Congress Candidates For 2018, Chris Harrod And John Curtis

From my research as a state delegate, here are my notes on the candidates for Congress:

Chris Harrod:

Here are my notes at the meeting with Chris Herrod. It occurred at his home. any inaccuracies is the fault of the note taker.

Q: How I will vote.

My dad taught me the love of this country. Had a neighbor who was one of the founders of the freedom festival. I got to go to a lot of events. I met a lot of people who came to the US for freedom. I met the Russian pilot who defected and a boy who air glided from Cuba to the US for freedom. I went with a friend who studied in Europe. The experience reinforced my worldview. Saw the iron wall. Went to West Berlin. Took the official Berlin tour of East Berlin the bus went back and forth on the main street which was nice and nowhere beyond that. Guide talked about the wonders of socialism.

I wanted to see the real East Berlin so went through the border. Guard pointed to Checkpoint Charley. Went through the wall and found out that the rest of the buildings away from Main Street are degraded. The streets still had bullet holes in the walls. No improvements of the city for 40 yrs. Provided products that none would buy. You could feel the oppressive nature. Could feel that if I ran to West Berlin I could be shot.

I served 6 yrs. in the Utah legislator. Learned what the federal government does to the state. Six% of the budget of our funding for education comes from government and 90% of the rules. If you take federal money, you must meet their conditions.

The unspoken rule in the legislator is don’t make noise and you can eventually get a chair of a committee. Instead, teamed up with others of a like mind and created the Patrick Henry Caucus. Five of us influenced each election. I helped with Utah’s standing to change Obama care.

Involved with a bill related the federal lands.

I went to Vernal when the undersecretary came to Utah. Realized how to control federal govern has over Utah.

I see a correlation between Russian and the management of our lands. Gas is Russia’s primary need. If we can develop our resources we can keep gas under $70 a barrel and that can limit Russia’s power.

The only way to get out of the financial mess is that we have to use our natural resources as part of the solution.

Why jump back in. I felt there was no other conservative in the race.

Went to Sweden and encountered the health care center there.

In 1992 I graduated at the time when everything was collapsing in Russia. I took a teaching job in Ukraine. Flew from Moscow to Harkett Ukraine. While there I witnessed what socialism has done to the society. It hurts the family, weakens society. For my marriage, my dad (a surgeon) came visited a hospital in Ukraine. Dad said if you get sick crawl on a plane and come home. My wife had to go to the hospital and got 7-inch scar could have been half an inch scar if done in the US.

Regan: the only thing that Russians believe in is brute force. Putin is a good chess player and realizes he is a transactions player. Russia has invaded the Ukraine. We need Russia’s help to deal with North Korea.

War with Seria is a proxy war. I believe I would have never met my wife had it not been for Russia’s tough policies.

In 1992 I was a teacher in the Ukraine. He was met at the When sponsor was asked to sleep with foreigners, she turned them down. Her career suffered as a result. There are three types of people Good people, dead people and bad people. Bad are people who are dead to the spirit.

Q: How do you feel about Bundy situation:

You may want to hear the event prior to the Bundys. I have a friend who is a federal Marshall who shared this. Before the Bundies in Sanwhan county, there were some people who gathered some native America artifacts (such as arrow heads from the ground etc). Some decided to sell some. Had they been told to report to the court they would have gone The Federal government responded by sending 150 police officers who raided the town. Their arrival terrorized the town. It really upset everyone. A doctor of the town committed suicide. Marshall felt that the BLM over reacted.

He is concerned about the overreach of government over federal land. Federals were looking for a shootout at the Bundy ranch. Other ranchers had been forced to sell their land. They refused to sale their land. Has had it for 1 hundred years.

A federal officer helped develop a bill to take police force powers from the BLM.

15 yr ago I did some real estate development. I was told to make $100 K worth of changes that were not required by law. I had a choice to follow their requests or fight it for 200K. People who would never rip me off personally; but, when they are in government they will extract more than what is required.

There has been a shift of power. We have too much power shifted back to Washington. Legislative branch gave too much authority to the executive branch. Agencies are making the laws and that power should go back to legislators.

Q: How do you feel about Trump?

Happy with what Trump did with Bears ears. People in small towns could use mining as an occupation. The small towns are dying. You job options is hotel work, waitress/waiter. Bears Ears was for 50 acers originally. Utah small towns are shrinking.

During the election, I ran a Ted Cruise campaign. Got 69% liked he voted for Judge Gorsuch and grand staircase national monument. Utah has $2 trillion of cleanest burning coals. Helped Trump later.

Don’t support special prosecutors against Trump when there is insufficient cause

Q: What would be your highest priory as a representative?

1.We need to address the budget. The Ukraine lived through high, hyperinflation. Within a year the a family’s lifesaving can evaporate within a year. I will immediately will go to the speaker and leadership. I will tell them I will not vote for any increase that does include 10 yr plan to get back to normal. They create a crisis such as Senior citizens will not get their checks. I will work with the other 30 like-minded people.

As a Utah state legislature, I helped pass a base budget. I have a ten yr. plan that can balance the budget but cutting %5 of last year’s budget.

2 Restoring the original intent of the constitution.

3 Balance the power between congress, executive and judicial.

I have an expertise of foreign policy. Islom does not lend itself to western values.

Q: North Korea:

Once a country has nuclear weapons it is hard to do anything. The danger is that North Korea could do an EMP over the US. It would ruin our technology. Things I heard in Europe was that Regan was low educated and a cowboy. The same is now being said of Trump.

Q: Immigration and DACA:

I believe that the law should be followed. I have 12 legal immigrants in my neighborhood. They are against illegal immigration..

This country had benefited by immigrants and assimilation ton the middle class. Mexicans are hurt because they don’t want to break the rules. If you reward illegal behaver you get more of it.

I passed first human trafficking bill in Utah. We should argue for the first position. Once a certain class has reached a certain level in the population they no longer merge into the culture.

Q: How will you work with Mitt:

Helped on the campaign for mitt as president.

Q: Term limits:

I signed pledge won’t stay more than 10 yrs or Senate maybe 18 yrs.

Q: What do you look for in a speaker:

Allows the bills to be heard. Get accountability. It puts legislatures on record. Prefer a speaker that has my political slant.

Criticism I get the most is that I’m too conservative. Look at Utah county platform those are the things I believe in. A gallop pole reported that 80% don’t of citizens don’t trust their elected leaders. People should say they are conservative but move from that during nonelection years. Not keeping your stance or values is not good.

Other part of my job is to help citizens navigate through problems.

Q: Why feel qualified:

I have international experience and legislative experience. Interference of the federal government has caused a lot of issue on Utah hill. Believe in 10th and state sovereignty. Life experiences gave warning of problems existing today. We are losing our constitutional rights. Everyone has a tendency that when there is a tragedy we step back. Went to two rallies. Pro-gun rally had about 800 people. Later the anti-gun had 8K with professionally printed signs etc. (Soros funded?): My concern is that kids are genuinely afraid at school. We are allowing our kids to be traumatized by guns.

Kids are not learning history. Socialism was the highest cause of death in the 1900s. When we don’t give a background of the real threat to kids about shootings, we fail.

I am willing to take the house and stand up for what I right.

In radio interviews with KSL’s Doug Writing accused John of riding on his relationship’s origin. Words of wife: She fears people will lose their freedom. People sleep of the problems. The early signs you can see. Russia had no freedom of religion or guns.

Q: What is your background in understanding the constitution?

I have read various books on the topic. Yes, I have read the federalist papers. We are losing a pure democracy. Kids don’t understand democracy (vote managed by majority) instead of a republic.

I vote from core principles.

A vocal attendee at the house has had a number of bad experiences with John Curtis as Mayer. She suggests we google ‘John Curtis exposed’. I didn’t find it.

A Message from Chris Herrod Before Saturday’s Convention

Got this email from Chris this mornng: April 19, 2018

I want to thank you for taking the time to be a delegate. I know it’s time-consuming and I appreciate your efforts! The general public often doesn’t realize the lengths that you go to vet candidates (I had a 7:00am conference call with one precinct this morning, for example).

I have an all-volunteer campaign and we just revamped our website. Please visit my “new and improved” website at http://www.herrodforcongress.com.

I believe that the best way for you to understand how I will vote as a congressman is to understand my thought process. Take for example the controversy surrounding the lawsuit against SB54 and the signature path. For me, I see two distinct issues: what is the best system for the Republican Party and who gets to determine what is best for the Republican Party.

Personally, I like the caucus / convention system because I believe it’s the great equalizer to money, power, and name-recognition — where candidates are vetted on ideas and principles, not fancy ads or 30-second soundbites. To me it makes sense that Republicans who believe in a republican form of government would also believe in a republican form of vetting candidates. But that’s my opinion. The Republican Party, as a private association, has the right to change anytime.

Although in some respects, I’m the “poster boy” for with SB54, because of how last year’s election went, I have no hard feelings towards those trying to change the system through the appropriate process. Any Republican has the right to try to change the Republican Party Constitution and Platform through the means prescribed in the bylaws and constitution. SB54 does not fall into this category, since it is government-imposed change to a private institution.

This is the reason I testified against SB54 four years ago at the Utah legislature (I don’t just talk – I do), because I saw Constitutional issues that could have a great ripple effect on liberty. My concerns were validated by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Justice, Timothy Tymkovich, where he expressed concerns not only about association rights, but religious rights as well. The Chief Justice used the example of a Parish priest and the possible harm to religious rights. (Beginning on page 49 – https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca10/16-4091/16-4091-2018-03-20.html) Republicans believe in appointing strict Constitutionalist judges. Why then are some in the Party dismissing conservative Chief Justice Tymkovich’s warning?

I hope we can all agree that it is wrong to use government to try to get one’s way. Republicans don’t believe it is right for businesses to use government to get competitive advantages — especially when these businesses can’t compete in the free market. This should go for the “free-market of ideas” as well. Count My Vote supporters tried and failed to change the Party at convention. Rather than try again to win over the opinion of delegates, through the rules prescribed, CMV supporters did un-Republican thing and used government to get their way. This sets a dangerous precedent.

I am amazed, however, that there are people who are surprised by the strong resistance to SB54 and Count My Vote. Americans traditionally don’t simply roll over when a Constitutional Right is infringed by government. It’s American to resist such intrusions, especially when 1st Amendment issues of political speech, religion, association, and other fundamental rights are concerned.

Now, I believe that most legislators who voted for SB54 really thought that they were protecting the caucus, but after my loss in last year’s election (after winning the convention, then losing to a candidate who gathered signatures to get on the ballot), dozens of delegates told me they were done with conventions (some even said they were leaving the party), because in the end, their time, effort, and vote didn’t matter. If SB54 or the CMV initiative is allowed to stand, the caucus system and conventions will continue to lose their meaning and relevance.

In the meantime, however, I’m saddened that Utah is now on the side of taking away freedoms and expanding governmental control rather than on the side of promoting the cause of liberty.

I hope on Saturday we can be respectful to all sides. Let’s debate courteously and rigorously. If duly elected delegates choose to change the Republican Constitution and add a signature route, then so be it – I won’t go to the legislature to change it back. I would believe that would be unconstitutional and unwise.

I hope this helps you understand how I think about Constitutional principles and my willingness to fight for them. If you send to Washington, DC, I promise to resist all governmental infringements on your rights!

“Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations.” – James Madison

John Curtis

Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

Formerly owned a shooting range business.
Did not vote for the Hamman? Bill.
Pro bear ears bill and we can still protect the land. The management of the area should be controlled by local people.
Emery county swell has an undiscovered beauty.
Need to see about enable broadband over Federal land to help the growth of the business.
Websites: There are two of them one for the campaign: johncurtis.org the other for government use. They serve two different purposes.
Had some serious conversations with the Navajos. More work needs to be done.
Committee assignments: He may be on three committees. He gave a list of more so some committees may be combined in purpose: Small business, excessive regulations, foreign affairs (he lived in Taiwan and China), natural resources, energy and public lands.
Representatives vote 6 times a day.
Provo city lawsuit: an outside firm did the vetting for the chief of Police. There ‘may’ have been a relationship between office and woman ‘may’ have been consensual. At the time he, as Mayer, he did not have access to all the information about the Sherriff that later came out.
90% of bills passed are bipartisan.
A suspension bill gives the ability to bypass rules and to vote on a bill by 2/3 which can move a bill forward at a faster rate.
Want gun advocates to find solutions that will not compromise the second amendment. Want them to be part of the discussion and to make a difference.
Omanis bill has in its funding to stop school violence. It has a grant for teachers to be trained for the warning signs of troubled youth.
The background check system is broken.
Working on a law that requires different agencies must load data into the national database within a certain time frame. If gun stores don’t get a reply to a query in three days they will sell a gun to a customer.
Due process: police have a way to take guns from problematic citizens.
Voted against Omanis bill and budget hikes.
While Mayer of Provo he approached the employees to find ways to cut the budget. They came up with great solutions.
How Congress works> bills are sent from Congress to the Senate where those bills are ignored and they write their own. He wants procedures to go back to what it was.
IDIA: special education is underfunded.