Vicki Lopez
Republican | Florida
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Vicki Lopez
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist 113
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, BBA Accounting, 1978
WORK & MILITARY
VLL Consulting LLC, Owner, 6
Sylvester Lukis & Associates LLC, Partner, 20
AFFILIATIONS
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
Vice Chairman, Government Affairs Committee, Junior League of Miami, Sustainer Member
Women's Fund Miami-Dade, Member, Legislative and Advocacy Committee, Junior Leagues of Florida, State Public Affairs Committee
Sustainer Advisor, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Member
Women United, United Way of Miami-Dade County, Member/Donor, Governor Bush's Ex-Offender Task Force
Chairman, Leadership Florida, Member - Alumna, Class 10
Leadership Miami, Member - Alumna, Class 20
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Lee County Commissioner, 1990-1993
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Florida Family Action
Mike Essen
Joe Carollo
LIBERAL (1)
Florida Professional Firefighters
OTHER (8)
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Florida Medical Association PAC
Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
South Florida Council of Firefighters
Associated Industries of Florida
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Incoming Senate President Kathleen Passidomo
Miami City Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo
Dade County Medical Association
Florida Medical Association
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Carlos Gimenez (2020)
State Republican Party Organizations (2022)
Thomas Fabricio (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Better Florida Education (2022)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate is the preferred candidate in this race by Florida Family Action.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
In cases of rape, incest, human trafficking, and if the mother's health or life is in danger.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
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?
Did not answer
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Did not answer
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly 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
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.
Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
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
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. as long as they do so through legal channels.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
For long too long, bureaucrats and teachers unions have made the decision over the education of the student. It is time for Florida to remove these obstacles and to provide a competitive system that serves the needs of each child as determined by their parents. Education choice, which allows families to choose the best educational fit for their children, should be increased. All options should be made available including public, private, and non-traditional schooling options.
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 am a Catholic and practice my Christian faith, beliefs, and values on a daily basis. I live my life informed by my faith and call to service. I have been guided by the scripture from Luke 12:48 - To whom much is given, much will be required. I have a responsibility to share the many blessings God has bestowed upon me; not the least of which are many talents, wealth, knowledge, and time. I perceive my call to service as a mandate from God and am exceptionally proud to serve my community in a variety of ways that benefits His people.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I feel strongly that photo identification should be required to vote as it is to board a plane, open a bank account, apply for employment, rental or purchase of a home, car rental, hotel room rental and so many other activities that require proof of identification.
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?
Did not answer
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.
Stricter environmental 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
Fracking is a uniquely success story that has provided immense benefits around the nation. By safely unlocking our abundant natural resources, fracking has created millions of American jobs, reduced energy prices, brought cleaner air by significantly reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to 25-year-lows, strengthened our national security, and transformed the U.S. into a global energy superpower.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The general purpose of government is to promote personal responsibility, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values, a strong national defense, and provide people with the freedom to pursue their own goals without excessive government interference. Government should oppose any restrictions on individual rights protected in the Bill of Rights.
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).
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Twenty-five years ago, I was wrongly accused and wrongfully convicted of lying to a newspaper reporter about my relationship with a lobbyist when I was a Lee County Commissioner. I served more than 15 months of a 27-month sentence before my sentence was commuted in November 2000. Eleven years after coming home an unrelated Supreme Court ruling prompted the District Court to review my case. The Court concluded that my actions were not a crime under the law and that I was wrongfully accused and convicted for a non-Âexistent crime. Accordingly, my conviction was vacated. In the end, although it took many years, justice did finally prevail.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I am running for office because I want to continue to make a difference in my community. As a government affairs and community relations consultant, I have been advocating for many important issues over the last 25 years. I am focused on making systemic reforms in education, criminal justice, environment, economic development, workforce housing, property insurance and health and human services. I have also been an advocate for the business community and understand deeply the issues impacting businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses. As a result of serving on the board of directors of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce I also understand issues related to international trade, resilience, workforce housing, education and workforce development, transportation, financial services, real estate, non-profits, technology, military affairs, and other issues impacting the business community. I believe that I am the most qualified candidate for House District 113 given my years of experience lobbying at the local, state, and federal governments for issues that impact Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida as a whole. My legislative priorities include universal school choice, workforce housing, economic development, workforce development and education, health care and criminal justice.
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
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
I support increased funding for police departments, which would include an increase in mental health training as well as behavioral health services for police and their families.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. I support programs that protect children and other innocent victims of violent crimes that do not infringe upon the rights of the law-abiding citizens to own firearms. I support prioritizing school safety, investing in mental health services, increasing funding and support for law enforcement, and taking a firm position on gun crime. I remain committed to working toward real and effective solutions to stop violence in our communities when elected to the Florida House.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
Firearms dealers and manufacturers should not be held liable for the criminal acts of gun owners. Anyone who commits an act of gun violence should be held accountable and prosecuted for their crimes.
