STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York

PO Box 857, Buffalo, NY 14205 Website: w-ww.stonewalldemocratswny.com

2007 ENDORSEMENT qUESTIONNAIRE — CITY OF BUFFALO OFFICES

Name: LC J -

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Campaign Address: // (s 14 Pje r " 2'

Daytime Phone: C) ? "' / Evening Phone: 47q "' 0 7

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Fax Number: (7] 'v ( E-mail: 1l k e , k U r r /^ C ^0`r

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Before you continue, please understand that:

• Stonewall Democrats of WNY may publicize your responses in press releases and voters' guides, on our web
site, and via other channels of communication. Stonewall Democrats of WNY will also identify candidates
who fail to respond to this questionnaire.
• Stonewall Democrats will hold you publicly accountable for actions inconsistent with your responses during
your campaign and if elected during your term in office.
• Stonewall Democrats will not endorse any candidate that does not express opposition to the Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA). This act could also void civil unions, domestic partnerships, and similar legal
arrangements.
• Please note that completion and submission of the completed questionnaire prior to your inte rv iew day is a
prerequisite for being considered for endorsement.

Please submit your typewritten responses to the following questions on a separate sheet.

1) Why are you seeking this office?

2) Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of WNY?
3) What three issues do you consider to be most important to the people served by the office you seek? For each
issue:

a) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken--either as a public official or as a
private citizen--to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and
b) Specify what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office you
seek.
4) What three civil rights issues do you perceive to be the most important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender (GLBT) community? For each issue:
a) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken--either as a public official or as a
private citizen--to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and
b) Specify what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office you
seek.
5) Stonewall Democrats of WNY strongly believes that candidates have a responsibility to provide voters with
truthful, fair and clean campaigns for public office and to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to a
civil, issue-oriented debate with their fellow candidates. Will you sign a written pledge to conduct your
campaign accordingly?
6) If endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you list the endorsement on all applicable campaign
literature (i.e., all literature listing any other endorsements)?
7) if endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you attend a GLBT community forum to introduce
endorsed candidates?
Although the office you seek has no direct authority in non-city legislative matters, if elected you will have the ability to
indirectly influence the region's local, state and federal elected officials. Please indicate your support or opposition for:

SUPPORT OPPOSE
Legislation/Issue
A.6584/S.3753 - GENDA (Duane/Gottfried): Prohibits discrimination
based on gender identity or expression; defines "gender identity or
expression" as having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self
i mage, appearance, behavior or expression whether or not that gender
identity, self image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from
that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth;
further includes offenses regarding gender identity or expression within
the list of offenses subject to treatment as hate crimes.
A 1613 - SAFETY Act (Scarborough): Authorizes the office of children
and family services to establish policies and procedures affording all
children in OCFS facilities an environment free of harassment and
discrimination based on actual or perceived race, national origin, ethnic
group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex; requires
reporting harassment and discrimination.
A8590/S5884- Marria e Equality Bill (Duane/ODonnell): The domestic
relations law is amended by adding a new section to read as follows: A
marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of whether the
parties to the marriage are of the same or different sex.
y
S 18351- Equal access to Famil Courts for domestic partners
(Duane): Provides that orders of protection may be entered against any
member of the same family or household; expands the definition of
" members of the same family or household", for purposes of issuance of
orders of protection and temporary orders of protection and the
concurrent jurisdiction of family courts and criminal courts, to former
spouse whether or not living together and unrelated persons who
continually or at regular intervals reside in the same household or have
done so in the past, and persons who are or have been in a dating or
intimate relationship whether or not they have ever lived together.
y
A.3496/S.1571 - Dignit For All Students Act: Enacts the "Dignity For
All Students Act"; authorizes the commissioner of education to establish
policies and procedures affording all students in public schools an
environment free of harassment and discrimination based on actual or
1/
perceived race, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual
orientation, gender or sex; requires reporting harassment and
discrimination to such commission; makes exemptions.
S 2800/A 4978-New York State Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
(Maltese/Seminerio): Makes a marriage absolutely void if contracted by
t wo persons of the same sex.
A5845 - Workers Compensation benefits for domestic partners (John): l _.
Includes domestic partners in certain provisions concerning disability rX\
benefits and defines the term domestic parther.
A 2196 - Bereavement Leave for domestic partners (Glick): Provides that
bereavement leave be granted to individuals involved in same-sex
relationships on the same basis as those granted to employees who are
married.
A3869/S2800 - Domestic Partnership (Glick): To provide legal status for
domestic partnerships and to extend provisions of laws that currently
r- ,r naxt -nf-kin to domestic nartners.

Stonewall Democrats WNY— City Council/Comptroller 2007 Questionnaire, page 2

Ifyou are running for a legislative office, please indicate whether you would sponsor, co-sponsor, vote for and/or vote
against the following proposed city legislation. Ifyou are running for a non - legislative office, please indicate whether you
would vote for or vote against the following proposed city legislation:

SPONSOR CO-SPONSOR VOTE VOTE

CITY LEGISLATION
FOR AGAINST
City Famil y Leave for Domestic Partners: To provide
that family leave be granted to individuals involved in
same-sex relationships on the same basis as those
granted to employees who are married under the federal
Family Leave Act.
City Domestic Partnership Legislation: To provide
legal status for domestic partnerships and to extend
provisions of laws that currently apply to spouses or
next-of-kin to domestic partners.
City Bereavement Leave for domesticpartners:
Provide that bereavement leave be granted to
individuals involved in same-sex relationships on the

7
same basis as those granted to employees who are
married.

Date:
-,
I attest that this questionnaire represents

Candidate's Signature:
t `7
opin' n of t e issues on this questionnaire:

Please complete the attached issues surveys, sign below and return the questionnaire, surveys and your
resume by July 16, 2007 to:

Stonewall Democrats of WNY Or fax to: (716)462-5052

PO Box 857
Buffalo, NY 14205-0857

QUESTIONS? For questions about the submitting the questionnaire and securing an interview time, call David
Granville (716)440-0423, Jeffrey Tooke (716)912-8557 or Michael James (716)432-0691.

Stonewall Democrats WNY— City Council/Comptroller 2007 Questionnaire, page 3

 Endorsement Questionnaire for the Stonewall Democrats of WNY

1) Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for reelection to continue my work on the Buffalo Common Council, a position
that gives me the ability to serve as a strong progressive voice in the legislative process. My
seat allows me to pursue the passage of legislation that protects working-class, middle-class
and poor families. I have been an unwavering supporter of the living wage, including its
COLA provisions. I have also sponsored legislation supporting Fair Share Health Care, IDA
reform, and voted for the City's first fair housing ordinance.

2) Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of WNY?
I strongly believe in the virtues extolled by the Stonewall Democrats—equality, tolerance,
respect, integrity and openness. These are qualities, I think, should be embedded in our
government and society, as well as virtues that we personally strive to achieve. In addition to
championing issues important to the GLBT community, I seek to fight with the Stonewall
Democrats on behalf of all citizens regardless of their belief structure simply because it is the
right thing to do.

3) What three issues do you consider to be most important to the people served by the office you seek?
For each issue:
a) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken--either as a public official or as a
private citizen--to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and
b) Specify what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office
you seek.
Living Wage-In my first year in office I have been a tireless advocate for the Living Wage.
Implementation and enforcement of Living Wage provisions are ways to lift workers out of
poverty and grow the economy of the city.

Economic Development – Small business development, rather than large scale tax break-
driven development, is the key to successful economic development. As a Councilmember, I
have funded the Delaware District Sign and Storefront Improvement program – a matching
grant program for small businesses.

Quality of Life – I have developed a good working relationship with the city's housing
inspectors and housing court liaisons to address quality of life concerns in Buffalo
neighborhoods.

4) What three civil rights issues do you perceive to be the most important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender (GLBT) community? For each issue:
a) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken--either as a public official or as a
private citizen--to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and
b) Specify what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office
you seek.
I voted for the City's first Fair Housing Ordinance, which protects the rights of the GLBT
community. The ordinance prohibits the refusal to sell or rent property because of race, creed,