Campaign Website:
MadisonDownsforCongress.com

Campaign POC: Executive Campaign Chair – Doris Dey

Phone Number: 202-615-8329

Campaign Email: Madison.Downs76@gmail.com

Vetting Panel Selected: Pending

Structured Interview Completed: Pending

Biography: John Harrison Madison Downs was born in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC. He is the son of John Downs, a Marine Corp Veteran and a former Washington DC police officer and Doris Byrd, a native of the Hampton and Newport News areas. Madison’s family moved back to the Hampton Roads area when he was in middle school. He attended various schools in the Hampton Roads area, including Dozier Middle School, Hampton High School, Denbigh High School, Kellam High School, Salem High School, and Ferguson High School. Madison joined the Marine Corps in 1994 through the DEP Program at the age of 17. On September 8, 1995, Madison graduated from Parris Island as the HONOR GRADUATE, and was then stationed in North Carolina for Marine Combat and MOS Training. Upon graduation, Madison was stationed at Camp Pendleton, where he fell in love and married his wife Crystal. Madison and Crystal have been happily married for the last 24 years.

Madison was injured while in the Marine Corps, and received a medical discharge. After Madison successfully underwent rehabilitation, he began to seek another dream – to play football. Madison played college football, and was then invited to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003. In order to concentrate on the health of his family, Madison chose to cut his football aspirations short and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carson-Newman College majoring in Psychology, then accepted his calling into the ministry. Madison attended the Institute for Scriptural Research (yeshiva), then Howard University School of Divinity (seminary), receiving his Masters Degrees in Divinity.

Madison took a direct commission into the US Army in 2007, becoming the 1st Hebrew Chaplain in the history of the US Military. He completed US Army Chaplaincy School (Fort Jackson, SC) in the summer of that same year. Madison was a chaplain officer from 2007 until 2014, serving as Battalion chaplain for the 12 Aviation and CIDPSB, then as Brigade Chaplain for the 165 Quartermaster Group at Fort Belvoir, VA. Madison was honorably discharged from the US Army in 2014.

Since 2014, Madison has spent many years in the education field, with concentrations in mathematics special education and as a Professor of Theology. He prides himself on his dedication to the overall development of his students, being patient and always eager to go above and beyond to ensure his students are successful in all they aspire to be. Madison founded “Madison Downs Chaplaincy and Consulting,” an organization that provides direct spiritual and counseling care to children and families. Madison is dedicated to serving his community by showing families ways to heal through spiritual and therapeutic techniques and approaches.

 

Why you? The people of the 3rd District will not find a more well rounded, experienced person dedicated to fighting and championing the causes and plights that they face. The people of the 3rd District need someone who can navigate the political and legal arenas that they are not experienced in and Madison Downs has the expertise, the desire and the drive to see the people of the 3rd District succeed and thrive and the willpower to tap into the resources that can make those things happen.

What are your priorities? Madison’s 1st priority is to protect and defend the US and Virginia Constitutions, as they are the contracts that outline and inform the people of our rights. The Constitution and the rights provided by it are constantly under attack from would-be oligarchical personalities and bad actors, including BIG CORP, BIG BANK, and now BIG TECH. Entities such as these want to silence American citizens by censorship freedom of speech (i.e. social media and school board meetings) and freedom of assembly. Faith-based organizations and churches have been under attack across our country and Madison is committed to ensuring people can freely practice their faith without being bullied by secular interest groups. No code or statute should ever be put in place that violates the rights that are guaranteed by the US Constitution, including the right to bear arms and the right to peaceably assemble. There are ways to ensure safety, while not infringing on individual liberty. Madison’s first objective is to not only the 1st & 2nd Amendments, but the Constitution as a whole.

As a member of the faith community, Madison is a pro-life candidate. Madison also believes in the rule of law and protecting those who enforce those laws. Spending time as a Corrections Officer as well as coming from a family of veterans and members of the law enforcement community, Madison believes in supporting our law enforcement officers and giving them the tools they need to be safe and get home safely each day and night. LEOs and Military members will find no greater advocate and friend than they will in Madison Downs.

Education: Madison was one of the first to begin to fight for school choice and vocational education for students and parents in the Commonwealth. He will fight to ensure that federal funding is afforded to families who choose charter schools for their children. Madison will not, however, turn his back on the public school system. Madison is committed to ensuring public education can provide n excellent education to all families who choose it. School choice and public education can coexist and provide each child with an education that we all can be proud of.

Health Care: The American people deserve a health system that is not driven by special interests and bureaucracy. When prescription drugs are not allowed to be a part of the competitive market, the American people suffer. Price gouging, double talk, and our broken healthcare system does no one any favors. Competition and the free market keep prices down and our health care system should be no exception. Madison is committed to cutting the red tape at a federal level while making our healthcare system more equitable for all AMERICANS!

For more information please see my webpage at MadsionDownsforCongress.com

Endorsements:
Veterans for America First Coalition
Red Eagle
AmIsraelCHai

Education: 
Juris Doctorate, California School of Law – Present (Part-time)
2011 Masters of Divinity, Howard University
2009 Studied MAT Special Education, Liberty University
2007 US Army Chaplain Center and School (USACHCS)
2006 Institute for Scriptural Research (Yeshiva)
2005 BA/Psychology, Carson-Newman College
2001 AA/Social and Behavior Sciences, Mt. San Jacinto College
2001 AA/Physical Education, Mt. San Jacinto College
1996 LSSS, Legal Services Specialist School – USMC
1995 School of Infantry (SOI) – USMC

Relevant Employment History: See answer below.

Military Experience / Branch / Years of Service / Rank / Type of Discharge:
USMC (4421) and US Army (56A) / 1994 – 2014 / 0-3E / Hon Discharge

Brigade Chaplain: 165th Quartermaster Group, Ft. Belvoir, VA; U.S. Army

As a Chaplain Officer, I lead a Unit Ministry Team (UMT), which consists of a trained Chaplain Assistant and me. Since a Chaplain is a non-combatant, I did not carry a weapon at any time. My Chaplain Assistant provided security for the UMT. They’re fully trained on the conduct of worship services, as well as Soldier-specific tasks.

– Criminal Investigation Protective Services Battalion Chaplain:
Counseled Criminal Investigation Special Agents/ primary mission: Sec of Defense & Sec of Army

– 12th Aviation Battalion Chaplain
Primary mission: Counseled aviators who transported KIAs, Dover Run

– Ft Belvoir Community Hospital Chaplain Crisis Management Counseling
USMC, MOS 4421, Legal Services Specialist

~The Legal Services Specialist MOS encompasses every facet of legal administration with the exception of courts-martial reporting. General duties involve the legal operational, managerial, clerical, and administrative duties incident to an LSSS, law center, or office of the staff judge advocate. Typical duties include research, preparation and typing of general correspondence, forms, reports, wills, powers of attorney, and other documents dealing with legal and quasi-legal matters; checking all completed work for typographical accuracy; maintaining office correspondence files, directives, and publications; if senior in grade, will act as the legal services chief and senior enlisted advisor directly responsible to the OIC/SJA for the overall assignment. performance, training, counseling, morale, discipline and welfare of all enlisted personnel. The legal services chief is the active liaison between the command dealing with enlisted policy and duty assignments and advisor to the judge advocates with regard to enlisted instruction and supervision.

Selected Marines may attend follow-on training at the Legal Services Scopists Course. Legal services scopists are responsible to assist legal services reporters in the preparation and assembly of typewritten, summarized or verbatim transcripts.

Past Offices Held and Tenure: None

Community Service:
– Special Education/Math teacher
– AVID Instructor
– 6th Grade Team Lead
– Football Coach

Madison Downs Chaplaincy & Consulting/ MDC&C.org

In support of the Mission of Chaplaincy Services, Madison Downs Chaplaincy & Consulting, provides opportunities to develop and integrate the art and skills of spiritual care. We pride ourselves on providing direct spiritual and counselling care in the community, in a setting that is most beneficial to those who seek our service. We recognize that each client is an individual and one treatment approach does not fit everyone. We provide an integrated spiritual treatment approach for individuals in both our intensive in-home and mental health support programs. This approach focuses on the specific treatment needs of each individual person, utilizing their unique strengths and resources, while incorporating evidence based treatment interventions. Pastoral counselling is a unique form of counselling which uses spiritual resources as well as psychological understanding for healing and growth. Certified pastoral counsellors are mental health professionals who have also had in-depth religious and/or theological education or training. Clinical Services are non-sectarian and respect the spiritual commitments, theological perspectives and religious traditions of those who seek assistance without imposing counsellor beliefs onto the client.

Adjunct Professor – Theology
In-Home Counselor

Leadership Experience:
Military Officer
Brigade Chaplain
Founder Madison Downs Chaplaincy and Consulting
Union Rep
Teacher Team Lead
Dean of Behaviors
Operations Manager

Personal Strengths: Natural Leader, a spirit of patience and compassion, excellent listener with an ability to understand different perspectives and advocate for all voices on all levels, a sense of humor and the ability to find relatable perspectives in almost any situation.

What is the most important thing Virginians need to know about you? The most important thing that Virginians need to know is that they will not find a stronger, more persistent, well-rounded leader than Madison Downs. Madison Downs is someone who will fight for and champion their causes, empathize with their plights, and eliminate roadblocks in the way of their ability to succeed and thrive. No one will fight harder…AND WIN!!

How would your friends and family describe you? 
– God fearing
– A Dedicated family man
– A Good Husband
– A Good Father
– A Leader
– A Son
– A Big Brother
– A Big Teddy Bear
– Always there for them and Always Faithful
 

What are your thoughts on the Constitution as the Law of the Land? Self-explanatory. It is the supreme law of the land, and it must be protected and defended at all costs.

    

What are your thoughts on religious liberty? Guaranteed by the Constitution and a function of an individual’s commitment to their faith in their chosen higher power.

    

What are your thoughts on the preservation of our history? Education and knowledge is power. History gives us the ability to look back at what we did right, but also acknowledge and learn from what we’ve done wrong. History should be preserved and taught to all Americans so that we can learn about those who came before us and be well-rounded in the lessons their existence teaches us about who they were and how what they did influences the present and affects the future.

   

What are your thought on government transparency?  Where there are certain elements of government that require a certain level of concealment (such as national defense), the government has an obligation to be transparent on all things that don’t pose a threat to national security.

   

What are your thoughts on national defense? The United States Military and our national defense should supported, maintained and kept at the highest states of readiness while being wise in expenditures and void of needless bureaucratic red tape that drives up costs for taxpayers.

   

What are your thoughts on the free enterprise system? Free enterprise is the backbone of the American experiment and the foundation of what our country was built on.

   

What are your thoughts on the protection of the unborn? As a member of the faith community, Madison is a pro-life candidate.

   

What are your thoughts on the role the family plays in America? Healthy families are the backbone and life source of America.

   

What are your thoughts on equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity, as opposed to equal outcomes? Equity and equality are not the same things and debating the two will create different answers from the same two people at different times of the day. A very interesting question!

   

What are your thoughts on the 2nd Amendment? As a gun owner, the 2nd Amendment is a key pillar granted by the Constitution and protected by the same.

   

Additional sources of information on this candidate:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MadisonDownsforCongress
Instagram: www.instagram.com/MadisonDownsforCongress
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MDowns4Congress