Mark Finchem
Republican | Arizona
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mark Finchem
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 11
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ, BA, 2019
Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Oshtemo,MI, AAS, 1984
WORK & MILITARY
Kalamazoo Public Safety, Public Safety Officer II, 21
AFFILIATIONS
Victory Assembly of God, Tucson, AZ, Member, Rotary, Oro Valley, AZ
Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 6
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (4)
Arizona Free Enterprise Club
Arizona Republican Assembly
*Arizona Right to Life Action
Center for Arizona Policy Action (CAP Action)
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Arizona Republican Assembly (AZRA)
LD-11 Legislative Political Action Committeed
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
Carlyle W. Begay (2016)
Frank Antenori (2013)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2018)
Steve Montenegro (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (5)
Arizona Free Enterprise Club (2019)
Arizona Leadership Fund (2018)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2018)
Steve Pierce (2020)
Vince Leach (2018)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2017)
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?
Inevitable peril of the mother. Unborn children should not be made Into victims, the preamble of our United States Constitution clearly says "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States." We have ignored the call of our forefathers to secure these blessings for our unborn children.
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?
Stated clearly, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech..." Even though the First Amendment clearly states that Congress is affected, the SCOTUS has extended the same requirements to States. Rightly or wrongly, the matter is governed by SCOTUS opinion and jurisprudence. It seems odd that schools can talk about, even promote the Muslim faith, but may not speak of the Bible, which is one of the most comprehensive history books in print. Since the "church" is ecclesia (the people of God), it is impossible to separate the two, but the endorsement of a specific "state religion" is clearly, and plainly not permitted. Our nation was built on the Judeo-Christian ethic, and it is clearly evident in nearly everything that is America including our jurisprudence. To bar speech of this type is an abomination f the Constitution and God's intention for us to express our thoughts freely.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Neutral
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
There are a number of proven strategies to promote healthcare coverage for all including "no surprise billing" that would require hospitals and healthcare to publish their rates for visits and procedures, deregulate and promote medical cost-sharing organizations, end the prohibition on the purchase of healthcare insurance across state lines. I would also advocate for all paid healthcare premiums and service expenditures to be tax-exempt. I do not support government-run healthcare, for a whole host of reasons.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Neutral
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?
Expansion of government that does not serve the key functions of education, public safety, infrastructure, justice (courts), and indigent care. The reduction of the regulatory state that acts as a bar to entry for people seeking employment is a big problem highlighted by both UofA and ASU economics research.
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?
Those who apply through and are mindful of our immigration process laws. If they are sick, they need to wait until well. Immigration is a federal matter, under the Obama administration states were squeezed out of having a voice in crafting unique policies for border states, and in doing so, made the matter a Congressional action item, not state legislative action item.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Steadfast enforcement of the second amendment to the United States Constitution, in the laws made by Congress and states and pursuance thereof. As a retired law enforcement officer, I have great confidence in the concept of an armed constituency. We already have many statutes in place that prohibit certain possessors from having firearms, a vigilant public and law enforcement agencies that enforce the laws we have, make a difference.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
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?
Relief, opportunity, and protection. For six years I have promoted personal freedom, economic security for ourselves and our posterity, a debt-free future for our state, safe streets in schools, and quality education.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Of course, it is, we are all commanded to love her brother as ourselves. Those who fail to do that because of race fail themselves and civil society. It is both tragic and hypocritical that while some people call out society for "endemic and pervasive racism," they often turn to a race-based divisional narrative based on race when crafting a political campaign to advance an agenda.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
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.
My voting records at the Arizona House of Representatives speaks clearly about my commitment by way of action --not just talk-- to protect constituents from the overreach of government on their lives and those of their families. I have consistently voted for protecting civil liberties, guarding economic security, increasing K-12 education funding, criminal justice reform, leaving more of everyone's hard-earned money in their pockets, and much more. You can inspect my voting record at www.azleg.gov.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I am a constitutional scholar, and hold a Bachelors Degree in government administration with an emphasis on state and local public policy, summa cum laude From Grand Canyon University. I also hold an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and I am currently enrolled in a Masters Degree program at the University of Arizona in Legal Studies with a concentration in ethics & economics.
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’m open to questions and happy to speak with anyone about state and local public policy.
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
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am washed in the blood of Jesus, and a servant in his name to spread His gospel. I believe that by acknowledging sin, claiming the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our salvation, and repenting our sin, we are saved from by His grace.
