Candidate Name: Council District:

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 6th, 2017.

1. Your background and the LGBTQ community

Please share any experience that illustrates your understanding and interest of the needs of LGBTQ Dallas
residents.

I have one very personal experience that has definitely taught me a lot with the LGBTQ community. It is about one
of my best friends, Drew. I grew up with him and he was somewhat shy and reserved and not always very happy.
After high school and college, he moved up to NJ for an internship and I was living in Harlem. He would come and
stay the weekends with my wife and I to be in the city and I watched this confidence come out in him as he came
out to the world. It took him removing himself from the close-minded area of conservative Texas, to the mecca of
be yourself for him to really be comfortable with who he was. I have always been supportive of anyone being
themselves and also an advocate for human rights over anything else. Although I already supported the community
prior to him coming out, his experience put a personal perspective on it that I cannot explain. I want everyone I
love to be happy and be themselves, and I want everyone I love to experience love like I have found. That comes in
many different forms because love is LOVE.

Stonewall Democrats of Dallas seek to inform members of the LGBTQ 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, in the case of someone having some history of voting in Republican
Primaries, 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?

Although this election is non-partisan, I have previously voted as a Democrat.

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
LGBTQ inclusion?

The City of Dallas has made significant advancements in the rights of LGBTQ people through resolutions and
formal statements of Council Members on a variety of equality issues. In fact, Human Rights Campaign notes in
their annual studies of LGBTQ inclusion that Dallas is one of the leading cities in Texas with regard to protections
and services offered to the community. In a state that lags behind other populous states in inclusiveness, it's
impressive that Dallas does so much; it keeps the city competing for the best and brightest employers and
employees. I would work with the council to continue supporting and funding existing efforts while seeking out
leaders in the LGBTQ community in Dallas to keep moving forward - transgender health benefits, for example.
Would you recruit and consider qualified LGBTQ constituents for your commission and board appointments?

There is a strong presence of LGBTQ residents in Dallas, and I believe that government on any level should be
representative to the constituents to which it is serving. This would include commissions and boards where I would
have the opportunity to nominate such appointments. In fact, my first appointment for this campaign was hiring
my campaign manager, who identifies as gay.

Will you support a Dallas City Council's resolution for a statewide ban on LGBTQ employment discrimination?

I would indeed. Such discriminatory policies are not only archaic, disrespectful and damaging at face value, they
hinder our efforts to recruit the best and brightest in all fields of employment and workforce development.
3. The City of Dallas as a LGBTQ inclusive employer

The private sector has seen a large increase in policies and benefits for LGBTQ employees, how should the City of
Dallas remain competitive to attract and retain top LGBTQ talent?

I believe fostering positive working relationships with all communities makes us more competitive and a
destination city for corporate relocation, conferences and entertainment, and recruiting top talent for employment.
Partnering on initiatives with the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce, Resource Center, AIN, and the
numerous LGBTQ organizations and non-profits we have in Dallas will strengthen our ability to retain not only
LGBTQ talents, but also their allies.

Do you support comprehensive transgender inclusive health benefits and as a council member work with the City
Manager to implement such benefits?

Yes. While we have made many advancements in LGBTQ rights including health and medical benefits I feel
that the issues of our transgender community have not been given the full attention that they deserve. There is an
epidemic in this country of violence toward our transgender brothers and sisters, and we need to have serious,
candid conversations about the best ways to both overcome the violence and contempt, and move toward full
equality.

4. Current Events
The Governor and many state legislators continue to push legislation to curtail the current scope of
governance for 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 unapologetically oppose legislation that would inhibit cities from governing themselves. Mayor Rawlings made an
apt observation in a 2015 interview that Gov. Abbott abhors such regulation at the federal level for states but
favors it from the state over municipalities. This is the definition of hypocrisy. It is imperative that Dallas leads the
way on social and political issues facing a state government that in some cases lags the will of the people.
Legislators from municipalities around the state have banded together to oppose state legislators on this type of
legislation, and I would join those efforts as further issues arise.

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 think that it is indicative of a flawed system that is made to uplift the incumbents/establishment. Any rule or
regulation regarding the funding of campaigns should be aligned to all candidates no matter what their past
positions or experience. With that said, while the limits technically apply to all candidates, there always seems to be
convenient loopholes. We need fairer campaigning regulations.
How do you plan to address the Police and Fire Pension crisis? How would you support a tax increase to address
the ongoing funding deficits for the Police and Fire Pension System's benefits?

As much as I do not want to see taxes go up, I would support this specific initiative for the simple fact that we have
to take care of our men and women in uniform. They spend their lives protecting us and I am willing to make
personal sacrifice to ensure their sacrifice and dedication is honored in the way it should be. I had a conversation
with a constituent the other day about her fears after her husband just retired after 40 years with the DPD. It hurt
my heart to hear her talk about the what ifs. I am well aware that it wasnt the constituents wrong doing, when
poorly investing the funds that got us in this mess, but it is our job to keep our community flourishing, and we
cannot neglect the hard work that the BLUE has put in to keep our community safe.

What is your position regarding current state legislation to regulate public facility access and keep transgender
Texans from using restrooms that align with their gender identity? Will you defend the existing non-discrimination
city ordinance for LGBTQ individuals, including public accommodations?

SB6 and similarly introduced bills are quite simply a disaster. North Carolina experienced huge economic blows
and their travel and hospitality industries have suffered irreparable damages. If implemented in Texas, such
measure would cause catastrophic economic effects. A first step would certainly be to defend the existing non-
discrimination city ordinance, and work together to codify that our public accommodations are for everyone.

Homelessness affects marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQ community, at a disproportional rate. Given
the increasing problem of homelessness in Dallas and efforts to minimize it, what would your approach be to
address this crisis? Do you support a Housing First initiative for Dallas?

I think the first step to solving our growing homelessness issue is to create a formal Citizens Homeless
Commission. I think it is imperative, like most issues, to accept weigh in from the constituents who not only are
most affected by this, but who are already working day in and day out to find and execute solutions. This is an
issue that just needs adequate support from City Hall to put in place some permanent solutions. NOT just bandaid
fixes as they do so often, like relocating an encampment just an exit or two down from where they are.

What are your Ideas to address income inequality in the City of Dallas? Do you support implementing living
wage rules for city employees, city contracts, and subcontractor workers? How will you support the use of city
subsidies or tax abatements for housing development that substantially benefit the growing number of working
poor and struggling middle class residents in the City of Dallas?

We definitely have income inequality in the City of Dallas. While I am not for tax abatements in just any
circumstance, I do think it can be beneficial in certain circumstances. There are ways to incentivize development,
and I am all for it when it gives back to the community that it is being built in. For example, if there is a struggling
area that needs growth and it is already of a lower income area, we should have regulations in place to offer
incentives, but with conditions to include phases of the project that will open a grocery store or restaurant along
with the developers plan. I am for the living wage rule.

What do you think the role of local law enforcement should be in the enforcing of federal immigration law?

I do not think our local law enforcement should play any role in immigration. They are here to serve and protect
and they are funded by local tax money. If the federal government implements stricter enforced immigration laws,
like we already have seen happen, they should provide not only the funding for such initiatives but the resources
and departments as well.

What are your thoughts about the Dallas County Commissioners' recent resolution declaring Dallas County a
Welcoming County, particularly as it pertains to the City of Dallas? Do you support this resolution?

I am in full support of Dallas being a sanctuary city. As I have stated before, I am an advocate for human rights
first!
Do you support ensuring that all residents of the City of Dallas have access to city services, regardless of
immigration status? Why, or why not?

Human Rights will always dictate where I fall on any issues. They should absolutely be entitled to anything that
any resident is entitled to. This is the equivalent of asking if a homeless individual should also not be afforded the
same resources as tax paying citizens. Their residence status has nothing to do with their status as a human being.

Last fiscal year, the Dallas City Council approved an ongoing $15 million dollar bailout for ATTPAC with little
support for small arts organizations in return. Critics argue that the real need is for support in local
neighborhoods outside the Arts District that are cultural deserts. What are your thoughts on revising or canceling
the annual $1.5 million bailout and use those funds to support small to mid-size arts groups in underserved
neighborhoods as well as the downtown area?

I think that the City of Dallas is too quick to help the wrong parts of Dallas, and too slow to help where the help is
most needed. The truth of the matter is, ATTPAC more than likely has private and independent sources that could
potentially bail them out by profit sharing/investing. I would heavily advocate for that money to be allocated to the
need for bringing in cultural arts centers and programs for youth engagement in our low socioeconomic
communities.

I, Adam Bazaldua, am seeking an endorsement from the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas for the 2017 Dallas City Council
elections.

Signed Date 03/06/2017