Frank Devenuto
Republican | Missouri
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Frank Devenuto
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Representative, Dist. 143
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Hannibal LaGrange University, Hannibal, MO, MSE, 2018
Piedmont International University, Winston-Salem, NC, MABS, 2014
Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, BS, 2016
WORK & MILITARY
US Navy (started at bottom, retired as officer), Lieutenant Commander, 29.5 years
Public School Teacher 3rd & 5th grade, Elementary, 2 years
AFFILIATIONS
First Baptist Church Salem (MO), Sunday School teacher, choir member, contributor, Temple Baptist Church (Fredericksburg, VA)
Sunday School teacher, choir member, contributor, Christian Law Association, Contributor
Torch of Freedom Foundation, Contributor, Attendee, Samaritan's Purse-Operation Christmas Child
Contributor, volunteer, Riverways Pregnancy Resource Center (Salem, MO), Contributor
Reality Outreach Ministries, Contributor, Answers In Genesis
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Missouri Right to Life
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Kevin Cotner - Cattleman, truck driver
Leon Michel - Pastor
AJ Tinker - Cattleman, farmer, teacher
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?
None. God formed us in the womb and knows our innermost parts; we are created in His image, and are His masterpiece. God is sovereign since all things were created by Him, and for Him, and He determines what is best for our good and His glory.
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?
I would reduce / eliminate funding for social programs such as welfare, unemployment, etc. because it is theft to take from one to give to another who has not earned it. I would also reduce / eliminate funding to agencies that are unconstitutional (EPA, DOE [energy and education], DHS, CIA, etc.). I would reduce salaries, benefits, and expense accounts of all government employees (elected, appointed, and hired).
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?
It means that the government CANNOT intrude into the religious expression and activities of churches, individuals, and their consciences as dictated by their religious beliefs. The Founding Fathers also believed that godly people should influence the government to make right decisions.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Through the private sector without government intrusion by eliminating excessive regulations, laws, guidelines, and standards. The free market, and its practices, should dictate the cost, adequacy, and accessibility of healthcare. The government's only role healthcare, under the Constitution, is limited to prosecuting those who break the law.
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?
Only individuals who come here legally, support the US Constitution and US laws, follow and abide by our nation's traditions, heritage, and culture. Any foreign national who comes to the US, but attempts to subvert our nation, should be extradited back to their home nation with no opportunity to return. Foreign students, on taxpayer dollar, should not be allowed. Illegal aliens should not be allowed.
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 became a Christian in 1980 and believe the Bible is God's inerrant word to man. All decisions, laws, and views should be based on Scripture. I believe in a literal interpretation of Scripture where applicable such as Genesis for it is the foundation for the rest of the Bible. Jesus is the one true Messiah, ordained before the foundations of the earth to be born as an infant, live as a man, and die on the cross to pay man's sin debt for disobedience and rebellion since the Garden of Eden. Jesus, 100% man and 100% God, lived a perfect life on earth, preached repentance, and pointed man to the Father. One day, Jesus will return to assume His earthly reign on earth, followed by judgment of all mankind, and then eternity in either heaven (born-again believers by faith in the shed blood of Jesus) or the lake of fire (those who rejected Jesus as Savior). Salvation is by faith in Jesus alone, and His atoning sacrifice - no works (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 10:8-11).
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.
I wrote an article for The Pathway magazine in August 2015 - https://mbcpathway.com/2015/08/11/a-prophetic-letter-to-sen-mccaskill/ Additionally, my Facebook pages (personal and campaign) clearly indicate I am a Christian. Our local newspaper printed a 3-part series of biblical Christianity I wrote - https://www.thesalemnewsonline.com/news/local_news/article_ad83e214-ae47-11e5-8788-ffb2ca5be64c.html I also coordinated getting LTGEN (ret). Boykin to speak to local pastors in our town. https://www.thesalemnewsonline.com/news/local_news/article_b2e1c18e-5f37-11e2-8134-0019bb30f31a.html
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have attended Patriot Academy (Torch of Freedom Foundation) the past 3 years writing and debating mock bills to put power back into the hands of We the People, in addition to gaining knowledge on our nation's heritage. I have also attended a 3-day teacher's initiative at David Barton's facility (Wallbuilders) handling original documents and artifacts in addition to receiving historical background. I served in the US Navy for 29.5 years defending our nation's rich heritage and liberties. Knowing how precious our liberties / rights are, and seeing the attack on the very fabric / foundation of our nations, I am standing up to protect a future for my adult children and my grandchildren. As a substitute teacher for 5 years and certified teacher for 2 years, I taught K-12. I have seen the poverty in the rural areas and challenges parents face trying to provide the necessary resources for their kids to learn, as well as teachers living on substandard wages working long hours.
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 love the Lord, I love my family, and my country. Being well versed in our nation's history and having studied the Bible for 40 years, I intend to defend our rights and liberties to the utmost of my ability by viewing all decisions through the lens of the Bible, Declaration of Independence, and US COnstitution.
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?
None. The 2nd amendment says, "Shall Not Be Infringed." Reducing restrictions makes society safer because evildoers are less likely to commit crimes against armed citizens. Teachers / schools should also be armed.
iVoterGuide Notes:
Candidate reported to iVoterGuide that he received an AQ rating from the NRA.
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?
1) Putting power into people's hands by allowing them to remove elected/appointed officials who break the law or are incompetent (wrote a mock bill at Patriot Academy for this that fits Missouri's format). 2) Defund Planned Parenthood in Missouri. 3) Reduce / eliminate spending on government social programs that waste tax dollars and are unconstitutional.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes, it creates division among ethnicities by designating some as superior / inferior to others. All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness - this is in our Declaration of Independence (unanimously approved by the 13 colonies) and is biblical (Rom. 10:12; Gal. 3:28).
