Candidate name: Jesse Diaz
Council district: 5 Please complete questionnaire below.
You must send a completed electronic copy to
[email protected] or mail a completed copy
to P.O. Box 192305 Dallas, TX 75219 by Monday, March 2nd.1. Your
background and the LGBT community Please share any experience that
illustrates your understanding and interest of the needs of LGBT
Dallas residents.
For many years I have been a champion for underrepresented
communities in Dallas and especially in Pleasant Grove. For the
last 30 years, I have led by example: founding two minority-owned
businesses and organizations; fought for immigrants civil rights;
promoted community involvement through grassroots organizing,
registered minorities to vote and mobilized underrepresented voices
for progressive causes. As a minority candidate, I will be an
advocate for those voices that arent represented at the table.
Thats why I have received the support and endorsement of many LGBT
leaders. I was particularly proud to receive the endorsement of
Stonewall Democrats member and Pleasant Grove activist Jesse
Tafalla.Stonewall Democrats of Dallas seek to inform members of the
LGBT and Democratic Party community of candidate's political
background. Our organizations by-laws require us only to consider
candidates with Democratic Primary voter history or or affirms
their party affiliation via an oath of allegiance to the Democratic
Party. Do you qualify or would you be prepared to sign an oath of
allegiance form from the Dallas County Democratic Party? In regards
to my partisan background, I am a proud Progressive Democrat and an
active member of the Democratic Party. Currently, I serve as
Precinct Chair in Precinct 1103. Additionally, I have belonged to
many Democratic organizations, including Mexican-American Democrats
and volunteering in several democratic campaigns like Sen. Royce
West, Dallas County Commissioner Teresa Daniels, City Council
Members Dwayne Carraway, Delia Jasso, Larry Duncan and others.2.
Creating an inclusive community Cities compete for residents, tax
payers, conventions and new businesses/economic development. As a
member of the Dallas City Council, how would you insure that Dallas
can compete effectively with other cities in the area of LGBT
inclusion?
The city of Dallas needs to be a progressive city, in regards to
all its residents. As a City Council member, I will advocate for
diversity, continue fighting against discrimination based on race,
gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc, and be an avid advocate
for anti-bullying measures and xenophobic practices. Would you
recruit and consider qualified LGBT constituents for your
commission and board appointments?
Yes, I would recruit and consider qualified LGBT constituents
for my commission and board appointments.Will you support the
Dallas City Council's resolution for marriage equality and also a
statewide ban on LGBT employment discrimination? Unlike my
opponent, Rick Callahan, who voted against attending marriage
benefits to LGBT employees, I would support both initiatives.Mayor
Rawlings has refused to join the nationwide effort of mayors of 300
cities and 32 states to become a member of Mayors for the Freedom
to Marry. This effort is chaired by Mayors of Boston, New York
City, Houston and Los Angeles. Would you actively lobby and take
action to encourage Mayor Rawlings to join this effort? (Please see
http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/mayors-for-the-freedom-to-marry)
Yes, I will actively lobby and take action working with other
Council members to encourage the Mayor of Dallas to join the Mayors
for the Freedom to Marry effort. 3. The City of Dallas as a LGBT
inclusive employer The private sector has seen a large increase in
policies and benefits for LGBT employees, how should the City of
Dallas remain competitive to attract and retain top LGBT
talent?
Dallas should ensure that there are policies in place that
promote excellent and competitive benefits to LGBT employees, to
ensure that we attract and retain top talent.
Do you support comprehensive transgender inclusive health
benefits and as a council member work with the City Manager to
implement such benefits?Yes I do.4. Current Events
The Governor and several state legislators intend to push
legislation through to curtail the current scope of governance of
home rule cities like Dallas. This could remove local control over
matters such as drilling within city limits, LGBT protections, etc.
Do you favor or oppose this, and what do you plan to do in
response?I am opposed to this, and as City Councilman I would work
with other City Council Members to oppose this legislation and look
for more viable and fair alternatives that do not adversely impact
underrepresented communities.What are your thoughts on the current
campaign finance rules for Dallas elections which set donation
amount limits on people newly seeking office but essentially place
no donation amount limits on incumbents via unrestricted
officeholder accounts which may be used for campaign purposes?I
believe that it is unfair and that the same rules should apply to
all candidates, not one set of rules for one group and another set
of rules for another group. It is worth noting that my opponent
voted against this law, and even though we have many differences I
applaud him for doing so.The proposed Trinity Parkway toll road
continues to make headlines. Do you see the Trinity Parkway as an
essential roadway project to alleviate projected road congestion
around our downtown core, or are there other solutions that Dallas
should be focused on?Dallas should focus on investing in improved
public transportation that will provide working people, students,
the elderly, and everyone with better commuting options, alleviate
our highways and help the environment instead of further taxing
individuals who have no choice but to drive their cars.
Furthermore, this is a $1.8 billion project in a city with a
budget that has a budget that barely exceeds $2 billion. This will
force for current elected officials to kick the can to the next
generation when it comes to debt. I would rather invest those
resources in providing the city of Dallas with better basic
services like trash collection, better roads, and a better public
transportation system.
Given that tax revenue for the City of Dallas should rise this
year without a tax rate increase, what are the top priorities to
which these additional funds should be directed citywide and within
your district?We need to invest in making Dallas a more welcoming
and diverse city, attracting good jobs, socially responsible
companies, treating all of our citizens fairly and providing better
educational opportunities.I, ___JESSE
DIAZ____________________________, am seeking an endorsement from
the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas for the 2015 Dallas City Council
elections. Signed_______JESSE DIAZ______________________ Date_
03/02/15_________________________
