

Melissa Garff Ballard
Republican | Utah
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Melissa Garff Ballard
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 20
Incumbent
Yes
EDUCATION
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Masters of Music, 1994
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Bachelor of Music, 1992
WORK & MILITARY
Business Owner- Private Piano Instruction, Owner, 25
AFFILIATIONS
University of Utah School of Music Advisory Board, Founding Chair, SLCAP Head Start Advisory Board
Co-Founder, Chair, Utah Marriage Commission, Chair
National Conference of State Legislatures- Women's Legislative Network, Chair-Elect, Natural History Museum of Utah
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Utah House Of Representatives, 4
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Todd Weiler
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Mitt Romney (2008)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
rape, incest, health of the mother,
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Did not answer
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
I am pro-business and don't believe that it's government's role to mandate businesses nor prohibit businesses from requiring vaccinations. Utah public schools have always required vaccinations but allow individual exceptions.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Our federal government should be required to have a balanced budget.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
ask every government entity to reduce 2% of their spending every year until the budget is balanced.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Any law abiding person should be allowed to immigrate to the USA through the proper application process and established channels. I believe that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary to secure our borders.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Did not answer
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I support the Second Amendment. All law abiding citizens should be allowed to protect themselves.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The general purpose of government is to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://utahpolicy.com/archive/26502-rep-ballard-realizing-utah-s-clean-energy-potential
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I have consistently voted against raising taxes and government overreach. I am a strong advocate for properly funding quality education. I have fought to have government be more fiscally responsible and efficient by requiring them to report on the funds they receive and the efficacy of the programs they administer. I am an advocate for conservative family values.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I have strong faith in God,
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Did not answer
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I believe that "race baiting" could become a domestic security issue if CRT is allowed to permeate our schools. Men need to be judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
I support hydraulic fracking if proper safety and environmental measures are in place.
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