Al Melvin

 

 
Melvin ran for the Arizona Senate in 2006 in the 26th Legislative District, beating incumbent Republican Senator Toni Hellon in the primary but was defeated by Democratic candidate Charlene Pesquiera in the general election. He ran for the same seat again in 2008. Pesquiera did not seek re-election and Melvin beat Democratic candidate Cheryl Cage. He was re-elected in 2010. After Arizona redistricted its legislative districts in 2012, he decided to run for the new 11th Legislative District. His Democratic opponent was Jo Holt. In April 2013, Melvin declared that he would seek the Republican nomination for governor of Arizona in 2014. He dropped out of the race in June 2014. In February 2014, Melvin was interviewed by Anderson Cooper on CNN, regarding Melvin's support for Arizona SB 1062, which had been characterized as allowing religious people to discriminate against others (particularly members of the LGBT community), if their beliefs were offended by those other people. In the same interview, he also stated that he was unaware of anyone in Arizona who practiced discrimination. In the same month, he objected to the Common Core State Standards Initiative containing algebra, which he described as "'fuzzy math,' substituting letters for numbers in some examples." In 2016, Melvin ran for a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission, but lost the Republican primary, coming in last place.
He’s Baaaack! ‘Atomic Al’ Melvin Is Running For Corporation Commission
Aug. 1, 2015
Arizona Guv Candidate Cites Hate Group In Border Security Speech
Mar. 27, 2014
Arizona Senator Al Melvin Can't Answer The Simplest Question About Gay Discrimination
Feb. 25, 2014
"Arizona State Senator Al Melvin cannot honestly answer Anderson Cooper's simple question on discrimination toward gays. He's either too stupid or cowardly to answer."
Al Melvin At His Confused Best/Worst On "Anderson Cooper"
Feb. 24, 2014
Arizona State Senator Will Protect Children From Freaky Weird Math That Includes Letters
Feb. 24, 2014

 

  02/19/2014 Authorizes Individuals to use Potential Yes
    Infringements of Religious Freedom as a  
    Claim or Defense  
       
SB-1062 - SB 1062 was an Arizona bill to amend an existing law to give any individual or legal entity an exemption from any state law if it substantially burdened their exercise of religion, including Arizona law requiring public accommodation.

Source

Headlights:
  • It would allow anyone to assert a legal claim or defense of free exercise of religion in a legal proceeding, regardless of whether the government is a party to the proceeding.
  • It would allow private individuals and corporations to assert religious beliefs in a way that could lead to discrimination against gay and lesbian, and other, Arizonans. This bill could embolden people to discriminate against anyone who doesn’t share their beliefs or religious practices.
  • If SB 1062 were enacted, employers could impose their religious beliefs on employees and businesses could refuse to serve customers despite state and local laws requiring public accommodations—like restaurants and hotels—to serve all people
Al Melvin, Tea Party candidate For governor
Feb. 17, 2014
Al Melvin, Tucson State Senator Running For Governor, Misquotes Lincoln -- Doesn't Care
Dec. 31, 2013
Center for Arizona Policy
2012 Candidate Questionnaire
Position Sought: State Senate LD-11
Question 9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates' Position: Support
Question 11: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose
Question 15: Protecting professionals from being required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.*
Candidates' Position: Support
* Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.

 

  02/28/2012 Authorizes religious objections by Yes
    professionals*  
 
SB 1365 - Vote to pass a bill that requires government protection of the expression of religious             beliefs.
Highlights:

Prohibits state government from denying or revoking an individual’s professional or occupational

 

license due to any of the following (Sec. 1):

  Declining to provide service because of an individual’s “sincerely held" religious beliefs;
  Refusing to affirm a statement that is contrary to their religious beliefs;
  Expressing religious beliefs; or
  Operating the individual’s business pursuant their religious beliefs.
*SB 1365 would allow a doctor to refuse to treat a person who was LGBTQ or allow a waitress or waiter to refuse service to a person who was LGBTQ simply by saying it was against their sincerely held religious beliefs to treat or serve a queer person.

Source

Center for Arizona Policy
2010 Survey Questions For Arizona And County Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate LD-26
Question 9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates' Position: Support
Question 12: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose
Question 15: Protecting professionals from being required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.*
Candidates' Position: Support
* Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws.
Center for Arizona Policy
2008 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate LD-26
Question 7: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates' Position: Support.
Question 8: . Adding “sexual orientation” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in antidiscrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose.
Center for Arizona Policy
2006 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates
Position Sought: State Senate LD-26
Question 7: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Candidates' Position: Support.
Question 8: . Adding “sexual orientation” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in antidiscrimination law.
Candidates' Position: Oppose.

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