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Candidatename: PhilipKingston Councildistrict:14Pleasecompletequestionnairebelow.YoumustsendacompletedelectroniccopytoPolitical@StonewallDemocratsOfDallas.orgormailacompletedcopytoP.O.Box192305Dallas,TX75219byMonday,March2nd.
1. YourbackgroundandtheLGBTcommunityPleaseshareanyexperiencethatillustratesyourunderstandingandinterestoftheneedsofLGBTDallasresidents.
AsthedistrictrepresentativeforthelargestnumberofLGBTcitizensinDallas,IhaveexpendedsignificanttimeandenergytolearnaboutLGBTneedsandtoadvocateeffectivelytomeetthem.Onceelectedtocouncil,IworkedwiththeLGBTTaskForcetoadvancetheLGBTresolutiontoultimateadoptionbycouncil.Iactuallydraftedkeypartsoftheresolutionincludingtheprovisionthatrequiresthecitytoplaceequalityissuesinitslegislativelobbyingagenda.Ialsoactivelycampaignedfortheinclusionofequalitylanguageinourcitycharterandwasextremelyencouragedbythehugemarginofapproval.MyworkoncouncilearnedmetheTaskForces1stAllyAward.Ourcouncilresolutionalsodirectedourboardmembersonthecitystwopensionsystemstoadvocateforequalbenefits.IsitontheDallasPoliceandFirePensionboardandhavesupportedsendingaplanamendmenttothemembershipforavote.IhavealsoworkedwithLambdaLegalandJohnRogerstoadvocateforequalbenefitsattheEmployeeRetirementFundincludingmultiplepagesoflegalanalysistotheboardofthatfund.IhavetakenonmultipleadvocacytasksinpartnershipwiththeResourceCenterwithafocusonaddinggenderidentityandexpressionlanguagetolocalnondiscriminationpoliciesliketheoneattheDallasbranchoftheFederalReserve(workinprogress).Iwasa2014FiveFactorhonoree.Onanationallevel,IserveasaboardmemberforNationalLeagueofCitiesGLBTLocalOfficialsadvocatingforinclusionofequalityissuesinNLCsfederallegislativeadvocacy.
StonewallDemocratsofDallasseektoinformmembersoftheLGBTandDemocraticPartycommunityofcandidate'spoliticalbackground.OurorganizationsbylawsrequireusonlytoconsidercandidateswithDemocraticPrimaryvoterhistoryororaffirmstheirpartyaffiliationviaanoathofallegiancetotheDemocraticParty.DoyouqualifyorwouldyoubepreparedtosignanoathofallegianceformfromtheDallasCountyDemocraticParty? Yesandyes
2. Creatinganinclusivecommunity
Citiescompeteforresidents,taxpayers,conventionsandnewbusinesses/economicdevelopment.AsamemberoftheDallasCityCouncil,howwouldyouinsurethatDallascancompeteeffectivelywithothercitiesintheareaofLGBTinclusion?
Ataminimum,Dallasmustenacttotallegalequalityincludingequalemploymentopportunityandbenefits
equality.Ourenforcementofthesestandardsmustberobustandtransparent.Butwecandomuchmore.IsupportandpromotetheworkoftheLGBTChamber.Thecityshouldalsoactivelyencourageitsvendorstomatchcitypoliciesinequalemploymentandbenefits.WealsoshoulduseourwelcomingnaturetorecruitLGBTworkersandLGBTownedcompaniestoDallas.
WouldyourecruitandconsiderqualifiedLGBTconstituentsforyourcommissionandboardappointments?
Alreadydid.MyLGBTappointeesarethebestmembersoftheirboardsandcommissions.
WillyousupporttheDallasCityCouncil'sresolutionformarriageequalityandalsoastatewidebanonLGBTemploymentdiscrimination? Ifsomeonecanfindawayformetosupportitmoreeffectively,Imopentosuggestion.
MayorRawlingshasrefusedtojointhenationwideeffortofmayorsof300citiesand32statestobecomeamemberofMayorsfortheFreedomtoMarry.ThiseffortischairedbyMayorsofBoston,NewYorkCity,HoustonandLosAngeles.WouldyouactivelylobbyandtakeactiontoencourageMayorRawlingstojointhiseffort?(Pleaseseehttp://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/mayorsforthefreedomtomarry) Ihaveandwillcontinuetodoso,butIquestionhiscommitmenttoequality.
3. TheCityofDallasasaLGBTinclusiveemployer
TheprivatesectorhasseenalargeincreaseinpoliciesandbenefitsforLGBTemployees,howshouldtheCityofDallasremaincompetitivetoattractandretaintopLGBTtalent?
Seeabove.Benefitsequalityandvendorstandardsaretwooftheeasiestthingswecoulddo.Weshouldalsoseektoreformourcityworkforcesothatthejobsweofferaremoreattractivetotoptalentregardlessofsexualorientationorgenderidentityandexpression
DoyousupportcomprehensivetransgenderinclusivehealthbenefitsandasacouncilmemberworkwiththeCityManagertoimplementsuchbenefits?
Iamproudtohaveadvocatedfortherecentexpansionoftranshealthbenefitsandwillkeepworkingforinclusionofsurgicalbenefits.
4. CurrentEvents TheGovernorandseveralstatelegislatorsintendtopushlegislationthroughtocurtailthecurrentscopeofgovernanceofhomerulecitieslikeDallas.Thiscouldremovelocalcontrolovermatterssuchasdrillingwithincitylimits,LGBTprotections,etc.Doyoufavororopposethis,andwhatdoyouplantodoinresponse? Itsapotentialcatastrophe.Asamemberofcouncilslegislativeadhoccommittee,IhaveshapedouroppositiontothesebillsandwillpersonallylobbyinAustinfortheirdefeat.WhatareyourthoughtsonthecurrentcampaignfinancerulesforDallaselectionswhichsetdonationamountlimitsonpeoplenewlyseekingofficebutessentiallyplacenodonationamountlimitsonincumbentsviaunrestrictedofficeholderaccountswhichmaybeusedforcampaignpurposes? Thatsadraftingerrorthatdoesnotreflecttheoriginalintentofthelimits.Iwillworktoclosetheloopholesothattheplayingfieldislevelforeveryone.ThecurrentloopholemakesDallassethicsruleunconstitutionalunderbothstateandfederallaw.TheproposedTrinityParkwaytollroadcontinuestomakeheadlines.DoyouseetheTrinityParkwayasanessentialroadwayprojecttoalleviateprojectedroadcongestionaroundourdowntowncore,orarethereothersolutionsthatDallasshouldbefocusedon? ThetollroadisthemostrelevantcurrentexampleofanentrenchedpowerelitesabilitytomanipulateDallascitygovernmenttothwartthewillofthePeople.Itservesnocongestionmitigationpurposeoranyotherlegitimatepublicpurpose.Ifbuilt,itwilldestroyasensitivenaturalresourceandundermineapotentiallytransformativepark.Iwillworktoendtheproject.GiventhattaxrevenuefortheCityofDallasshouldrisethisyearwithoutataxrateincrease,whatarethetopprioritiestowhichtheseadditionalfundsshouldbedirectedcitywideandwithinyourdistrict? Qualityoflifespendingisthetoppriority.Streets,parks,libraries,animalservices,povertyinitiatives,infrastructuremaintentance.
I,PhilipKingston,amseekinganendorsementfromtheStonewallDemocratsofDallasforthe2013DallasCityCouncilelections.Signed/s/PhilipKingston,Date02/20/15