2024 HOD Candidate Questionnaire Response
Name BIlly Wray
Office Sought West Virginia House of Delegates Dist. 24
Party Affiliation Democrat
District 24
Your Hometown Huntington, WV
Campaign Website Billy Wray for WV House of Delegates District 24
On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, effectively overturning Roe v. Wade. As a result, the WV legislature enacted a near total ban on abortion less than three months later. With no access to or Constitutional protections for abortion, what do you think abortion policy should look like in West Virginia?
I think it should be an individuals right to have an abortion. I don't believe it should be used as birth control, as there are thousands of couples out there that cannot conceive. I believe wholeheartedly that it should be in the hands of the voters. Men have complete autonomy of their bodies, why cant women?
Several West Virginia municipalities have passed ordinances that expand the definition of racial discrimination to include discriminating against traditional or natural hair textures and styles. Would you support expanding this protection statewide? Why or why not?
Discrimination of any sort is abhorrent. ALL people, regardless of skin color, nationality, race or religion, is any different than me or you. The fact that in this time in the world that we still have to have this conversation, says a lot about the state of the world. I believe that all men and women are equal, period.
Many states have created laws that seek to limit the teaching of "divisive concepts" or "critical race theory". West Virginia narrowly missed passing a similar law during the 2022 Legislative Session. What is the value or harm in teaching these topics and what role should the legislature play in determining this curriculum?
I believe when you handcuff the education system, you handcuff our children's education. We grew up learning everything that happened before we came along. Now, teachers are being told what they can and cannot teach to our kids? This is extremely troubling. Not allowing our children to learn the history of our country, learning about the mistakes made, the victories won, you are dooming a generations of our youth to repeat those same mistakes.
Currently there is no statewide law protecting people in matters of employment, housing, and public accommodations based on their sexuality or gender identity. Proponents claim these protections are necessary to end the ongoing discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Opponents claim that such protections infringe upon religious beliefs. What do you believe and would you support or oppose a statewide law?
Bull.... The proponents of legislation use this for nothing more but perpetuating their hate. Again, this falls back on ALL MEN AND WOMEN are created equal. In the 60's, they did the same thing in Alabama and everywhere else. Any legislation that restricts the rights of any group of people is plain wrong by any standard.
During the 2024 legislative session, the Senate passed legislation mandating, “In God We Trust” be posted in all West Virginia schools and permitting teachers to discuss ‘creationism’ and ‘intelligent design creationism’ as part of public-school science curricula. What role do you think religion should play in the public school system, and why?
While I do not agree with the mandating of the phrase, I do agree with teaching all aspects of religion and creationism. With the multitudes of religions and ways of thought, I do not believe it is right to teach one way of thinking. If it is going to be done, then all religions and beliefs need to be taught. If not, then all they are doing id trying to inject Christianity into our children's education and that should not happen.
In 2023, West Virginia lawmakers passed HB2007, severely restricting access to gender affirming healthcare services for West Virginians under the age of 18. Proponents of the legislation claimed it was about keeping kids safe, and opponents argued in favor of parental rights and medical freedom. What role, if any, do you believe government should play regarding medical decisions relating to gender affirming healthcare services, and why?
I do not believe that state has any right to legislate care for your own family. HB2007 is nothing more than House Republicans shoving their super majority down the throats of their constituents. While they attempt to "right the wrongs of society" by legislative decree, they've failed to realize the devastating effect that it has on our kids mental health. The suicide rates of teenager is astounding, when I'm elected, I will fight to overturn this ridiculous piece of legislation. Government has ZERO place when it comes to ANY type of health care.
Though abolished in 1965, lawmakers have introduced multiple bills designed to reinstate the death penalty. What are your thoughts on capital punishment in general, and would you support or oppose the effort to reinstate the death penalty in West Virginia?
The death penalty is a failed system. It in no way deters crime or criminals from committing said crimes. While the draw of the price that counties pay of jails and prisons is debilitating, housing and rehabilitation are the proven way of redirecting behaviors. As a former Corrections Officer, I have strong opinions on the state of our jails and Police force.
There is increasing tension with communities of people who are unhoused or face housing insecurity. Police breakups of encampments are common, and municipalities have shown growing opposition to low-barrier housing and recovery housing. How would you address community concerns while protecting the rights of unhoused people?
Look at all of the abandoned properties owned by of cities and counties. While yes, it would be a hardship to rehab some of these properties, it would also solve a lot of the problems we see everyday. One way to alleviate this cost, you could use the same unhoused individuals help with the construction of these properties. Let them be hands on with fixing the issue, instead of looking down on them.
Police violence has been in the forefront of national headlines for several years. Some propose more civilian oversight of law enforcement through civilian review boards that could review incidents and policies. Others view these boards as "anti-police" and point out that civilians are ill-equipped to understand the nature of police work. Do you support the use of civilian review boards? What other steps, if any, should the state take to provide transparency and accountability for police?
No, I do not. Having been a former CO and Deputy, the public is the last group you want to try and break down a bad situation after the fact. There is a lot of policy and procedure that goes into a traffic stop or a domestic call or anything along those lines. If we expect true reform, it has to come from within, top down. While retraining isn't always the best situation, its the only way to truly be able to fix a standard that has went on for entirely too long. When it comes to individual instances, we should have an advisory board that is made up of lawmakers and officers from agencies from across the state to review and make recommendation of any discipline that should take place if needed.
Jails in West Virginia are above capacity and are bankrupting some counties. Prisons are understaffed, making them dangerous for residents and staff alike. What steps, if any, should West Virginia take to address these issues?
Raise the pay for CO's across the board. Life is different when you've walked a turn behind that wall. You kiss your wife goodbye in the morning not knowing if you'll get to kiss her goodnight. I've been apart of the shorthandedness, working a shift with 8 officers to oversee 800 and some inmates, a 13 and a half hour shift that turned into 20 because the night shift was just as shorthanded, that happened on a daily basis. The state that our Department of Corrections is in, is mindboggling.
Currently, people coming out of incarceration on probation, parole, or supervised release for a felony conviction are unable to vote. When, if ever, do you think people should lose their right to vote? When, if ever, should that right be restored?
This is tricky. My personal belief is it depends on the crime in question. While I believe that low grade felonies should have a time period of however many years said person is on parole or probation. Higher grade felonies, I do not believe that they should have the right to vote. Now, if you serve your time for a higher grade felony, you are released to streets to live out the rest of your life, then yes, you should absolutely be able to have the right to vote.
Across the country, there is controversy about what is obscene. Often these focus on sexual education, content that discusses sexual orientation or gender identity, profanity, and references to sex. This controversy has led to renewed attempts to censor or restrict access to controversial material. What do you think is the proper role of the government in restrict material like this and where do you draw the line at what is obscene?
This one grinds my gears. While I believe that most education when it comes to sex, should come from the home, I do not agree with our government thinking they know what is best for our children. Sex ed was taught in schools for eons before the far right decided they needed their hands in everything. Yes, if taught in schools there needs to be a degree of decorum, but that doesn't mean that they have the right to decide what books our kids should be allowed to read. For years, our parents used this uncommon trait to decide what was best for us, it is called Common Sense, something that many in our world have forgotten about. If you think it is too much for your kids, then you have the right to say enough is enough, not some elected official that thinks they know what is best for your child.