Kevin Vayko
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Kevin Vayko (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Michigan's 9th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Vayko completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Kevin Vayko was born in Michigan. He earned a high school diploma from Almont High School and a bachelor's degree from Michigan Technological University in 2011. His career experience includes working as an environmental engineer, paralegal, and unlicensed attorney.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Michigan's 9th Congressional District election, 2024
Michigan's 9th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Democratic primary)
Michigan's 9th Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Republican primary)
General election
Democratic primary election
Republican primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Libertarian convention
Working Class Party convention
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Vayko in this election.
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kevin Vayko completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Vayko's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am an individual with Asperger's (high functioning Autism) who holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering with extensive environmental project management experience.
I am easy going, genuinely genial and pleasant to both the community and family, and proactive.
Unfortunately, due to vindictive and false fabricating governmental interference, I have experienced first hand the deplorable state of governmental corruption, ranging from suppression of exculpatory evidence, ignorance of established law, abuse of discretion, excessive bail, and pretrial punishment for presumably innocent defendants. From this, and through my inherent critical thinking & innovative abilities as demonstrated through an engineering degree, I have envisioned and proposed several fair and just initiatives and solutions for dealing with not only the critical issue of criminal legal reform. The Founding Fathers saw a substantial political need to address and restrain law enforcement abuse by proferring 5 of the 10 Amendments to the Constitution (Bill of Rights) to that effect.
I have proposed several solutions for miscellaneous civil affairs people deal with on a daily basis such as in insurance and economy.
Through my experience, I have attained substantive civil and criminal paralegal experience, often performing at a level of established bar attorneys or higher.
My experience in both fields of legal and engineering best equip me to navigate complex issues in government. - My experience and passion in the fields of engineering, science, and legal provide a rare skill set and framework for tackling complex issues and uncovering an equitable and humane solution to a vast array of political issues that plaque the United States. Do we tax Billionaires 100% of all revenue over a Billion dollars or eliminate/substantially minimum Billionaire taxation to near zero? Perhaps a low tax rate with requirement to hire 'X' number of employees at a living wage or a high tax rate such as that of the 1960s for US Stewardship but risk departure of business in the country (Today's economy is now global with adequate infrastructure in nearly every "third-world" country unlike the 1960s)
- Restriction of governmental interference on ALL victimless "crimes", including abortion, by repealing these "crimes" from the US Code and Michigan Statute. There is a reason why the US has a higher prison population than even China despite have only 1/4 of China's population. Standing with the ACLU, this prison industrial complex costs taxpayers at least $80 billion per year. This money should be spent building up, not further harming, communities. Investments, not incarceration, is how we improve safety. Regular Violations of Constitutional Rights of accused create a traumatic experience leading to dysfunction in their lives rather than rehabilitation. Innocent people are disenfranchised for decades
- Climate Change is an indisputable and existential crisis that is being given adequate attention but relatively little action. It is apparent that corporations and society in general are reluctant, or even rather refuses, to make necessary changes such implement environmental-technological innovations to lower gigantic corporate/industrial carbon footprint and individuals alter societal habits to conform to environmentally-friendly practices. Corporations have a mandatory ethical obligation to provide consumers with an infrastructure that promotes environmentally conscious choices and the consumer has the moral obligation to not only minimize their own small footprint but the community footprint.
Criminal legal reforms, environmental protections and climate change mitigation, policies protecting individual liberties (LGBTQ+, Abortion, Drug use, Gun/Weapon ownership, Voting) and preventing discrimination against the same, reformation of civil liabilities legislation to ensure accurate and fair compensation, eliminating corporate sponsored limitations of liability for gross or intentional negligence/misconduct, insurance reformation, and ADA enforcement (list not all inclusive)
My mother is a true heart champion and a very articulate and intelligent individual. At an early age, she lived fully independently owning her own house and vehicles, maintaining both house and vehicles with absolute meticulous detailing. Despite being hit by a drunk driver whom critically injured her, she battled through that despair and through the injustices of a corrupted law firm whom was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by the bar establishments which the drunk driver attended to purposefully egregiously mismanage the case so as to force our family into great peril for lack of financial resources. She continued working and fighting to support her children and maintain a proper standard of living so that her family could prosper into the future. Moreover, she doesn't gossip to anybody about other people's affairs like so many other people enjoy doing. She does not thrive or seek thrill attention from bashing or talking poorly about others. She is upfront and honest to people about her thoughts, opinions, or facts on matters, yet she is open minded and always open to education and knowledge. There are few people with both grit tenacity and fighting spirit as well as embodying a humble and open-mind.
1) "The Tyranny of Good Intentions: How Prosecutors and Bureaucrats Are Trampling the Constitution in the Name of Justice" by by Paul Craig Roberts (Author), Lawrence M. Stratton (Author);
2) "Pleading Out: How Plea Bargaining Creates a Permanent Criminal Class" by Dan Canon, &
3) "Punishment Without Trial: Why Plea Bargaining Is a Bad Deal" by Carissa Byrne Hessick.
5 of the 10 US Constitution Bill of Rights pertain to criminal justice. Misinformation and Propoganda perpetuated by police through mainstream media have induced mass hysteria in the 1980s and particularly in the 1990s to substantially diminish the Rights granted in the US Constitution such as that of reasonable bail, due process, speedy trial, double jeopardy, Ex Post Facto, and many other Rights.
I have seen from both first and second hand account these abuses and the permanently damaging effects and abuses that result from the same. A politician who refuses to accept a corporate, individual, or governmental agency bribe to disparage and violate the fundamental human and constitutional Rights of US citizens for the mere simple "wants" of these corrupt corporate, individual, or governmental agency or entity.
An elected official also has the mandatory duty and obligation to not only seriously consider an individual complaint for reformation of law, but to seek action on that measure. This is weighed against the actual articulated and verbal demands of the majority of the constituents, not merely a 'temperature' of what those constituents may seek. An elected official may even seek a poll of its constituents to provide the most accurate and effective representation of matters. In such as case, integrity measures would need to be implemented to ensure that the responses are actually from constituent and not AI, computing bots, or via identity theft.
I am an Autistic individual who is naturally sympathetic to individual's issues, no matter how problematic. Naturally, I do not judge and criticize people, especially those with mental health condition, which is an important yet rare trait in politics. Moreover, I have a good sense and grasp on both sides of an argument which is critical to being a decision maker. I am creative in devising solutions that meet the needs of two opposing factions. For instance, in the criminal legal system, pretrial incarceration is punitive and contrary to the principles of presumed innocence. However, there are individuals who pose a very real and articulate violent danger to the public. Instead of punishing these people based on presumed guilt, they shall be housed in dormitory style housing with all the privileges of freedom. The Wolfish standard, as predicated on the decision in Bell v Wofish, 441 U.S. 520 (1979), is outdated. In the 1970s and earlier, not only were inmates afforded many more privileges than inmates in today's modern society, but few instances regarding personal conflict resulted in arrests and prosecution and for those who were incarcerated, their RIGHT to reasonable bail was upheld. Thus, few individuals were incarcerated long term pretrial. Today, many, many, MANY more people are held in pretrial detention over mere misdemeanors and low level felonies in addition to numerous victimless or petty offense crimes. Many others are being held for offenses that never occurred or greatly exaggerated instances. The For-Profit Prison system has woefully, maliciously, and erroneously enticed the proliferation of numerous false offenses or claims of an illegitimate nature that have been prosecuted as if a serious occurrence had transpired.
Possessing an engineering background, I hone the ability to attain outstanding insight in affairs and pursue a dedication to eliminating or revising poorly constructed laws to uphold the Constitutional Rights of all.
Advocate on behalf of the the constituents. This is the primary duty of an elected official. They are specifically elected by the voting citizens of the district to advocate for their demands and requests. This is the single duty and sole responsibility of an elected official in any capacity. Peripheral responsibilities pertaining to this chief objective is to make themselves available to the elected official so that they can participate in democracy. Moreover, the elected official shall also reach out to their district for feedback and input as to how to best represent them.
I would love to leave a legacy of substantial reform having repealed AEDPA so that the Federal government can step in against a State that has colluded and conspired to wrongfully incarcerate an individual such as notably Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey whom are only still wrongfully incarcerated due to that horrifically and ill-intentioned Act (AEDPA). While many believe it is vital to limit the Federal government powers in all aspects, I have no objection to granting additional aspects when the State government has violated individual Rights and Liberty, for individual sovereignty is the hallmark of a Libertarian platform. In addressing federal medical coverage, infrastructure, defense, and overall taxation, the ideal scenario would be to provide that individuals have volunteered to allocate part of their paycheck to cover these means. Privatization generally means a higher onset expense as those corporations design between 25-50+% profit into the price of the service or good. Capitalization generally entails that money and wealth traverses only to a select few executives as opposed to a fair and equitable distribution among all. Balancing incentive to live a life of wealth and ease through a free-market and suppressing opportunity through rigid communal living is a delicate task that the People are entitled to decide in each district. The importance of free and open education as opposed to repetitive propaganda is foundational to the prosperity of a nation.
The first historical event that I remember in my lifetime was 9/11. I was 13 years old at the time and I remember every detail from the recounting of both crashes by my first period science teacher as it happened, to the radio playing in 3rd period math class, to a summary accounting of my 6th period economics teacher to finally seeing the stunning video media coverage on television when I returned home that day and then calling my mother with a tremor in my voice discussing the outfall of this monumental event occurring in my lifetime.
My first employment was an environmental hygienist performing asbestos air monitoring for substantial sized abatement projects around the Metro Detroit area. It was a summer externship lasting from May until August.
My favorite book is Harry Potter because of the incredible hardship he was forced to endure. The testament of those who steadfastly supported him illustrates the necessity of community and friendship. Without such supporters, Harry would have been locked in a perilous situation, if not murdered.
Dumbledore because of his venerability and wizarding skill.
LA STATUA
Don Giovanni a cenar teco
m'invitasti e son venuto!
DON GIOVANNI
Non l'avrei giammai creduto;
ma farò quel che potrò.
Leporello, un altra cena
fa che subito si porti!
LEPORELLO
Ah padron! Siam tutti morti.
DON GIOVANNI
Vanne dico!
LA STATUA
Ferma un po'! Non si pasce di cibo mortale
chi si pasce di cibo celeste!
Altre cure più gravi di queste
altra brama quaggiù mi guidò!
LEPORELLO
La terzana d'avere mi sembra,
e le membra fermar più non so.
DON GIOVANNI
Parla dunque! Che chiedi? Che vuoi?
LA STATUA
Parlo; ascolta! Più tempo non ho! ecc.
DON GIOVANNI
Parla, parla, ascoltando ti sto, ecc.
LEPORELLO
E le membra fermar più non so, ecc.
LA STATUA
Tu m'invitasti a cena,
il tuo dover or sai,
rispondimi: verrai tu a cenar meco?
LEPORELLO
Oibò; tempo non ha, scusate.
DON GIOVANNI
A tor to di viltate
tacciato mai sarò.
LA STATUA
Risolvi!
DON GIOVANNI
Ho già risolto.
LA STATUA
Verrai?
LEPORELLO
Dite di no!
DON GIOVANNI
Ho fermo il core in petto.
Non ho timor: verrò!
LA STATUA
Dammi la mano in pegno!
DON GIOVANNI
Eccola!
(Dà la mano.)
Ohimè!
LA STATUA
Cos'hai?
DON GIOVANNI
Che gelo è questo mai?
LA STATUA
Pentiti, cangia vita,
è l'ultimo momento!
DON GIOVANNI (vuol sciogliersi)
No, no, ch'io non mi pento
vanne lontan da me!
LA STATUA
Pentiti, scellerato!
DON GIOVANNI
No, vecchio infatuato!
LA STATUA
Pentiti!
DON GIOVANNI
No!
LA STATUA
Sì!
DON GIOVANNI
No!
LA STATUA
Ah! tempo più non v'è!
DON GIOVANNI
Da qual tremore insolito
sento assalir gli spiriti!
Dond'escono quei vortici
di foco pien d'orror?
CORO DI DEMONII
Tutto a tue colpe è poco!
Vieni, c'è un mal peggior!
DON GIOVANNI
Chi l'anima mi lacera?
Chi m'agita le viscere?
Che strazio, ohimè, che smania!
Che inferno, che terror! Ironically, social integration has been a lifelong struggle for me. Having high-functioning Autism, I appear and for the most part function in a neurotypical manner but I critically have been able to maintain good strong close friendships. Part of this perhaps is a result of socially-reserved family members who are too guarded to allow individuals whom they are not very familiar with into their own lives. However, we cannot survive the way that we are familiar with living if it was not for the efforts of unknown persons whom have provided all the amenities, goods, and services that we enjoy on a daily basis. The importance of community is foundational to the health and prosperity of people. However, the loss of community in today's society has created a wider chasm upon which commonly individuals with Autism are not able to navigate. As such, it has been a cause and source of substantial hardship from misapplied communication and uneducated engagement in society.
The U.S. House of Representatives hold the office responsible for regulation and management of all federal legislation incorporated in the CFR including federal health care, taxation, student loans/FAFSA, federal funding of Interstate roads and federal projects, OSHA, Civil Rights Act, and even obscure Acts such as AEDPA. These codes are reviewed annually unlike many State legislation which are enacted and may never be reviewed. In Michigan, it is illegal to sell a vehicle on a Sunday. Generally, this law would have been repealed but since the State law is not codified, this piece of legislation regrettably remains intact. The US Congress has the power to create all legislation for implementation nationally. No State branch nor other office in the federal government (executive nor judicial) has that capacity.
Likewise with any employment, having previous experience is beneficial as the candidate has running and effective knowledge as to how the duties and responsibilities of the position are executed as well as understanding how to resolve any challenges while in that position. However, many without any prior experience in a position can excel and thrive in the position due to their natural ability to learn quickly as well as exhibition of their strong personal character and execution of duty to represent their constituents. Many representatives fail to do this and impose their own personal agendas in such positions, often retaining their elected positions simply due to their prior experience in holding office.
In summary, while it is beneficial, a voter should review the actual effectiveness of the incumbent or individual with prior experience to the platform, passionate dedication, readied availability, and intellect of a prospective new candidate.
Equal and Fair Justice for all criminal defendants as well as Climate Change. If an individual like Steven Avery is clearly and conspicuously wrongfully incarcerated in prison for the rest of his life for a crime he clearly did not commit as based on the evidence or an individual like Marcellus Williams murdered under the pretense of execution for a crime that DNA evidence proves he did not commit, Climate Change and destruction of the World is not a concern because these individuals have already had their life taken from them for no wrongful act on their behalf. This is why the Founding Fathers of the United States were so emphatic with ensuring criminal due process protections. However, Police and Law enforcement have intimidated the People and the Courts themselves to avert accountability for their own criminal actions. After there is substantial enforcement of these Human Rights, society can better focus on climate change. In both aspects, bridging better community bonds and networks are critical to mitigating wrongful convictions and reducing environmental carbon footprints.
I have no objection to a two year term length for representatives as it affords the People with the generally most frequently regularity and opportunity to elect individuals who best meet their needs as opposed to term cycles of 4 years such as the Presidency or 6 years for state judicial offices.
To clarify, I have no objection to a regular election cycle of 2, 4, 6, or any fair designation of years for an elected office. However, I disagree with the imposition a term limit after which a current incumbent or prior elected official in that capacity is no longer allowed to run because it shall be the People who determine which elected official they wish to elect. However, it is clear that the self-imposed discrimination by the People in favor of Republican and Democrat and against other party generally limits participation of other candidates to the position. Moreover, too few individuals involve themselves in the democratic process of voting. As such, term limits have been imposed for many positions to limit what may appear as a dictatorship in the role due to perceptively dominating and manipulating of the electoral process in that district.
Bernie Sanders stands out as a representative who has never detracted in his stance to advocate for the working middle class. While many dispute his methods to produce such effects, we respect that he has never wavered in his stance on issues unlike most politicians whom exhibited manifest polarity in their political tenured careers. We should also commend his efforts to promote a healthy and vibrant working class regardless if we disagree as to his methodology.
In my lifetime, my family and myself have experienced an incredible number of misapplications, misconducts, and clear errors in and of law which require justice, rectification, and accountability. Several of these were in relation to abysmal mismanagement or illegal application of civil law pertaining to automobile collisions. Aside from those stories of miscarriages of justice in my family, an external story that often impacts me is one where an individual lost his liberty despite never having affected anybody. He never stole anything, harmed any person, or committed any sort of offense against another person, company, or organization. Nor did he engage in self-harming behavior such as using dangerous recreational drugs like heroin or those laced with fentanyl. His story was not unlike many others who were prosecuted for victimless crimes. Moreover, he suffers socially and in other respects due to his Autism. Despite this, he was put on house arrest for several years and then due to strict liability in the law, he was moved to plead guilty to a felony that he is unable to expunge from his record to avert the risk of prison and was placed several more years of probation. He has suffered years of social ostracization and restrictions. His life is still impacted some 15 years later. As a Libertarian candidate, I oppose and reject ALL victimless "criminal" laws. The term "victimless offense" is an oxymoron because how can there be an offense without a victim involved? The predication of a law that a future crime will be committed is an abomination to Natural Law of Mankind, the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence. This is the very essence of actual Fascism that must be eradicated.
I'll admit that I'm not a person who's good at humor and jokes as I prefer doing calculus and such...I know my limits.
The best joke is the electoral process and media in denying the People to elect candidates whom we actually want to represent us. Why are traditional Republicans forced to vote for Trump and Democrats for Harris because the mainstream media refused to consider other viable candidates? Also, other political parties such as the Green Party and Libertarian Party are given ZERO consideration by the mainstream media so People are nearly forcibly ignorant to the merits of their platform and candidacy.
Unfortunately, it is apparent that compromise is a part of policymaking. If unable to compromise, legislation would generally fail as opponent would fail to concede elements of the Bill. In many instances, the compromise made between the parties may still retain critical elements of the Bill. However, if
The constituents whom I would be elected to represent hold the power to determine by what means they wish for the House to raise revenue. While I may and shall propose several key initiatives, these usually entail a taxation upon those constituents. They must consent not only to the amount for which they are willing to part with but critically how those funds are invested. For instance, using tax payer money to fund Billion dollar toy stealth jets or weapons/military manufacturing when we are not at war is a clear misappropriation of funds in my opinion. However, if the majority of constituents which for money to be spent in such a manner, I shall honor that agreement so long as it does not infringe on the US Constitution of individual Rights of others.
The US House shall utilize its investigative powers in a manner that protect equality and fair treatment and justice for all. Politicized attacks on targeted individuals must be abolished. Too often people attack an individual because they are remarkable. However, and especially, if that person is a private citizen, their privacy must be kept as such. Publicizing private individuals must be limited to post conviction means. Investigating financial violations must be conducted with fairness and equality without pretrial seizure of assets.
Committees in relation to Equal protection such as the ACLU and those pertaining to environmental protection to ensure the longevity of Earth are of great interest to me.
Financial transparency and government accountability are vital because it is the People who hold the ultimate power. However, the status quo has become that generally career politicians are essentially the only ones who run for elected office and as such, the People have no viable alternatives and thus are required to vote for these individuals. Knowing these, these individuals do not have the best interest of the People they represent because since there is no fair competition for the elected position wherein that District will blindly vote for either Republican or Democrat, the majority party representative has free reign to engage in essentially whatever conduct they engage in. This ranges from the County Prosecutor, to the Judge, Sheriff, Representative in State or Federal Congress, and many other elected positions. Regrettably, the 'Qualified Immunity' standard means that these officials can nearly murder, rape, and torture individuals without any recourse to the victim involved. An elected official must have a HIGHER standard and threshold to adhere to, not a lower one.
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See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 1, 2024
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