Melissa Martin
Democrat | Florida
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Melissa Martin
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2018
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 14
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Barry University School of Law, Orlando, JD, 2007
US Naval Academy, Annapolis, BS, 1998
WORK & MILITARY
US Marine Corps, Major, 1998-2014
AFFILIATIONS
Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition, President, Floridians Against Fracking
Area Captain, Represent Us, Chapter Leader
Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity (Barry Law), Dean, Public Interest Law Institute (Barry Law)
Founder, President, Moot Court Team (Barry Law), Writer, Oral Advocate
Christian Legal Society (Barry Law), Officer, Officers' Christian Fellowship (MCRD Parris Is)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (4)
Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida
Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida
Florida Sierra Club
Our Revolution
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
VoteVets
Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida
Democratic Women's Club of Florida
Sierra Club
Women's March
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Democratic Organizations
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
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.
No Answer
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
No Answer
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
No Answer
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
No Answer
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
No Answer
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
No Answer
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
No Answer
Any teaching to children on sex education in public schools must include all contraceptive methods, and should not show preference to abstinence.
No Answer
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
No Answer
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
No Answer
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
No Answer
The state constitution should limit the growth of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
No Answer
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
No Answer
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
No Answer
I support sanctuary cities.
No Answer
I support the death penalty.
No Answer
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
No Answer
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
No Answer
Parents should be the primary authority in decisions affecting their minor children.
No Answer
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
No Answer
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
No Answer
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
In accordance with the law, though society should focus more attention, education and resources on preventing unwanted pregnancies. Abortion is a tough, intimately violent issue. I believe that life begins upon egg fertilization, and my personal choices of family planning reflect this. I hold all life as sacred; I even struggle with killing insects, if that helps you understand my framework...but that's me. When we're talking about laws and government action/inaction, their authority derives from our social compact -- the US Constitution. Laws have the proper legal authority if they stem from our shared objectives as outlined in the Preamble. Just as the US Supreme Court has struggled to define that line where societal interests override individual interests (the woman with the unwanted pregnancy), I feel that near-viability is an appropriate, balanced point between these interests. Before then, the private community has the right and ability to minister in love.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Self-interest.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe the best description is that I'm a "Red Letter" Christian. I believe that the New Commandments have "binding authority" as the legal field puts it. Loving God and one another is the mandate, and the more one grows to understand God, the more automatic unconditional love becomes. In order to achieve this point, I believe that we must realize judging others is a different side of the same coin as self-righteousness; neither of which is Godly. By opening our hearts up to loving without fear, we find that such vulnerability is true power and servant-mindedness is how we should approach every interaction and opportunity. I also believe there are plenty of universal truths and moral principles we can implement into public policy without violating the First Amendment's establishment clause; patience, kindness, charity, forbearance, etc.
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?
No Answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
https://www.facebook.com/martinforsenate/photos/a.141401676446352/292389774680874/?type=3&theater Hopefully the description of my political philosophy, what I stand for, will demonstrate that most "political spectrum" labels do not accurately reflect my views as defined by others.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
Unemployment is down, so I believe a more important issue to discuss is the current vs. desired quality of life for America's full-time working families. I believe that we can and should look at tweaking our systems to "promote the general welfare" to help form a "more perfect union." Being one emergency away from poverty or homelessness -- for so many -- is not the American way.
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
According to health professionals and administrators, and cross-partisan economists, the only way to achieve "adequate, affordable and accessible healthcare for all" is to extend the Medicare business (single payer) model to include a larger, healthier pool of patients, which helps to shift the liabilities toward a more feasible, competitive market.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
I believe the higher the government level (Fed, state), the less "play" there should be in order to maintain as much stability as possible in the economy. We should provide sufficient home rule authority to local governments (county, city) so they can work with their local industries and connect their educational institutions toward a thriving regional economy. The role of government overall is to provide the conditions for natural growth while maintaining the integrity of processes designed to ensure no endeavor causes harm to others; and if/when it does, that justice ensues.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
As a graduate of the US Naval Academy and retired Major in the US Marine Corps, I have the leadership skills and coalition-building experience to face Florida's challenges and achieve solutions to our critical problems. As a lawyer (career Judge Advocate, retiring as a Staff Judge Advocate), I know systems and the importance of "integrity of process," ethics, transparency and accountability in order to maintain the public's trust and confidence in its own government. After retiring, I served my community in various capacities to fight corruption and forces that are destroying our environment (and related major economic engines in our state). I'm a cross-partisan, unifying servant-leader who believes in reconnecting with the people and evidence-based policies to protect and promote the public interest. I hope this year sees more voters looking to support the person and caring for the issues facing Florida (more than party politics as usual). Thank you for your consideration.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
MartinforSenate14@gmail.com
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
While I elected not to answer the multiple choice questions above, I am fully willing and would love the chance to explain each of my positions -- especially in person, perhaps over some coffee. I think too much gets lost in the partisan gamesmanship and label-slinging that we lose sight of not only what's truly important and common to all of us, but also the truth. I registered as a Democrat last year (from being a life-long Non-Party Affiliated voter) because I believe truth comes from adversity; much like a courtroom, you need at least two viable parties that bring their evidence and reasoned arguments to discover the truth of the matter. Where I live (in Senate District 14) and in much of Florida, there has only been one party, one voice, with an unfortunate amount of corrupt influences focusing on destroying the integrity of that party. I hope to help restore balance by serving as a counter voice and eradicating that corruption with open debate and objectively sound evidence.
