also for the complex procedure of abortion.   Without parental involvement, a minor impregnated by an adult often times is pressured into having an abortion so as to conceal the fact that the adult is guilty of statutory rape.  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).  Will you promote/support parental involvement laws (with judicial override) for minors when seeking an abortion? YES

PUBLIC LIBRARY PORNOGRAPHY
In the US Supreme Court ruling United States v. American Library Association, Inc, 2003, which 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 addition to pornography, lately libraries have been used for promote Drag Queen Story Hours, where gender confused adults read stories of the same to children, facilitating gender confusion in them.  Will you appoint and confirm only library board candidates who oppose the inclusion of pornography in public libraries, and who oppose the use of libraries for Drag Queen Story Hours? YES

REGULATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
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 support municipalities that 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?   YES

PLANNED PARENTHOOD
The nation's biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, in the 2018-2019 fiscal year received $616.8 million in tax payer funding and aborted 345,672 babies.  Should Planned Parenthood be contracted with to make community presentations, provide literature, birth control chemicals or devices, and/or abortion services?  NO

 

REGULATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA
Recreational marijuana was legalized in Washington State in 2012 by Initiative 502.  The drug though is considered dangerous by many, including the FDA, the AMA, and The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  The White House Office of National Drug Policy opposes the legalization of the drug for public health reasons.  Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) states "The normalization, expanded use, and increased availability of marijuana in our communities are detrimental to our youth, to public health, and to the safety of our society."  The Alaska Association of Police Chief describe some of the negative aspects of legalizing the drug here.   For additional dangers see here, here and here.  What is your position on the legal production, processing and sale of recreational marijuana in Washington State?

_____  Support

___X__  Oppose

_____  No Opinion

_____  Other:

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
"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? YES

FAITH-BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS
The Federal 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.  Do you agree that the federal Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, in keeping with the First Amendment free exercise clause, lawfully ensures fair treatment of faith based charitable work and is it good for our community? YES

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMMENTS
What office (district and position) are you running for?

Clark County Council

Please state your qualifications for office such as professional, educational, family and community accomplishments.  You may also add any any further comments regarding the relationship of your candidacy to respect life issues.

I have been self employed and founded three companies in the last 40 years. I have also served as a part time citizen legislator in the WA State Senate for 20 years. I worked for Candidate Trump and was appointed by President Trump to manage a federal agency. I have extensive government experience at the local, state and federal levels. I understand that ALL the money government has comes from you, the citizen, and needs to be spent wisely.

Do you have a campaign website?  What is the address?

WWW.BentonforCouncil.com