Marla Fernandez
Republican | Colorado
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Marla Fernandez
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 3
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Colorado, Denver, BA, political science with an emphasis in law, 2004
University of Denver Strum College of Law, Denver, MA, Envtl and Nat'l Resource Law, 2006
Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, Certificate Paralegal Studies, 2008
Pheonix Strategies, Denver, Certificate of mediation theory and practice, 2011
Armburst Real Estate school, Denver, completed, 2011
WORK & MILITARY
n/a
AFFILIATIONS
National Hispanic Bar Association, Can't remember my role. Member, ABA
Member, Paralegal association, member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
none
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
DPS School Board, 2021
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
OTHER (3)
Dan Cox
Colorado Young Republicans
Casper Stockholm
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
see personal endorsements on website
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2017)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate completed CCLC questionnaire on Climate-Clean Energy: Click on red "here" hotlink for access to Excel file.
Marla Fernandez-Benavides completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
The exception is to save a mother's life, and in the case of rape and incest, it should be the mother's choice. But criminal offender should have two counts of homicide/murder and a charge of rape and incest
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
The majority of people do not support abortion.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Ending the Federal income tax for Coloradans. This will put 15% or more in our people's pockets.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I propose to end the Federal income tax for Coloradans. This will pit us in the Sup Ct with the federal government. Amendment 16 contradicts Art. 1, Section 2, Clause 3 of the US Constitution. If the Sup Ct invalidates Amend 16, the state can directly tax its citizens and apportion the people to pay federal UNION dues. Our founding fathers intended for the state government to make its own money to support itself. And to push back on the federal government when it gets too big.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
There is NO right to an education in the Constitution. Parents have a duty to raise and train their children. The government schools only have a right to provide a BASIC Education. Parents are the primary educators of their children. The people should NOT be burdened to provide for people to get an education. The governments role is to PROTECT every persons right to LIFE, LIBERTY OR PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
No one should impose on individuals and businesses a requirement to provide services that violate their moral or religious belief. It would violate the first amendment establishment clause.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
The government has NO right to close churches. That is a direct violation of the First Amendment.
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.
Tax-payer health care should be abolished, and the state should fund Medicaid and medicare to transition away from taxpayer-funded healthcare.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Under NO circumstance should the government promote mandatory vaccination -- This is a personal choice that people must do with their providers.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Get out of the UN and WHO, NAFTA, and NATO. The founding fathers didn't advocate for foreign alliances. They advocated for trade. We should not form alliances, and we should be completely energy (oil and gas) independent.
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.
Disagree
Defend Israel but promote liberty and a republican form of government worldwide. Need to stop meddling in other countries.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Congress should reform immigration
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Political persecution, religious freedom, etc.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
I support parents' right to choose the education provider that suits their kids.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
God governs our behavior and is at the top of the pyramid. People consent to the law and hold the government accountable. The constitution regulates the government.
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
We are all created equal in the Creator's image. Therefore we are all equal.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Strongly Agree
The government should not be licensing marriages. That is the purview of the church.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
The democrats have created systemic racism and continue to perpetually create systemic racism and tie it to the progressive agenda. Democrats should apologize for 223 years of perpetual racism and for creating laws that perpetuate racism.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a traditional catholic. I believe in God. He governs my behavior. I obey God's Law.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
We must protect one person and one vote and ensure only citizens vote.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I propose voting in your precinct. And the trained precinct election judge gets to count the ballots and submit the count.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is not a threat in the US. Communist activities are a threat to our constitutional republic.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Why should we pay for the wrongs of our ancestors? If you are discriminated against, you SUE in a court of law and get reparations for the discrimination.
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.
Stricter envtl laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
We want it for the same reasons Communist Russia, China, Venezuela, and other countries want it: self-protection, self-government, self-development, and self-realization. The green new deal and climate change agenda will put us under the thumb of Communist nations.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The purpose of government is to protect our God-given Constitutional rights, including life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
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
I am a strict constitutionalist. Politicians should not be beholden to their parties or special interest groups. Politicians should be beholden to the individuals who elect them and the Constitution.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
The Villager and the Colorado Sun are the only media interviews. You may visit my youtube channel to respond to negative media.
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 am a law-abiding hispanic citizen. I have a lot of ideas for helping our community and I am very inclusive and tolerant of people and personalities. I am patient and poised. I am self-controlled and respectful. I am literate and moral. I am afraid of God and his judgment. My purpose is to serve and represent you. I promise to be loyal to the people who elect me.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
Police officers protect us locally and should enforce laws that protect our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. They should uphold the constitution and hold elected officials accountable.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The second amendment says: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state shall not be infringed, and the rights of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. That means the state must protect the state's rights and the people's rights. I propose reforming education by redrafting the Science of Reading Standard. Currently, schools are not teaching our kids the basics necessary for their success in life.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
Victims can sue the criminals in civil court, and the state can persecute the criminals. A kid who doesn't learn to read is more likely to be a criminal, homeless, mentally ill, or dependent on the government. 32% of Colorado students read proficiently by 4th grade. This means that most students are not being served.
