Name Dakota Buckley
Office Sought House of Delegates
Party Affiliation Democratic
District 58
City/Town Saint Albans
Campaign Website www.dakotabuckleyforhouse.com
The US Supreme Court will decide Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization this summer, which some have speculated may overturn Roe v. Wade. If there were no Constitutional protections for abortion, what do you think West Virginia's abortion policies should be?
I support a woman's right to choose what is best for them. I support funding education and giving resources to those to best decide their future. Abortion is a hot button topic, which comes down to an issue of morals. I do not feel it is the government's right to decide what is moral.
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?
I fully support the CROWN Act across the entire state. People should not be discriminated against in any fashion because of who they are.
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?
To know our history is to know it from multiple angles. We cannot hope to learn from our history if we take a narrow-minded, traditional approach. I do not see harm in teaching history from angles that allow students to know other perspectives.
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 for ongoing discrimination by 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?
While I support religious freedom whole-heartedly, I believe that a personal right ends as soon as it infringes on another person's right to freedom from discrimination.
Recently a revival was held at schools in Cabell and Wayne counties. The Legislature has, in recent years, passed laws to allow teaching the Bible in public schools and allowing for religious drug-prevention programs to operate in schools. What do you think the role of religion in public schools should be and why?
Religion and public school have no place together, in my opinion. I am fine with a class on world religions, provided that various faiths are treated with equality.
The West Virginia Senate recently unanimously adopted a resolution stating that West Virginia is prepared to welcome Ukrainian refugees. Critics have pointed out that the Legislature has recently considered legislation what would make things more difficult for refugees and immigrants to settle in West Virginia. Should West Virginia welcome refugees and immigrants? If no, why not? If yes, what can the state do to support these communities?
Yes. We should give the option for displaced people to relocate here. By being a part of our community, they can contribute to society through work, volunteering, and other events. We should not, however, discriminate based on where somebody is from or what their faith may be, etc. We need to work toward affordable housing through overhauling zoning laws, as well as providing incentive to landlords for housing immigrants and refugees.
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?
We must have resources for potentially homeless, homeless and displaced people. We cannot simply say "go somewhere else." These people have friends and families as well. We must improve our social programs and safety nets to better allow socioeconomically impacted people to get back on their feet and be a positive influence to their community, and society as a whole.
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?
I support an independent commission to review incidents and policies. The concern that most citizens have is that a board of individuals who may be biased in one direction or another may deem a certain behavior acceptable, even if it isn't in the public eye or by different standards. Police departments should be able to investigate incidents of potential misconduct and present their findings with evidence to an independent board to concur or dissent. Concerns otherwise arise due to a belief of "We investigated ourselves and found nothing wrong." which can lead to a belief of corruption or cover-up, whether true or not.
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?
We must enact criminal justice reform as soon as possible. Jails should be designed to rehabilitate inmates, rather than be a perpetual cycle that creates multigenerational socio-economical issues. We should not be extensively jailing people for non-violent offenses, such as marijuana possession. We cannot continue to hold people before trial due to the inability to post bail. We must enact a system that truly provides due process for all individuals, no matter their background.
Currently, people who are incarcerated or on probation and parole for a felony conviction are unable to vote. The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would have expanded that right to people who are on probation and parole. When, if ever do you think people should lose their right to vote? When, if ever should that right be restored?
Felons who were convicted of a nonviolent offense should have their rights restored once released from active incarceration. Those people have served their debts to society, why would we continue to punish them and deprive them of civil rights further? Our system should be designed to rehabilitate and reintroduce to society, rather than punish them as a feel-good measure.