Candidate name: Jesse Diaz

district: 5

Council

Please complete questionnaire below.

You must send a completed electronic copy to Political@StonewallDemocratsOfDallas.org 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_________________________