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Candidate name: Council district: 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.
MARCOS I have life-long personal, professional, and social
relationships of members of the LGBT community.
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 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? MARCOS - I am
lifelong Democrat and helped on national campaigns for numerous
candidates including the last 5 presidential candidates, DCCC,
DSCC, Gubernatorial, and Mayoral candidates. I co-hosted
fundraisers for President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson,
Harry Reid, and Xavier Becerra.
2. Creating an inclusive community Cities compete for residents,
taxpayers, 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?
MARCOS Non-discrimination laws (including Transgender issues)
Relationship recognition Municipal employment policies,
non-discrimination requirements for contractors Inclusiveness of
city services Law enforcement Municipal leadership on matters of
equality
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Would you recruit and consider qualified LGBT constituents for
your commission and board appointments?
MARCOS - Yes, my appointments will be inclusive of all
communities of Dallas.
Will you support the Dallas City Council's resolution for
marriage equality and also a statewide ban on LGBT employment
discrimination?
MARCOS - Yes.
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)
MARCOS As a Mayor, I will join national efforts to support and
empower the rights of the LGBT community in Dallas and use the
Mayors influence to expand beyond our city.
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?
MARCOS Foster and create and environment that is inclusive of
all communities and treat everyone with respect and dignity.
Do you support comprehensive transgender inclusive health
benefits and as a council member work with the City Manager to
implement such benefits?
MARCOS All employees should have access to health care for their
immediate and long-term health and medical needs.
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?
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MARCOS I am a strong proponent of local control on virtually all
matters that involve local governance. The state should not dictate
to the City of Dallas how we handle issues such as fracking or LGBT
issues and concerns.
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?
MARCOS As you may know, I discovered this loophole in the city
campaign finance rules and immediately called on the Mayor to
return his loophole donations, which he refused. I think we need
extensive ethics reforms at City Hall, including getting rid of
office holder accounts
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?
MARCOS The current Trinity River Toll Road plan is nothing close
to what was approved by voter in 1998 and 2007. We approved a park
and a series of small lakes. Now the Mayor is pushing for a
massive, loud and expensive multilane toll road down the middle of
our Trinity parkland. One of my main goals as Mayor will be to end
this boondoggle.
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?
MARCOS Improving basic city services to strengthen our
neighborhoods with better roads, sidewalks, parks, walking trails
and libraries. And, find ways to recruit economic development to
Southern Dallas.
I, Marcos G. Ronquillo, am seeking an endorsement from the
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas for the 2015 Dallas City Council
elections.
Signed Date 3/02/15
