Melony Bell

Republican | Florida

Candidate Profile*

Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Melony Bell


Party

Republican


Election Year

2020


Election

General


Race

State Rep., Dist 56


Incumbent

Yes


Links

FacebookX

EDUCATION

Sourtheastern University, Lakeland, A, Business & Professional Leadership, 2008

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

First United Methodist Church, Fort Meade, Member, Bay Care Hospital

Board Member, Fort Meade High Student Advisory Committee, Board Member

Bartow Economic Development Council, Board Member, Fort Meade Women's Club

Past President, Board Member, Polk County Career Academy, Executive Board member

Lakeland/ Winter Haven Republican Clubs, Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Florida House of Representative, 2018 - 2020

Polk County Commissioner/Chairman, 2010 -2018

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

Race

Previous Races

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS

2019

91%, 91% (cum.)

2019

|

91%, 91% (cum.)



LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)

*Florida Family Action

Florida Right to Life PAC

OTHER (2)

Associated Industries of Florida PAC

Florida Chamber of Commerce

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)

Florida Chamber

Lakeland Business Voice

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)

Adam Putnam (2009)

Colleen Burton (2016)

David Santiago (2020)

Jackie Toledo (2020)

Rick Scott (2014)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (8)

Advancing Florida Agriculture (2018)

Committee to Protect Florida (2020)

Conservative Principles for Florida (2020)

Economic Growth PAC (2019)

Florida Leadership Committee (2017)


OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Strongly Agree

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.

Strongly Agree

I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.

Strongly Agree

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Only for an ectopic pregnancy. This occurs when a fertilized egg does not completely leave a fallopian tube, and is life threatening to the mother.


ECONOMY

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.

Strongly Disagree

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

Did not answer


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.

Strongly Agree

Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.

Strongly Agree

Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.

Strongly Agree

I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.

Yes

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

That the "state" does not mandate a specific church or denomination. It does not mean religion is to be kept apart from our daily lives and confined to our churches and homes.


HEALTHCARE

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.

Disagree

How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?

Did not answer


NATIONAL SECURITY

The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.

Strongly Agree


IMMIGRATION

I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.

Strongly Agree

State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.

Strongly Agree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

Did not answer


EDUCATION

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Strongly Disagree


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Strongly Agree

I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a Christian so I put God first in my life. I believe to love my neighbor as myself. What that means to me is demonstrating integrity, honesty, perseverance, and the greatest of these core values, love.


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative

Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.

Did not answer

What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?

Did not answer

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.

No

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?

I am so proud to be a business owner and Republican woman in office. As a business owner, I see the value in less regulated business sanctions and less government control over how we conduct our businesses. I have seen a good deal of money leave my personal business in business taxes, and therefore, I want to ensure that every tax dollar leaving our business owner’s hands is spent being as efficiently and effectively as possible. I am dedicated to this, thus I have and hope to continue to file appropriations projects. During the legislative session, I filed 15 appropriation projects to try to improve water, education, and the quality of life in our State.


JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY

I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.

Strongly Disagree


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.

Strongly Agree


2ND AMENDMENT

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?

Yes

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

We have ample restrictions already in place to protect public safety.


OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Strongly Disagree

The Electoral College should be abolished.

Strongly Disagree

In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?

Did not answer

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Did not answer

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