Name Chuck Conner
Office Sought House of Delegates
Party Affiliation Democrat
District 15
City/Town spencer
Campaign Website chuckconnerforhouse.com
Data shows that Black and low-income students are disciplined at a higher rate than their peers in West Virginia schools. Involvement of School Resource Officers (SROs) exacerbates these discrepancies and can lead to the school-to-prison pipeline. Studies show SROs do little to make schools safer, while contributing to harsher discipline and drawing resources away from other services like mental health and other support services. What is your position on having SROs in schools?
Not in favor. We should be hiring trained counselors to address adolescent mental health issues.
Mental health has been a growing concern since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Conversations on mental health are complicated by the prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) in the state. WV has long wait times for mental health services including SUD treatment. One proposal is using mental health teams as first responders. Would you support funding for more mental health response teams? Why or why not, and what if any is the role of the legislature in solving this issue?
I would support that proposal. As stated above we need mental health professionals in our schools. The only role for the legislative body is funding, not defining any roles. That is the realm of the state educational system.
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In response, the West Virginia Legislature banned most abortions. Do you agree or disagree with this new law? What do you think West Virginia's abortion policies should be?
Absolutely disagree with this. WV women should bYese able to have reproductive freedom, period!
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?
Yes, I would support this and it's a shame that we actually have to do this. Racism is cloaked in many forms and is imbedded throughout our many systems.
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?
The legislative body should have NO role in defining what is taught in schools. We have a Dept of Ed for that.
Currently there is no statewide law protecting people in matters of employment, housing, and public accommodations based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Do you support or oppose adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s nondiscrimination law? Why or why not?
We should add that to the law. All persons should be afforded non-discrimination no matter their gender identity choices.
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?
First, the public needs to be better informed of the various ways in which homelessness comes about. If we do not have adequate housing resources, mental health services and the like, the problem will only grow worse.
Jails in West Virginia are overcrowded, have some of the nation’s highest death rates, and are bankrupting some counties. Prisons are understaffed, making them dangerous for residents and staff alike. What steps should West Virginia take to address these issues?
If there are crimes that are non-violent then we should look at alternative sentencing in the community. We also need to de-criminalize/legalize marijuana. I am opposed to building more for-profit incarceration facilities.
Taxpayers who have served time behind bars and are currently on probation and/or parole cannot vote in West Virginia. The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee joined a growing number of states this year and passed a bill that would have expanded that right to people in community corrections. When, if ever do you think people should lose their right to vote? When should that right be restored?
If a person has completed their incarceration sentence they should have their right to vote restored. I'm not sure anyone should ever lose the right to vote.
Study after study shows that gender-affirming care is lifesaving for trans people. And yet, some states have banned things like hormone therapy and even labeled gender-affirming care for minors as child abuse. How can West Virginia, a state with a large percentage of trans-identifying teens, best protect transgender people?
We need better education to the public and legislators about the issue. This is about acknowledging another human being and affording them the right to exist, to appropriate health care, safety and justice.