2016 Voters Guide: Presidential candidates

The Star-Telegram sent a Voters Guide questionnaire to all the candidates appearing on the Tarrant County ballot in contested primary races this year. Take a look at Tarrant County’s sample ballots. And here’s what the presidential candidates who responded had to say. Some of the candidates have since dropped out of the race, but their names will remain on the ballot.

Republican

Jeb Bush No response (withdrew from the race)

Ben Carson No response

Chris Christie (withdrew from the race)

Age: 53

Occupation and/or main source of income: New Jersey Governor

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Mendham, New Jersey

Campaign (public) phone number: 973-630-7959

Your campaign (public) email address: info@chrischristie.com

Web site: www.chrischristie.com

Education background, including all degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Delaware and a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: Governor Christie has signed six balanced budgets without raising taxes once, and repeatedly vetoed tax increases passed by the Democrat-controlled New Jersey state legislature. In 2011, Governor Christie signed into law landmark pension and health benefit reform, savings for New Jersey taxpayers over $120 billion. Each year since taking office, Governor Christie has vetoed $7.5 million for Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics. Governor Christie is the first pro-life candidate elected statewide since Roe v. Wade. Governor Christie championed the use of drug courts in New Jersey, which give first time, non-violent offenders, the opportunity to get the treatment they need rather than serving jail time. Christie expanded mandatory drug court for drug offenders across the state, and is calling for the expansion of drug courts to every state.

Offices you have sought and/or held before: Morris County Freeholder (1995-1997), U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey (2002-2008), New Jersey Governor (2010-Present)

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. Chris Christie: “On September 10th, 2001 I was named Chief Federal Prosecutor of New Jersey and on September 11th, 2001, my wife and my brother, who are in the audience tonight, went through the World Trace Center into their offices just blocks away from the Trade Center. I lost touch with them for six hours that day and praying that they were alive. Luckily they were sent home. But many of our friends and others in our neighborhood lost their lives that day. Terrorism, radical Jihadist terrorism, is not theoretical to me. It's real. And for seven years, I spent my life protecting our country against another one of those attacks. You won't have to worry when I'm President of the United States, whether that can be done, because I have already done it. I want the chance to do it again; to protect you, your children, and your families. If you give me the chance, and give me your vote, I will protect America from the wars being brought to our doorstep.” (CNN Debate, 12/15/15)

In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. Chris Christie’s first action as President would be to sign an omnibus Executive Order that would repeal all of the orders that are extra-constitutional, illegal, or inappropriate uses of executive authority. He has also outlined extensive plans to get the country's fiscal house in order. Christie would reform the tax code, making it flatter and fairer, as well as end the overregulation of businesses in this country. Another one of Christie's main goals in office would be to reform the federal entitlement system that’s now taking up, along with debt, seventy-one percent of every dollar that we spend in the federal government.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. Chris Christie: “We cannot afford to elect another president who sees America as Barack Obama sees America. We cannot afford to elect another president without the requisite experience and values to effectively govern. This is not a job for on the job training, everybody. We need someone who's made decisions, who stuck by those decisions and who understands the ramifications not only of action, but of inaction. America is a country of action. It has become a country of reactive inaction. And when I’m president of the United States, America will be a nation of action again and action in the interest of one goal – protecting the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.” (Remarks at Sunshine Summit, 11/14/15)

Ted Cruz No response

Carly Fiorina No response (withdrew from the race)

Elizabeth Gray No response

Mike Huckabee No response (withdrew from the race)

John R. Kasich No response

Rand Paul No response (withdrew from the race)

Marco Rubio

Age: 44

Occupation and/or main source of income: U.S. Senator

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: West Miami, Florida

Campaign (public) phone number: 877.557.8246

Your campaign (public) email address: contact@marcorubio.com

Web site: www.marcorubio.com

Education background, including all degrees: University of Florida, BA 1993; University of Miami, JD 1996

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: As a member of the U.S. Senate, passed legislation signed into law to reform the VA, sanction human rights violators, and prevent the taxpayer Obamacare bailout of insurance companies.

Offices you have sought and/or held before: City of West Miami City Commissioner, 1998-2000; Florida House of Representatives, Member 2000-2008, Speaker 2006-2008; U.S. Senate, elected 2010

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. Washington has never been more out of touch with the lives of everyday Americans than it is today. The road they put us on is going to leave us as the first generation in history to leave our children worse off than ourselves unless we usher in a new generation of leadership with new ideas. The most important obligation of the president is to keep us safe in an increasingly dangerous world. From a lunatic in North Korea, to a gangster in Moscow, to a radical Shia cleric in Iran, to ISIS, no one running for president has shown better judgment or knows more about these issues than I do.

In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. Whether national security, the economy, or protecting our values, we must undo the damage that President Obama has done to our nation. Devastating military cuts enacted by President Obama will leave us with the smallest Navy in 100 years and the smallest Air Force ever. My number one priority is to restore our national defense and intelligence programs, and we must also reinvigorate our economy through pro-growth tax and regulatory reform. President Obama has assaulted our Constitutional rights, from the right to bear arms to undermining religious liberty. I will reverse those actions and repair the damage Obama has done.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. This country changed the history of my family. My parents were able to achieve what I call the American dream. They were able to own a home and raise their kids. I want this to remain that kind of country. I want it to remain a place where people can do for their kids what my parents were able to do for me; and I'm afraid we're losing that. Around the country, people are working harder than ever, yet can't seem to get ahead. When I’m president, I will work everyday not just to save the American dream, but to expand it to more people than ever.

In 100 words or less, should the Legislature act to get the state involved in the push for a constitutional convention as Gov. Greg Abbott is urging? The framers of our Constitution knew that Washington was unlikely to choose to restrain itself. Rather than rely on Congress to limit federal power, the framers trusted the people. The people, through their elected state representatives, can amend the Constitution through a Convention of States. In calling for the convention, the states must limit the scope of what will be discussed. I was glad to see Governor Abbott join me in calling for a Convention of States for the purpose of limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government.

Rick Santorum No response (withdrew from the race)

Donald Trump No response

Democrat

Hillary Clinton

Age: 68

Occupation and/or main source of income: Candidate

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Chappaqua, New York, 2001-Present

Campaign (public) phone number: 646-854-1432

Your campaign (public) email address: info@hillaryclinton.com

Web site: www.hillaryclinton.com

Education background, including all degrees: B.A, Wellesley College (1969), J.D., Yale Law School (1973)

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: Served as a staff lawyer for Children’s Defense Fund (1973), and working to register Latino voters in the Rio Grande Valley during law school.

Offices you have sought and/or held before: First Lady (1993-2001), US Senator (2001-2009), US Secretary of State (2009-2013)

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. I have a record of getting things done, knowing what is possible and how to find common ground to accomplish it. As First Lady, I went to work with Republicans and Democrats to get the Children’s Health Insurance Program passed; it insures eight million kids today. As Senator, I worked tirelessly to get funding to get health care for 9/11 responders and construction workers. And as Secretary of State, I worked with Republicans to pass the New START treaty in order to reduce the number of Russia's nuclear warheads.

In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. We must tackle the most pressing needs of the middle class – raising their wages, making college affordable, and lowering health care costs. To increase wages, we will increase private and public investment, with a specific focus on establishing an infrastructure bank, making America the word’s clean energy superpower, and providing tax relief to small businesses. We’ll make college more affordable by ensuring the federal government, states, and colleges and universities step up, and hold college/universities more accountable to improve outcomes. And to lower health care costs, I will build on the Affordable Care while holding drug companies accountable.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. Americans need a tireless fighter as their next president, one who will build off of the progress President Obama has made and keep our country moving forward. Whether it was going up against the insurance companies to fight for health care to standing up to dictators to demand human rights around the world, I have never quit and will continue to take on the tough fights and deliver results that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente

Age: 61

Occupation and/or main source of income: Real Estate Entrepreneur

City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: San Diego, California – 42 years

Campaign (public) phone number: (844) 847 6259 (English) / (844) 847 6783 (Spanish)

Your campaign (public) email address: info@rocky2016.com

Web site: Rocky2016.com

Education background, including all degrees: Bachelor of Science in Math and Physics (Magna Cum Laude)

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: First presidential candidate in history to qualify on the ballots of Michigan, North Carolina, Massachusetts, et al. by signature petition. First Hispanic American to serve as a Delegate At-Large (i.e., Superdelegate) for the State of California at a Democratic National Convention. First citizen to exchange private land with the State of California (to create the Otay Mesa Border Crossing). First citizen to cross the Otay Mesa Border Crossing when it opened in January 24th, 1985. Litigated 9 years for the right to display the United States Flag (contra to zoning restrictions). Now, the proud host of the tallest freestanding flagpole in the Nation with a 3,000 sq. ft. United States Flag.

Offices you have sought and/or held before: None

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. I have been extremely successful in the private sector, have created thousands of jobs throughout the United States, and understand our economy. I have extensive international experience and know how to negotiate on a global basis. I understand minority issues because I have personally experienced them. I am a leader rather than a follower, and I know how to overcome barriers and get things done. I also have a passion for our Nation and a great respect for its people. I believe that, together, we can solve our problems with practical solutions rather than partisan ones.

In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. Security: Foreign and domestic threats have multiplied in recent years. We need to take responsibility for our defense in an intelligent manner by accurately identifying threats and crafting proactive strategies that anticipate (and have solutions for) non-controllable external responses and achieve positive long-term results. We need to maintain technological superiority with respect to our military and intelligence capabilities and do so in a fiscally responsible way.

Immigration: We need to develop a comprehensive immigration program based upon our Nation’s values and best interests rather than based upon fear. We need a program that intelligently addresses past failures in a fair and empathetic manner. We need to improve the system by which we manage immigration going forward, identify our goals, and make sure the policies are in place to welcome immigrants who can contribute to our future in a positive way while protecting us against those whom we can clearly identify as a threat to our society.

Economy: Recovery from the recession has only been enjoyed by a select few. We need to identify ways to stimulate economic development within the private sector; projects that will create new jobs in this country and return (and attract) critical jobs from overseas. We need tax reform that does not pander to special interests, and we need to examine federal regulations, which should be designed to protect us rather than impede us. While necessary, federal regulations have become layered over the years and impose a significant burden on the private sector in some cases without generating a positive social return.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you.

The Oath of Office requires that I “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” That requires me to distinguish between federal interests versus States’ rights under the Tenth Amendment and individual rights under the Ninth Amendment. I would like to establish a better relationship between the federal government and the States; one driven by efficiency and effectiveness rather than an imposition of power. The Constitution begins with the words “We the People” and it does not distinguish among us. I would like to lead with that same philosophy and demonstrate a respect for every American.

Calvis L. Hawes No response

Keith Judd No response

Star Locke

Age: 76

Occupation and/or main source of income: CONTRACTOR / BUILDER

City of residence and how long you've lived there: PORT ARANSAS & HARLINGEN [BOTH] 16 YEARS

Campaign (public) phone number: 361 558 5221

Your campaign (public) email address: PO BOX 338 PORT ARANSAS, TX 78373

Web site: www.starovertexas.com

Education background, including all degrees: studied European History in Paris France; Studied Political Sickened at the University of Oklahoma; Studied Geo-Political History of Mid East & Europe at George Washington; Studied Military Strategy in US ARMY AIRBORE & with Israles Army.

Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: I moved into Mexico 8 yrs ago to see why the thousands of deaths happen inside Mexico. I set up a ranch and lived among the poor people to see HOW ..I could help fix this mess. I have been explaining to all Americans that the problem can ONLY be fixed by US TROOPS inside Mexico. IF we want to stop all this killing, It has to be fixed OVER THERE by "overwhelming force"

Offices you have sought and/or held before: Never held office yet have tried to be Governor to fix Mexico and the border.

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office. I am a US ARMY VETERN who has vast experience with other cultures having lived in Japan [3 yrs] Germany [1 yr] Paris France [2 yrs] Mexico [4 yrs] which gives me common sense as to WHY the people are angry and abused and how to fix the problems that always end up crossing our borders. When Dictators and killers rule anywhere....the people flee for their lives.

In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them. MEXICO. 90,000 Mexicans died last year !!! The nation is controlled by corrupt government officials, the drug lords, human traffickers, coyotes. They are all in it together. The border can be fixed but only on that sided by THE US ARMY --like President EISENHOWER DID IT WITH AN AIR BORNE GENERAL. Let's fix this border like IKE would have.

In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you. That I am a MAN OF HONOR. Totally dedicated to HONESTY thru HONOR. I Live a life of HONOR ....under GODS rule.> Give me a chance...and we can fix this Mexican problem and build these Red River Canals thus restoring our borders and creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Also I proposed to bring the fresh water from the great lakes down to TEXAS via the Red River Canals creating millions of jobs and putting water where it can go anything we need. We build it the size of the Hoover Dam & the Panama Canal.

Martin J. O’Malley No response (withdrew from the race)

Bernie Sanders No response

Willie L. Wilson No response

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 12:03 PM with the headline "2016 Voters Guide: Presidential candidates."