Elizabeth G. Melson

Independent | Virginia

Candidate Profile

Moderate

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Elizabeth G. Melson


Party

Independent


Election Year

2023


Election

General and Fairfax County and Loudoun County School Boards


Race

State Senate, Dist. 28


Incumbent

No


Links

Elizabeth G. Melson websites Facebook

EDUCATION

Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia, Certificate in MBA Essentials, 2011

Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY, BS in Sociology and Concentration in Business Management, 2003

Prison Yoga Project, Virtual, 200 hour yoga teacher training, 2022

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

FairVote Virginia, President, Virginia Farmers Market Association

Board Member, Virginia Hemp Coalition, Advisory Board Member

Rappahannock County Board of Social Services, Board Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Candidate did not provide

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Candidate did not provide

ENDORSEMENTS

OTHER (1)

Virginia Hemp Coalition

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)

Virginia Hemp Coalition

Scored 10/10 Virginia Good Governance Scorecard

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)

ActBlue (2019)

Ronnie Ross III (2018)

Will King (2017)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Safe, legal, rare. 15 weeks and under, with exceptions for rape, abuse, incest and severe malformities or risk to mothers health or life

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.

Disagree


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

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?

This is an area where I would need to research and develop my views. The US should not violate its own citizens rights, in its attempts to eradicate terrorism.

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.

Choose not to answer


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.

B or C, but there are other free market options that could make healthcare more accessible and affordable.

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

None.


ECONOMY

What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?

Abolish automobile personal property taxes.

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

Virginia's has a surplus in revenue. We should fund our schools and give tax rebates to taxpayers.

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Neutral


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?

People who have applied through a legal process.


EDUCATION

I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.

Strongly Agree


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.

Disagree

I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.

Neutral

I believe we can fund our law enforcement AND fund mental health supports and community programs. Law enforcement officers and first responders need mental health support, also.


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

I believe current law is sufficient to protect public safety

Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.

Neutral


ABOUT YOU

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

Create laws to maintain order, defense, promote peace, and allows space for a free market that provides opportunity for prosperity.

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?

Moderate

Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).

https://fxbgadvance.substack.com/p/thursday-june-8-2023?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.

I formerly struggled with substance abuse disorders. I had a felony drug conviction. I've had my rights restored, including my firearms rights.

What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?

I want to put small businesses first in policy. Our family farmers and local food economies should not be regulated out of business. Agritourism should be supported to keep rural areas in agricultural production. We should work to keep Virginia beautiful and preserve our viewsheds. I'd love to see term limits and campaign finance reform. Legislation should be proposed based on feedback from citizens, rather than corporate dollars contributed to campaigns. Elections should be competitive, voters should have choices of people who reflect their values. Our citizens are struggling. Resources need to be put towards mental health and alternatives to wasteful incarceration for people struggling with addiction. We need residential and community -based long term substance disorder rehabilitation programming. I'd like to see Virginia fund schools and also offer choice in educating our children. I think we can do both. See more at www.melsonforvirginia.com


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Neutral

I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.

Neutral

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Disagree

Marriage is an agreement between two consenting adults.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I believe that we are all connected by something greater than ourselves. I believe in honesty, integrity, loving-kindness, the continual pursuit of knowledge, and self-actualization. I believe our purpose is to serve others and do our part to make positive change in ourselves and in society for future generations.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Disagree

What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?

Mail in ballots should be received by voting day. I would also increase competition and require candidates to win with a true majority, rather than a plurality. This could be achieved through instant run off voting or ranked choice voting.


EQUALITY

I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.

Disagree

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Yes. Discrimination and hate speech is despicable and disturbing to our peace.

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Neutral

I would need to see specific policy proposals before answering


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.

This is too complex an issue to answer in multiple choice

I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.

Disagree

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