Candidate Directory
To view the Candidate Directory for the Tennessee District 32 Special Election, click here.
Esther Helton
House District30
New
Republican
Chattanooga
SURVEY QUESTIONS
Would you support or oppose legislation that would prohibit abortion except when necessary to prevent the death of the mother?
Support
Would you support or oppose legislation that would make either sexual orientation or gender identity/expression a new protected class under Tennessee’s civil rights laws?
Oppose
Would you support or oppose a bill to amend Tennessee’s marriage statute to expressly authorize the issuance of marriage licenses to two people of the same sex?
Oppose
Would you support or oppose legislation that would establish a $15 per hour minimum wage in Tennessee?
Oppose
Would you support or oppose legislation to allow the state to defend public K-12 schools that are sued because they designate the use of locker rooms and bathrooms on the basis of biological sex instead of the gender by which a student identifies?
Support
Do you support or oppose the proposition, advanced by a certain business coalition, that the bill described in question 5 is “discriminatory” and “would harm our economy and damage our state’s reputation”?
Oppose
Currently, a majority of the Justices on the Tennessee Supreme Court select the state’s Attorney General and Reporter. Would you support or oppose an amendment to the state Constitution that allows the Legislature to elect the Attorney General and Reporter in the same manner that it elects the Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer?
Support
Would you support or oppose an amendment to the state Constitution that allows the Governor to appoint the state’s Attorney General and Reporter subject to confirmation by the Legislature, as now happens with the appointment of the state’s Supreme Court Justices?
Support
Would you support or oppose legislation, like Insure Tennessee proposed by Governor Haslam in 2015, that would expand Medicaid coverage in Tennessee beyond the Medicaid-eligible population?
Oppose
Do you support or oppose the decision by the state’s Department of Health to disregard the state’s current adoption laws and allow a child’s original birth certificate to show that the child has two mothers simply because one of the women is married to the child’s biological mother?
Oppose
Would you support or oppose a bill that would prohibit the state or local governmental entities from either giving preference to or discriminating against a business entity in awarding of grants or contracts based on whether the business has made sexual orientation or gender identity a protected status under its personnel policies, assuming that either of such statuses is not otherwise required by federal law?
Support
Would you support or oppose legislation to award all of Tennessee’s Electors in a presidential election to the Party of the candidate who wins the national popular vote?
Oppose
Do you support or oppose legalizing horse racing tracks in Tennessee at which bets can be placed on races?
Support
There is a school of thought that the Constitution is a “living” document, meaning its various provisions are evolving and should be interpreted in the context of contemporary societal mores. Would you support or oppose a nominee to the Tennessee Supreme Court if there is credible evidence that the nominee believes the state or federal Constitution should be viewed or interpreted as a “living” document?
Oppose
Would you support or oppose legislation to ensure that an adoption agency with a sincerely held belief that marriage is only one man and one woman would not lose its state license to make adoption placements if it only placed children in homes into which the marriage was of one man and one woman?
Support
ESSAY QUESTIONS
Explain your view of state government’s role in relation to economic growth and/or job creation.
State government does not create jobs. Jobs are only created when someone risks capital and makes an investment. Our state economy is well do to the favorable environment with low taxes and fewer regulations.
What are your thoughts about a parent of a child in a low performing public school being provided a voucher equal to the amount of the state’s per-student expenditure that would be applied toward the child’s private school tuition?
I am in favor of vouchers. I believe for schools where there is success carry on. Where there are decades of failure there has to be a better plan for the per pupil money to follow the student if the parent desires to a better school. Parents need options that work. Education is a priority if the focus is on the result and no the bureaucracy. Our goal in education should be children who are educated and prepared and not a system protected from accountability.
What is one of the most satisfying things you have ever done or accomplished and what made it so satisfying to you?
As a political novice and first time candidate winning my race for the East Ridge City Council by garnering the most votes in our city election in 2016 was very satisfying. Having the honor of serving in my home town is a sacred trust.
What personal qualities or experiences do you think will best serve you in your role as a state legislator?
As a Christian, I am instructed to "Love one another" and "to love my neighbor as myself". As nurse of 36 years I learned to respond to patients needs. Disease does recognize not racial, ethnic or financial backgrounds. As a City Council person in my hometown of East Ridge, I have learned that many times the solution to complex problems are solved one step at a time. We don't need more laws or regulations, we need to solve problems.
What bill that passed in the last General Assembly would you have voted against and why, or what bill that was not passed in the last General Assembly do you wish had passed and why?
TN House Bill 0094 As introduced, enacts "The Lovin Law" which requires facilities having capacity for occupancy of at least 500people to have at least one functional AED for emergency use at all functions open to the public; requires LEAs to have at least one AED in each school. This is a life saving piece of medical equipment and should be available in public facilities.
