Mark Crawford
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mark Crawford
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 115
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
United States Military Academy, West Point, BS, 82
University of Florida, Gainesville, MA, 94
WORK & MILITARY
United States Army, Captain, 10+
United States Army Reserve/IRR, Major, 20
Coldwell Banker, Agent/Broker, 8
Western Carolina University, Instructor, 11
AFFILIATIONS
VFW, Life Member & former Post Commander, AMVETS
Life Member, Buncombe County Veterans Council, Past Member and Officer of the Executive Committee
Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Past Chairman of Troop and Pack Executive Committe, CONG Taylor's Veterans Council
Past Member, GOP, Past County/District/State Executive Committee
Montreat College, Multi-term past Member Board of Visitors, Montreat Presbyterian Church
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
NC House of Representatives, 2001-02
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
NC House of Representatives, 2020
NC Senate, 2018
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Just filed 17 days before deadline to publish...
No major endorsements given by at entity
of which I'm aware as of the date of this
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (12)
Committee to Elect Republican Women (2008)
Dan F. Soucek (2010)
David Curtis (2015)
Jim Davis (2018)
Nathan Ramsey (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (5)
George Cleveland (2010)
Harold Brubaker (2010)
Jim Davis (2018)
Julia Howard (2010)
State Republican Party Organizations (2018)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Service Employees International Union (2010)
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
If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, North Carolina should repeal its law allowing abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Because I believe that life begins at conception, I would prefer that no abortions be performed. I do understand the conflict that occurs when a mother's life is in jeopardy.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
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 particular phrase is found nowhere in the U.S. Constitution. It was brought to public attention when Thomas Jefferson, in writing a letter to the Danbury Baptist Convention twenty years after the creation of the U.S. Constitution, used the phrase. Since Thomas Jefferson was serving as Minister to France at the time of the writing of the U.S. Constitution, he had no current knowledge of what was being discussed or intended in the Constitution, itself. Therefore, for the courts to subsequently take this up and use it, is a fairly specious and ill-conceived notion. All that should be adhered to is clearly stipulated in the 1st Amendment of the Bill of Rights, and this particular phrase should not be considered.
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?
I would probably try to attack it differently than most others at the national and state level would do: I would like to see the creation and supply of vital drugs willingly passed over by the businesses to other organizations which should help keep prices of proven drugs low and availability high, and possibly even create more jobs. I would like to see all litigation for honest efforts of medication and treatment to be abolished, thereby attacking the high costs of insurance and provision of medicine. I would like the free market to be actually reintegrated into the health system in order to further reduce overall costs and keep government red tape at bay.
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, sheriff and local law enforcement agencies should be required to participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) Program to enhance the safety and security of their communities to identify and detain aliens.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Only those who actually follow the laws of the United States and the proper processes outlined by Congress to immigrate should be allowed to immigrate. Certainly no individuals who committed a felony in order to gain illegal entry should be subsequently rewarded with citizenship.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Neutral
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.
Disagree
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Parents should have the right to know what schools are teaching their children about sex and LGBT issues and should have the right to opt their children out of any instruction to which they object.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I committed my life to the LORD at age 11 in the pews of the church in which I grew up. I, like everyone, am a sinner, but through GOD's grace and Jesus' sacrifice, am saved.
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I believe that my legislative voting record is more than sufficient for provision of validating information for your Question # 27.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have already served very ably in the N.C. House of Representatives. There, I served on seven different standing committees, like the Education and Appropriations Committees, and on other important standing subcommittees, including the Appropriations Health and Human Services Subcommittee, among others. In addition to this, I'm currently in my 25th year in some capacity as an educator - especially important since our state's budget typically allocates around 55 - 60% of total appropriations to the education systems. I have an extensive small business background. I have been involved in numerous civic and charitable endeavors and/or organizations.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
I have never been tried or convicted of a felony, nor have I ever been penalized for sexual misconduct.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I was raised and grew up in the district in which I hope to serve. I attended Black Mountain Primary School, Black Mountain Grammar School and Owen High School. I then attended and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, subsequently serving a little over 10 years on active duty in the U.S. Army (including with the 82nd Airborne Division during the first Gulf War [Desert Storm]). I served another 20 years with the Inactive Ready Reserve. I have extensive small business experience. I am in my 25th year in some capacity or another as educator. I taught 11 years with the UNC system (WCU) as one of the few conservatives on campus, and am now back to teaching at the high school level. I've coached 25 seasons in local middle and high schools (soccer). I've served on various boards, executive committees, etc., in various charitable and/or civic and/or veteran organizations. I'd be honored to have your vote.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Any restriction which exceeds what is stipulated in the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution should be abolished.
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?
My orders of priority would include more than just three areas of legislation, but in addressing some of the legislation I already have formulated, I would include education, the environment and business, among the first three.
