Candidate Directory
Gary Kawula
House District3
New
Independent
Bluff City
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Candidate is running in a contested General Election.
SURVEY QUESTIONS
Would you support or oppose legislation that would prohibit abortion except when necessary to prevent the death of the mother?
Oppose
Would you support or oppose legislation that would make sexual orientation a new protected class under Tennessee’s civil rights laws?
Oppose
Would you support or oppose legislation that would make 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
Do you support or oppose the proposition that a person should be allowed by law to use the bathroom or locker room that corresponds to the gender they identify with?
Oppose
Would you support or oppose a law creating the office of Solicitor General, a lawyer to serve as the state’s advocate in the court systems, to be appointed by the General Assembly?
Oppose
Do you support or oppose the U.S. Department of Justice redefining the word “sex” to also include gender identity for purposes of Title VII and Title IX?
Undecided
Would you support or oppose legislation, like Insure Tennessee, that would expand Medicaid coverage in TN beyond the Medicaid eligible population?
Support
Would you support or oppose legislation that would prohibit state courts or any local government from ordering a privately owned business to participate in activities associated with solemnization or celebration of a marriage through the provision of goods or services if participating would violate their beliefs regarding the nature of marriage?
Oppose
Do you support or oppose the legalization of marijuana for recreational use?
Oppose
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?
Undecided
Do you support or oppose the legalization of horse racing tracks in Tennessee at which bets can be placed on races?
Support
Would you support or oppose a nominee to the TN 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?
Undecided
ESSAY QUESTIONS
Explain your view of state government’s role in relation to economic growth and/or job creation.
Govonor Haslam has done a great job in setting a foundation for economic growth and job creation with his Tennessee Promise program. I am proud to say I have served as a volunteer mentor to Tennessee Promise students since 2014. The "Drive to 55" program will serve the Tennessee economy well-I would hope we can achieve the 55% goal well before 2025. As far as subsidizing companies such a VW & GM-I have mixed feelings. The spinoff economic development can make these ventures worth their while but we must be cautious. I fully support Insure Tennessee that will infuse $1.4 Billion into the economy and create 15,000 jobs. Our legislature has been been dead wrong on it's position regarding Insure Tennessee. I fully support Medical Marijuana (MJ). Legal MJ growing, processing and distribution is the fastest growing industry in the USA and Tennessee is probably a leader in illegal MJ.
Explain your views regarding the roles state government and parents have in elementary and secondary education.
I am a Registered Dietitian and have seen first hand the processes in elementary and secondary schools. I worked as recently as May 2016 in these schools, primarily in very rural East Tennessee mountains. I have seen kids wearing rags, filthy, and pathetically ill required to participate in a modern school setting. State government MUST provide additional researches, Teachers, Social Workers, Health care folks (especially dentists) to work with the children AND the parents to bring this rural society into modern living. I once conceled a young lady who had a 6 pack a day mountain due habit. This lady actually had no idea canned soda could cause tooth decay. Working in school kitchens I have witnessed loving parents who are bringing their children up as if they were in the early last century. Please view Diane Sawyer's ABC NEWS, 2009."Children of the Mountains" to see what I mean. The local communities are helpless. We must help.
What is one of the most satisfying things you have ever done or accomplished and what made it so satisfying to you?
This is easy. Helping people grow! I worked as a Manager in Heath Care for many years and take great pride in thinking of all the folks I helped develop and proper over the years. I mentored numerous employees from a dishroom worker to cook to supervisor even to Certified Dietary Managers and Registered Dietitians. But I take the greatest satisfaction in my family. My wife and children are all supportive of each other and provide comfort to people in their communities. My wife works in Hospice, my daughter is a pediatric cancer nurse my son helps with housing and I am a Registered Dietitian and Tennessee Promise Mentor Volunteer since 2014.
I look forward to helping others as a Tennessee legislature and improve healthcare, especially mental health and care for the disabled, through Insure Tennessee and other programs.
What personal qualities or experiences do you think will best serve you in your role as a state legislator?
Perhaps the best quality I have is that I am not nor have I ever been a politician ! I am not indebted to anyone for this challenge.
During my tenure as an U.S. Army Officer I developed my leadership skills as well as my sense of humanity. My successful career in Healthcare management fine tuned those skills. As a fiscal conservative I cannot believe the Republican party is throwing away $1.4 Billion per year by failing to implement Insure Tennessee. The 15,000 jobs that would be created are needed in this state.
I believe and live Matthew 7:12 "In everything , do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets". Our legislature is not living these words because every elected legislator and family are entitled to taxpayer subsidized health insurance for life while 280,000 Tennesseans are denied health insurance that in the words of Governor Haslem "will never cost Tennessee taxpayers a dime"
I am outraged at the total failure of our legislature to approve Governor Haslum's Insure Tennessee.
I am outraged that our legislation killed Republican legislation to make driving with an alcoholic drink illegal.
As a cancer survivor I am disappointed our legislature has killed every piece of medical marrijuana legislation, except cannabis oil, that has been presented to it.
The Bottom line is our legislators, have decided they all are entitled to taxpayer subsidized health insurance for their families FOR LIFE yet they deny health insurance to over 280,000 Tennesseans. Health Insurance that Governor Haslam says "will not cost Tennesseans a dime"! Our legislators need to be fired. I would eliminate sales tax on milk and make up the budget difference by eliminating retired Legislator health insurance subsidies,
What bill passed in the last General Assembly that you would have voted against and why, or what bill did not pass in the last General Assembly that you wish had passed and why?
I would have liked to see the following PRO LIFE legislation pass:
1 Insure Tennessee
2 Open Container legislation
3 Approve Medical Marijuana
4 Bring Tennessee Child automobile restraint laws brought up to national standards and safe child lives
