Mark B. Vafiades
Republican | Virginia
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mark B. Vafiades
Party
Republican
Election Year
2023
Election
General and Fairfax County and Loudoun County School Boards
Race
State Senate, Dist. 35
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, BBA
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
OTHER (1)
Virginia Professional Fire Fighters
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
VA Attorney General Jason Miyares, VA Police Benevolent Association
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
John T. Stirrup (2023)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2023)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Rape, Incest, to save the life 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.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I would favor a flat tax. Overall tax code reform and simplification is needed.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Much more than can be explained here. Gov't should only be doing that which the people cannot do on their own. We need to reduce entitlements (Not including Social Security and Medicare), revisit all foreign aid, legislator's pet projects, etc.
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?
The 1st Amendment protects churches from the gov't tyranny and closing down churches based on the political whims of elected leaders.
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.
Medicare should be protected for those who have paid into it for years while working. Medicaid should be greatly reduced and only available to those who truly have a need, in most cases those who are unable to care for themselves. 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?
Islamic terrorism is indeed a threat to our freedom and way of life. We need to deal with this threat. The plan to do so is much too complicated to answer here.
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.
Strongly Agree
We need to complete the Border Wall as a start.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those who can positively contribute to the USA and have a desire to integrate into our society. People who enter the USA should be prohibited from utilizing any Government assistance programs (Welfare, Medicaid, etc) for at least 10 years. Total annual immigration should be limited in numbers.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
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.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Christian, Greek Orthodox.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Voter ID, Absentee ballots only when requested and with reason. Shorten or eliminate early voting.
EQUALITY
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, it is a manufactured problem of the left.
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 "All of the Above" energy policy. "Carbon" (CO2) is not a pollutant and we must not allow the "Climate Change" hoax to destroy our economy and way of life.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Basically, to do that which the people cannot do for themselves. Example: National Security, Public Safety.
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?
Very Conservative
I am a Constitutional Conservative.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I can make available links to interviews I have done on TV/Radio going back to 2004.
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 been a longtime activist and advocate for citizens and families. I have worked in the private sector, the Federal and State government, owned a small business and is a retired reserve Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy, who worked in patrol for 20 years. Virginia families have been experiencing the highest rate of inflation and tax increases in almost 40 years! Education and crime are also in bad shape! Much of this has been caused or exacerbated by the radical Democrat legislators in Richmond. Although the House of Delegates is now in more trustworthy hands, we need to turn over seats in the State Senate in order to straighten out this mess. That's why I have decided to run. I have a broad and eclectic background which puts me at great advantage when understanding and discussing how a leftist radical agenda negatively affects the economy and therefore the citizens and families of Virginia.
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
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Law abiding citizens should not have their 2nd Amendment rights diminished because of those who commit crimes. We need to enforce existing laws that punish criminals who use guns when committing crimes.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
