Candidate Survey: Joe Vigliotti for Carroll County Commissioner, District 1
TheDuckpin.com Candidate Survey
Name*
Joe Vigliotti
Age*
36
Office Sought*
County Commissioner
County*
Caroll
District
1
Political Party*
Republican
Education*
Mount Saint Mary's University, where I majored in History and double-minored in Political Science and Philosophy
Career/Occupation*
Freelance Creator (Writing, Editing, and Graphic Design)
Political Experience*
I'm a third-term member of the City Council of Taneytown where I serve as both Mayor Pro Tem and liaison to the Police Department. Prior to that, I volunteered for a number of campaigns, including co-coordinating Carroll County for Dan Bongino's U.S. Senate campaign.
Social Media Accounts*
Website*
Why are you running for office?*
For love of home.
Who do you consider your political role model, and why?*
There are a few, but among those at the top of the list would be Calvin Coolidge. While everyone can look back at the 1920s and see the tremendous economic success and growth in the standard of living which Americans made and experienced, the struggle and the work to make those things possible are largely unknown - and much of that time presages our own. Socialism had gained a strong foothold here in the United States, both among avowed Socialists, the labor movement, and Progressives. They saw the U.S. Constitution, and American values, as outdated and obstacles to the future, but necessary and superficial vehicles for the transformation of American society. Coolidge rejected all of this, believing that religious faith, American values, and the U.S. Constitution were not only timeless, but necessary and central to the American experience. His scaling back of government, opposition to racism, support of the market and of business, support of individual rights, and more, meant that the United States as a whole would shrug off (temporarily, at least) it's strange dance with Socialism. Coolidge's legacy would go on to inspire President Ronald Reagan, who professed to having made a serious study of the Coolidge presidency, from which he in turn drew inspiration for the 1980s. But Coolidge's love of God and love of all that was definingly American is something which resonates in my own heart - and can be put into practice even at the local and county levels.
What is your favorite book about politics and policy, and why?*
I have several, including (but not limited to) Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in France" and "The Federalist" by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Burke identified core moral truths, realities, and tenets of modern conservatism, helping to cohere it into a clear philosophy, such as the understanding that society is a kind of contract between the dead, the living, and those yet to be born; that the continuation of tradition, custom, and practical experience garnered over time was both necessary and vital for long-term stability and continuity. This is not only true, but vital for Carroll County, for Maryland, and for the United States as a whole. With respect to "The Federalist", the reasoned devotion to the U.S. Constitution and all related aspects (such as the importance of the Electoral College) are essential for understanding how our Constitution and its practice actually work - as well as why they were, and remain, so important. There is a beautiful symbiosis between Burke and our Founders that does ultimately reflect Truth - including at the local level.
What will be your top priority in office?*
There are two. The first is public safety - supporting law enforcement and the new county Department of Fire and EMS. The second is caution toward development and support of agricultural preservation. Carroll County is a conservative holdout in this part of the state. Here, we still support law enforcement, and given the way things are nationally and elsewhere in the state, having a well-funded, professional Sheriff's Department is undeniably important to safety. Additionally, Carroll's volunteer fire companies, through no fault of their own, have had difficulty in gaining and retaining volunteers (and waning volunteerism is a national issue). For example, Carroll has been averaging over 20,000 EMS calls a year. Last year, the number exceeding 22,000. Calls have to be rerouted elsewhere, and the companies and the hospital here cannot keep up with this volume of calls. The Department of Fire and EMS will help supplement and support the volunteer companies in a kind of combination professional and volunteer system. This also speaks to the heart of the issue on development: we simply cannot afford rapid residential development when public facilities, including Fire and EMS (and the hospital), are unable to handle the rate of calls from the population that we have, now. Local law enforcement agencies are also struggling with population growth, so overdevelopment is not merely an issue from a cultural standpoint, but that of a public safety imperative. This, in turn, reflects the importance of agricultural preservation - ensuring that our county's rural heritage and character remain for future generations.
What is the biggest issue facing your area?*
Keeping our county the way that it is. This includes, as previously mentioned, supporting public safety (both Law Enforcement and Fire and EMS), and supporting agricultural preservation. The values of Carroll - faith in God, in family, in hard work, in community, in patriotism, and more - are a traditional and timeless reflection of our rural, small-town identity. (Indeed, agriculture is the county's number one industry; and more than 77,000 acres of farmland have now been preserved.) It also includes supporting the Board of Education's budgets where their policies reflect parental rights and real education in schools, which also reflect the pro-family and pro-education values of Carroll.
What are the three biggest issues facing Maryland?*
High taxes, supporting law enforcement/getting tougher again on crime, and the business environment.
What is your position on life issues? (abortion, assisted suicide)*
I am prolife, and oppose assisted suicide.
What is your position on taxes and spending?*
High taxes are injurious to working people, as is out-of-control spending. I favor a careful, controlled budget.
What is your position on gun rights?*
I am pro-Second Amendment.
What is your position on the legalization of marijuana?*
I oppose the legalization of marijuana.
What is your position on the current three-tiered system for the sale and distribution of alcohol?*
I do not have one at present.
What is your position on land use, growth, and development?*
As I mentioned previously, agricultural preservation is one of my top priorities, as is caution toward development for reasons of public safety and adequate facilities, etc. We have preserved more than 77,000 acres of farmland, and agriculture is our number one industry. The rural, small-town nature of our county helps makes us who we are, and is very much worth protecting.
What is your position on crime and public safety?*
I fully support Law Enforcement, including School Resource Officers.
What is your position on county tax caps?*
I'm still considering the issue.
Was Joe Biden legitimately elected President of the United States in the November 2020 Election?*
Yes
Do you pledge to accept the results of your election?*
Yes