Alton, Mo. – In order to inform voters on upcoming election day we sent surveys to politicians to find their stance and opinions on issues.
- Representatives for Missouri State District 143
- Senatorial Candidates for the Senate District 33
- Gubernatorial Candidates For Missouri
Representatives for Missouri State District 143
The people who are running for Representative are: Ron Copeland, Jack Bates, Frank DeVenuto, William R. Parsons, Jaret Holden. We received responses from: Jack Bates, William Parsons, and Frank Devenuto. As we get more responses we will update the list.
Q: Do you believe in a Republican form of government?
Jack Bates:
A: “Yes. Our ideals are under attack, and we must defend them.”
William Parsons:
A: “Of course.”
Frank Devenuto:
A: Yes. It is the only form of government that puts the power and authority into the hands of We the People to preserve the rights and liberties of each individual from each other and the government. However, as John Adams wisely stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” All other forms of government eventually lead to tyranny.
Q: How do you plan on maintaining freedom for Missourians?
Jack Bates:
A: “By keeping alert to any threats and dealing with them aggressively.”
William Parsons:
A: “Protect their rights until they cross someone else’s rights.”
Frank Devenuto:
A: I intend to put the power of the government back into the hands of the people. Although term limits are a tool to prevent career politics, only 19 states currently have laws to remove an elected or appointed official for wrongdoing, dereliction of duty, or incompetence; Missouri is not one of them. At Patriot Academy last year, I wrote and debated a mock bill (in Missouri’s Constitution format) at the state capitol in Austin, TX on the Senate floor that allows We the People to recall elected or appointed officials at all levels of government in Missouri. If elected, I will push to get this bill passed into law. “A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody” – Thomas Paine.
Q: What do you think the number one item on the budget should be?
Jack Bates:
A: “education.”
William Parsons:
A: “Healthcare.”
Frank Devenuto:
A: “The number one budget item should be reducing government spending. Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that the government should not pursue or chase after transient causes. This means the government should not allow social or popular issues of the day to supersede its only responsibility of protecting individual rights. Leadership should set the example by taking a pay cut and reduce spending for societal causes (24% of the state budget goes to Social Services). Reviewing and removing government regulations that strangle small businesses should be a priority.”
Q: Do you think there is an education crisis? If so, how would you suggest we fix it?
Jack Bates:
A: “A total review of the existing system by a multidisciplinarian team, find strength and weaknesses and enhance or change. This is for all levels.”
William Parsons:
A: “Yes, open more libraries, hire qualified teachers, and pay increase for teachers.”
Frank Devenuto:
A: “The challenges are many: For teachers inadequate pay, long hours, challenging classroom environments, weak professional development/recognition, ever changing government standards and increased bureaucracy, and stress / societal pressure to do more for less are leading to high teacher turnover rates (44% quit within 5 years). High poverty rates, parental disengagement, and lack of proper resources (broadband internet, computers, outdated curriculum, and everyday supplies) are also areas of concern. The state education system needs a complete overhaul. It has been estimated that 40% of employees at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are non-teachers and influence decisions affecting the classroom. All positions within DESE should be held by certified teachers. I will work to have DESE create and provide pacing guides, lesson plans, resources, and other materials that meet Missouri Learning Standards (MLS) for every subject in every grade to every school within Missouri. Businesses and the military do it this way. The advantages include: a standardized level of learning that also allows personalized modifications without compromising standards, saves thousands of man-hours teachers spend writing lesson plans, better prepares new teachers, reduces school costs, and reduces government bureaucracy. Unnecessary positions at DESE could be eliminated and additional funds utilized for teacher salaries or additional resources. John Adams wrote, “It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives.”
Q: Do you believe in total equality in the application of our laws?
Jack Bates:
A: “yes.”
William Parsons:
A: “yes.”
Frank Devenuto:
A: “Yes, the laws must apply to everyone or it applies to no one. There can be no liberty if men are not held accountable by the law, their conscience, and the people; tyranny and despotism will be the result. ‘The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy… These measures never fail to create great and violent jealousies and animosities between the people favored and the people oppressed; whence a total separation of affections, interests, political obligations, and all manner of connections, by which the whole state is weakened.’ – Benjamin Franklin”
Q: Will you defend our freedom of speech?
Jack Bates:
A: “yes.”
William Parsons:
A: “absolutely.”
Frank Devenuto:
A: “Yes, because the freedom of speech is unequivocally tied to a man’s conscience. If men cannot speak against wrong, then tyranny, corruption, and lawlessness ensue. The freedom of speech, along with the other four rights, in the First Amendment are first for a reason – it keeps the government in check. George Washington wrote, ‘If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent, we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.'”
Q: Concerning problems in Missouri and the U.S.A., do you consider the government or family to be the answer?
Jack Bates:
A: “It will have to begin with the family but government can help.”
William Parsons:
A: “both.”
Frank Devenuto:
A: “I consider the family unit to be the foundation of any community or society. When a family is intact a nation thrives, but when torn asunder, that nation will inevitably collapse. In Genesis chapter 2, God created the family as one man and one woman and told them to populate the earth. The government was not created until much later by God. God also said in Deuteronomy 6 that it is the family’s responsibility, particularly the father’s, to teach their children. Government intrusion into a family’s home via demonizing manhood/fatherhood, excessive taxes forcing parents to work multiple jobs just to survive, and outlawing discipline at home and school has done more harm than good.”
Q: Many believe the Declaration of Independence to be the philosophical foundation of the American government. Do you?
Jack Bates:
A: “yes.”
William Parsons:
A: “No. It’s our freedom. We tell the government what to do.”
Frank Devenuto:
A: “The Declaration of Independence is the “why” we became a nation as our God-given rights were being repeatedly and continually violated by the king and the US Constitution is the “how” we were going to establish and run our country based on the “why.” But the foundation for these two documents is the Bible. Thomas Jefferson, when he drafted the Declaration of Independence either mentions God directly or indirectly five times. He and the Founding Fathers understood that our rights and moral code came from the God of the Bible – His principles and truths are timeless. To remove the Bible as the foundation (what has been happening for the past 60 years), removes the basis for a moral society, rights now become privileges owned by the government, and eventually chaos ensues in the family, communities, and a nation. Instead of a moral people exercising self-restraint, the government must apply excessive laws and force to attain compliance– in other words tyranny.”
Senatorial Candidates for the Senate District 33
The people who are running for Senate are: Robert Ross, Karla Eslinger, Van Kelly, Tammy Harty. We received responses from Tammy Harty and Robert Ross. As we get more responses we will update the list.
Q: Do you believe in a Republican form of government?
Tammy Harty:
A: “Yes, I believe in Democracy, where citizens crate the state and nation they want.”
Robert Ross:
A: N/R
Q: How do you plan on maintaining freedom for Missourians?
Tammy Harty:
A: “I believe in constitutional rights for all.”
Robert Ross:
A: N/R
Q: What do you think the number one item on the budget should be?
Tammy Harty:
A: “Our healthcare issues, particularly in rural Missouri must be addressed.”
Robert Ross:
A: “While government is involved in far too many areas…… The fundamental purpose of government is securing our liberties and protecting our God-given Rights. When government fails at this, it fails at everything else. Unfortunately, examples of this are recently evident in St. Louis (Soros funded the prosecutor Kim Gardner) and around our country. Protecting the law abiding citizens should be a priority #1.”
Q: Do you believe in total equality in the application of our laws?
Tammy Harty:
A: “Yes, all men are created equal.”
Robert Ross:
A: “If there is a law that is truly needed in this country, it should be equally applicable regardless of position, income, race, etc. My proven record is exactly why I’m the only candidate endorsed by Missouri Right To Life, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, and have the highest rating (A+) by the NRA, of any candidate in this race.”
Q: Will you defend our freedom of speech?
Tammy Harty:
A: “Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of democracy. It must be defended.”
Robert Ross:
A: “Yes. Whether through “hate-speech” legislation, the “cancel-culture” of the left and some corporations, to “shadow-banning and censoring” by social media companies; our First Amendment Rights are most certainly under assault.”
Q: Concerning problems in Missouri and the U.S.A., do you consider the government or family to be the answer?
Tammy Harty:
A: “Both, they do not exist in a vacuum. They must help each other.”
Robert Ross:
A: “Government is not the solution, and is often the problem. Many of the issues that we have in our country begin with home/family life (or lack thereof). One of my top priorities is supporting legislation that incentivizes keeping the family unit intact.”
Q: Many believe the Declaration of Independence to be the philosophical foundation of American government. Do you?
Tammy Harty:
A: “Yes, it was designed to be our aspirational goal.”
Robert Ross:
A: “I believe the philosophical foundation to be more based on biblical principles, and our God-given Rights; which are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, and later the Bill of Rights.”
Gubernatorial Candidates For Missouri
The people who are running for governor are: Saundra McDowell, James W. Neely, Mike Parson, Raleigh Ritter, Antoin Johnson, Eric Morrison, Robin J. D. Van Quaethem, Nicole Galloway, and Jimmie Matthews. We received responses from: Antoin Johnson and Eric Morrison. As we get more responses we will update the list.
Q: Do believe in a republican form of government?
Antoin Johnson:
A: Yes! I do believe in a republican form government.
Eric Morrison:
A: “No, I do not.”
Q: How do you plan on maintaining freedom for Missourians?
Antoin Johnson:
A: I’ll allow the people to speak and vote. Without the citizens opinions there’ll never be Democracy.
Eric Morrison:
A: “I believe a strong level of accountability toward equality.”
Q: What do you think the number one item on the budget should be?
Antoin Johnson:
A: “Healthcare.”
Eric Morrison:
A: “Healthcare.”
Q: Do you think there is an education crisis? If so, how would you suggest we fix it?
Antoin Johnson:
A: “Yes, open more libraries, hire qualified teachers, and pay increase for teachers.”
Eric Morrison:
A: “Yes there is a crisis (13 0million dollar cut). Now during this COVID-19 has caused a complex situation, but with planning and strategies also appropriates allocation to school districts of wealth disparities. Patients with consistency on focusing each area we will Missouri to a class A state in education.”
Q: Do you believe in total equality in the application of our laws?
Antoin Johnson:
A: “Yes.”
Eric Morrison:
A: N/R
Q: Will you defend our freedom of speech?
Antoin Johnson:
A: “Yes.”
Eric Morrison:
A: N/R
Q: Concerning problems in Missouri and the U.S.A., do you consider the government or family to be the answer?
Antoin Johnson:
A: “Family comes first. Family are the first to teach a child from right and wrong.”
Eric Morrison:
A: N/R
Q: Many believe the Declaration of Independence to be the philosophical foundation of American government. Do you?
Antoin Johnson:
A: “Yes.”
Eric Morrison:
A: N/R
*N/R means no reply.
Good morning. As I read your review of candidate responses for District 143, I noticed some of my answers were missing. I will be emailing what I initially sent awhile back. Thank you!