Stefan Medley

Stefan Medley was born in Austin, Texas. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 2016 to 2021. He earned an associate degree from the Sonoran Desert Institute in 2022.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a native Texan, born here in Austin and raised here since 2009. I was raised in a household that emphasized the importance of honesty, integrity, and compassion, all things I intend to demonstrate while in office. I was raised to be considerate of people coming from all walks of life, and not to make snap judgments based solely on my own experiences. I had the honor of serving for 5 years in the US Marine Corps Reserve alongside some of the greatest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. The men and women I worked with and answered to provided me with foundational pillars of leadership that I strive to meet every day.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I strongly support doing everything we can to keep as much industry within our Nation as possible. Our increased reliance on foreign production decreases our ability to self-sustain, and reduces the number of jobs available to our citizens.The treatment our Veterans receive when they leave the service is disgraceful. I was fortunate enough to have received my VA compensation without much hassle, but too many people I know cannot say the same. I strongly support an overhaul of our VA system to simplify and streamline the process, getting our Veterans the care and benefits that they need.As a firearm enthusiast myself, and someone who would like to be part of the industry professionally, I am a strong advocate for the maintenance and restoration of 2A rights. The increased number of mass shootings in our Nation is abhorrent, but I don’t believe that stricter regulations of the arms themselves will solve the problem.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I most strongly advocate for 2nd Amendment rights and an overhaul of our immigration system.

The rampant gun violence of today certainly is a pressing and obvious issue, but the subsequent calls for stricter regulations are addressing the wrong problem. It is more difficult to legally get a gun today than it ever has been through our Nation’s history, but the violence continues to increase. Rather than increase the restrictions that don’t seem to be having widespread success, I would advise looking at our society as a whole: we are a Nation of tired, broke, and angry people, with no way to readily get the support we need to deal with that.

To deny we have an immigration crisis is to deny common sense. A significant number of people are coming to our country outside of the legal channels, and I can’t say I blame many of them. The current system is difficult and expensive to navigate, and the flow of illegal immigrants creates a stigma against all those who immigrate, legal or not. I would like to see both a strengthening of our border security to deter those who would come illegally, as well as an overhaul of the process to encourage people to go through the proper channels. The U.S. was, and still is, a land of opportunity, and people across the globe still dream of coming here to start a better life for themselves and their families, but the system is so painful to work that it is an unattainable dream for many of them.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, the ability to listen, and a willingness to stand your ground are the top 4 for me. To properly represent your people, they need to know they can trust you, so proving that they can is critical. It is also important for an official to listen to the issues their people bring them; everyone has a unique perspective to offer, and it's worth at least hearing them. Finally, an elected official needs to know when to dig their heels in and fight. Not every uphill battle is worth fighting, but good leaders in general, not just elected officials, need to know which ones are worth it.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My willingness to hear and understand both sides of an argument has helped me defuse otherwise explosive situations. Applying this quality to our current, extremely divided, political field will help me bridge the ever-expanding gap between the American People.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was running the registers at a Taco Bell back in 2014. I didn't stay there too long, just long enough to realize that food-service was not my speed.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Cody Johnson's "'Til You Can't" has been on loop in my head since February this year.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Bridging the divide in the public is something that will be extremely difficult, but necessary to our Nation's strength. As it stands, the People have been turned against each other and the gaps between groups grow wider and wider by the day. We need to discourage the theatre that much of our politics has become, instead seeking to be productive and encourage the People to come together rather than breed dissent.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I think so; given that the age requirement for Representatives is the lowest of the federal elected officials, I see the 2-year term limit as ideal for people wanting to enter the political playing field. It's enough time to get your name/face out and start demonstrating to your constituents that you can do the job they've elected you to do.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Term limits are a necessity. Politics should not be a life-long career, for anyone, and the fact that only our Executive Branch has defined term limits is absurd. Working as an elected official in any capacity should be viewed as honorable service, not a way to build personal wealth, and limiting terms for every office would help to discourage this.