Candidate Directory

To view the Candidate Directory for the Tennessee District 32 Special Election, click here.

Justin Lafferty

WINNER

House District89

Candidate Headshot
Incumbent or New

New

Party Affiliation

Republican

City

Knoxville

Candidate Email Address

JustinLafferty2018@gmail.com

Campaign Website URL

laffertyforhouse.com

Campaign Facebook Page

facebook.com


SURVEY QUESTIONS


QUESTION 1:
Would you support or oppose legislation that would prohibit abortion except when necessary to prevent the death of the mother?

Undecided

QUESTION 2:
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

QUESTION 3:
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

QUESTION 4:
Would you support or oppose legislation that would establish a $15 per hour minimum wage in Tennessee?

Oppose

QUESTION 5:
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

QUESTION 6:
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

QUESTION 7:
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

QUESTION 8:
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

QUESTION 9:
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

QUESTION 10:
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?

Undecided

QUESTION 11:
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?

Undecided

QUESTION 12:
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

QUESTION 13:
Do you support or oppose legalizing horse racing tracks in Tennessee at which bets can be placed on races?

Support

QUESTION 14:
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

QUESTION 15:
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


ESSAY QUESTION 1:
Explain your view of state government’s role in relation to economic growth and/or job creation.

Governments role is to keep the playing field level. Laws and regulations that favor or inhibit people or businesses in their pursuits are ultimately harmful to economic development and to citizens in general.

ESSAY QUESTION 2:
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?

This is a topic that can not be covered, fully, in the space provided here. I can say it seems unfair if not cruel to sentence a child and a community to the tyranny of a failing public school. At the same time it would be an incredible shock to have a mass exodus of dollars from any public school.
To suggest the only other option is private school over simplifies the conversation and divides those concerned with the matter. There are a number of other alternatives in between the two.
I have been amazed by the number of home schoolers I have met while campaigning. They pay the taxes that fund public schools and receive no benefit. Families already in private schools also pay the taxes that support public schools. Is this fair to those families?
Also at issue is the method of determining what is "low performing?" Is it a state guideline dictated from Nashville or worse, D.C.? How clearly can they see the issues in a local school? What role do parents play? And whose judgement is best the States or the parents? I would suggest there are more reasons for wanting a voucher than most of us can conceive due to the diversity of interest of parents and students involved. Not just passing or failing schools.
So, where do you draw the line? There is a need for a voucher program. I would be hesitant to call for a full reimbursement of the per-student expenditure due to the unintended consequences that would certainly follow such a move. Instead a gradual approach deliberately designed to limit the upheaval and allow society time to adjust should be our guide.
I will conclude by saying in our modern world of instant results this issue does not fit. We have a long established system that has largely worked and is now under transition. And we must proceed slowly and with much deliberation. Turning this issue into another political football will under mine what is truly important here. Which is what works best for our kids, their families and ultimately our communities. These are the building blocks of a prosperous society which benefits us all.

ESSAY QUESTION 3:
What is one of the most satisfying things you have ever done or accomplished and what made it so satisfying to you?

Outside of being a parent I would have to say flipping houses. Taking something that has been neglected and abandoned and turning it into something beautiful and desired is very rewarding. Not just rewarding in a financial sense but taking on a project and seeing it thru to completion. It provides a sense of accomplishment that is good for the soul.

ESSAY QUESTION 4:
What personal qualities or experiences do you think will best serve you in your role as a state legislator?

I have a political science degree and a business minor from the University of Tennessee. This provided me with knowledge and history of governments of all types along with understanding of what works and what does not.
My professional career has largely been sales and service related. I currently own and operate a rental property business. I have a long history of developing professional relationships, working within budgets and employing people.

ESSAY QUESTION 5:
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?

The gas tax. It is a regressive tax. It was touted as a tax cut on food. That food gets delivered on trucks which run on gas or diesel and that cost will be offset by higher prices. It hits those that can afford it least the hardest.