Name Jonathan Defibaugh Jr
Office Sought House of Delegates 12
Party Affiliation Dem
District 12
City/Town Parkersburg
Campaign Website Jonnyforwv.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?
Similarly to the involvement of firearms in schools, I think the concept of SROs in our schools is a bit dystopian. While some might view this as necessary, it seems like they do little to prevent mass emergencies and the interim day-to-day creates an increasingly resentful atmosphere. While they may be necessary in extreme situations or while under limited time situations, our schools ought not be further pushed into TSA style lockdown facilities for minimal benefit at a great cost.
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?
More funding for mental health and dependence recovery is a necessity. Police and first responders should have a broader toolkit that includes compassionate interaction with people struggling in such a way. The legislature has an obligation, as lawmakers for the state, to direct funding and policy towards meeting these ends.
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?
I do not agree with banning abortion and have always been pro-choice. That said, the legal foundations of the Roe V. Wade decision hinged such an important medical liberty on a supreme court decision as opposed to legislation. This was poor policy, and while I would wholeheartedly advocate for pro-choice policy it must come from democratic consensus. Ideally laws would support 1-2nd term abortion with physician consultation and make it a protected private medical manner.
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, of course. Discrimination on the basis of inalienable characteristics without a STRONG justification is exactly what we're trying to prevent.
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?
While perhaps smaller or more local legislative bodies would better understand their locales needs, these concepts need ironed out. Many people misrepresent CRT or other politically loaded teachings to mean some indoctrination, and without a grounding in the reality of the teachings it's impossible to have a conversation of their merits. Education should be protected and no concept should be barred from discussion in advanced places like university (where you're meant to be challenged), though individual communities may decide some parts are unnecessary.
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?
I support it. As mentioned earlier, these are inalienable characteristics with no good reason to be discriminated against. There are no coherent arguments one could use here that wouldn't also dismiss racial/sexual/religious discrimination.
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?
Removing restrictive zoning laws and enforcing strictly driving-friendly neighborhoods has crippled community engagement. It forces citizens to rely on cars, makes walking/biking more dangerous, and uses far more space to build single-family homes with poor efficiency. Incentives and even grants to build higher density and walking friendly areas should lower costs of housing and allow markets to flourish within walking distance.
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?
The systemic war on drugs has been a hilarious failure. Even from a conservative perspective, this just doesn't work. Lowering sentencing rates and instead encouraging sympathetic treatment would rapidly improve prison populations by keeping people out and productive from the start. Similar training as what I advocate for police officers should be afforded to corrections.
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?
Citizens should never lose their right to vote. If you pay taxes and are subject to the whims of a legislature, by definition of democracy (assuming you are able-minded) you deserve representation.
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?
Gender affirming care is medicine like all others. It has demonstrable benefits and is a private matter between that individual and their medical team. Allowing questioning or trans people access to gender-centric care is essential, both to affirm the confident and cooperate with the unsure.