Brandon Antion (District 49)

Please provide some basic information about yourself.

Name Brandon Antion

Office Sought House of Delegates 49th district

City/Town Grafron

From 1980 to 2016 the West Virginia state prison population has increased by 470%. What, if anything, would you change to reverse this trend?

Propose legislation that would decriminalize cannabis and immediately release those in prison for non-violent drug offenses. Further, I would help to fund treatment for addiction.

Civil asset forfeiture is a process where police can seize any property "related" to criminal activity and later can file a civil case to forfeit the property to either be used or auctioned for money which is shared between the police department and local prosecutor. This can happen regardless of whether there is a criminal conviction or even criminal charges brought against a person.Proponents say this is a useful tool for taking ill-gotten gains from criminals and funding police work, and that legal protections adequately prevent abuse of the system.Critics say the system amounts to theft, that many people cannot afford the legal costs to challenge a forfeiture action, and that it creates a perverse incentive for police.Do you support or oppose the practice of civil asset forfeiture? What, if any, reforms would you make to the practice?

Forfeiture to be legal only upon conviction.

More than half the population of West Virginia's regional jails are pre-trial. That means they haven't been found guilty of any crime yet. Most are there because they could not afford bail, though some are there because they were denied a chance to post bail. What changes, if any would you make to our pretrial and/or bail system to balance concerns about safety and court efficiency with ensuring we are not incarcerating people without due process?

Limited use of bail only in cases where public safety is concerned. I would propose that Non-violent offenses would be subject to no bail.

In 2015 West Virginia passed significant reforms to the juvenile justice system. Despite these reforms, the State still utilizes out of home placement at a high rate for system-involved youth. What, if anything, should West Virginia do to reduce out-of-home placements for system-involved juveniles?

There needs to be a balance between public safety and doing what is right for the juvenile. Those convicted of weapons use and capital crimes need the intensive care and potentially environment change that only an out of home placement can provide, but my fear is that we are incarcerating, rather than rehabilitating those that might otherwise be better served using probation.

West Virginia has a very low voter participation rate. What changes, if any, would you make to increase voter participation?

Access is important. Currently, there is a purge going on of the voter rolls. I propose that instead of inactive voter purging, we use automatic registration to be tied to a state ID or driver's license.

Over the past few years, there has been legislation aimed at requiring the Bible to be taught in public schools, allowing a Bible-based elective, or faith-based drug prevention electives. What is your stance on incorporating religion into the public schools?

As an educator, I feel this is a slippery slope. The current legislature is in favor because they believe that it will only be Judeo-Christian beliefs being taught. I predict that they will bristle over the first school to teach this while incorporating texts from other faiths. From a practical standpoint, Who do they expect to teach these classes? Many districts are at state formula for teachers as it is, so removing a history or health section would increase class size in the remaining sections. I believe religion to be a generally good thing, but I don't believe our tax dollars should fund the indoctrination of such.

At least 20 states have passed laws prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 13 West Virginia municipalities have similar protections. Do you support or oppose a statewide law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in West Virginia? Why?

My stance on the subject can be quickly boiled down to: I don't care what gender you identify as or who you love. It's none of my business and it's none of the government's. Can you do the job and pay the mortgage? If you've answered yes to the above, I'm willing and privileged to live and work next to you. I will support any law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

In December 2019, Governor Justice announced that West Virginia would continue accepting refugees. Do you support or oppose accepting refugees in West Virginia? Under what conditions? Why?

Support. Fully. We have the opportunity to offer refuge from horrible circumstances to people trying to escape. Further, we should offer a path to citizenship that would help these refugees integrate into our society and be the productive members that they wish to be.

Q10

Over the past few years, some states have continued to erode protections and access to abortion care. Other states have done the opposite and codified abortion rights that had previously been defined by courts. Do you favor further restrictions to abortion, expanding or codifying abortion rights, or taking no action on abortion?

I am pro-choice, but abortion is not something that my family would ever consider. I do not pretend to know the circumstances of the women who exercise their right to choose, be it health related, rape, or incest. Interesting to me is a study done by Steven Levitt on the matter, which links legal abortion (Roe v Wade) with drastically lower crime rates when the affected would have come to their prime age for crime. While Roe v. Wade certainly sets a precedent, it's time for us to codify.