Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance Announces 2007 City Council Endorsements

(Dallas, Texas) In a series of meetings during April 2007, members of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance (DGLA) Political Action Committee reviewed questionnaires and conducted personal interviews with candidates for Dallas City Council who sought the DGLA-PAC endorsement. With the largest field of candidates ever in this election cycle, the DGLA-PAC elected to make endorsements only in the contested races for Dallas City Council (nine District seats plus Mayor).
The DGLA Board of Directors voted on the recommendations of its PAC, and proudly endorses the following ten (10) candidates in contested races for the 2007 Dallas City Council:

• District 2 – Pauline Medrano

• District 8 – Sandra Crenshaw

• District 3 – Joseph Hernandez

• District 9 – Jill Kotvis

• District 4 – Gloria Stinson Hogg

• District 12 – Ron Natinsky

• District 5 – Betty J. Culbreath

• District 14 – Angela Hunt

• District 7 – Kevin Felder

• Dallas Mayor – Ed Oakley

While the DGLA PAC only endorsed candidates in contested races in this election cycle, three (3) candidates running unopposed for re-election to the Dallas City Council have received the DGLA endorsement in past election(s):

• District 1 – Dr. Elba Garcia
• District 6 – Steve Salazar
• District 11 – Linda Koop

"The field of candidates this year is record-breaking, and it's very healthy for our city government when many citizens step up for leadership and engage voters on issues affecting our daily lives in Dallas," said Pete Webb, president of DGLA. "For us, our process is very important, and we recognize it as a vital responsibility to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Dallas. Our community looks to us for guidance in the voting booth, and we take that responsibility seriously."
"In each race, we strive to select the best qualified candidate with the best record and potential on issues important to our community who can be elected," Webb noted. "When there is more than one candidate who meets the standards for our endorsement and all things being otherwise equal between them, then sexual orientation and gender identity become important in assisting us with the decision."
"It can be difficult to determine the best candidate in any race, and the sheer number of candidates in this election cycle is breathtaking," observed Patti Fink, vice president of DGLA and DGLA PAC Chair. "Our PAC considers a full range of factors in making its recommendations to the DGLA Board, including experience and qualifications for office, vision and commitment to district concerns, personal and interpersonal strengths and weaknesses, sensitivity to the LGBT community, past involvement in our community along with support versus advocacy on issues important to the LGBT community, and viability."

The PAC made its recommendations based on the following factors:
􀂃 Public statements made by the candidates
􀂃 A written questionnaire completed by the candidates
􀂃 Private and confidential interview between each candidate and a panel of PAC members
􀂃 Input from members of the LGBT community.

Following the interviews and input process, the PAC made its endorsements, and forwarded its recommendations to the DGLA Board of Directors for consideration. In both steps of the process, any PAC or Board member who has provided any type of support (financial donation, personal endorsement, volunteer time, or campaign employment) to a candidate at any time during the election cycle exercised a duty to recuse him/herself during voting for that District’s endorsement.
The PAC chose to narrow its scope in this election cycle to contested races only – 9 Dallas City Council seats and Dallas Mayor (Place 15). All candidates for these contested seats were invited to participate in the DGLA PAC endorsement process, and each received a candidate packet with the written questionnaire via certified postal mail and email, with follow-ups via email and phone. Of these 54 candidates:
􀂃 Twenty-seven (27) sought the DGLA PAC endorsement and completed the endorsement process;
􀂃 Five (5) initially began the process with the DGLA PAC and subsequently did not complete it (e.g. no completed questionnaire returned, no interview scheduled, no-show on interview, etc.);
􀂃 One (1) completed the process but affirmatively refused to seek the endorsement;
􀂃 One (1) affirmatively declined to participate in the process;
􀂃 Twenty (20) did not respond to the DGLA PAC in any way by any method.

“This year’s candidates for Dallas City Council and Dallas Mayor are really strong, and making a decision in some of the races was sometimes tough," Fink said. "The DGLA PAC has been endorsing candidates for 30 years, and we are extremely proud of our endorsed candidates and excited about their campaigns. The DGLA PAC plans to support them with our available resources to educate the LGBT community in the upcoming election on May 12th and, in several races with multiple candidates where run-off elections are a virtual certainty, through June 16th."
Since 1977, the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance (DGLA) has been the premier local voice for LGBT civil rights in the Dallas metropolitan area. The mission of The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance has been to advocate for full civil rights, dignity, and self-respect for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals by educating, creating social and political change, and fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in order to achieve the full participation of all people in society. The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance is a 501(c)(4) organization, and the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance Political Action Committee is a registered PAC. The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance Don Baker Education Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

District 2 Pauline Medrano

Pauline has a long and proven record of public service and community involvement, a long and dedicated history as a close ally and strong advocate for the LGBT community, and she has been productive and effective for her district and the city throughout her current term of service representing District 2 on the Dallas City Council. A past DGLA endorsee, Pauline will bring continued leadership and insight to the council, and her hardworking style is an asset to the LGBT community, District 2, and the City of Dallas.

District 3 Joseph Hernandez

Joseph has an extensive record of public service on city boards, commissions, and neighborhood involvement, a long history of activism within the LGBT community, broad and diverse support within a broad and diverse district, and a strong personal record of setting and fulfilling goals for balanced economic development within District 3. As a talented accomplished openly gay man and a business professional, Joseph will be a strong advocate for the LGBT community and for the City of Dallas, well-positioned to follow Councilmember Ed Oakley in representing District 3.

District 4 Gloria Stinson Hogg

In addition to her lifelong career in health care as a registered nurse, Gloria has a long history of community activism, including service on the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Board and as Vice Chair of the Martin Luther King Center Board, and leadership in community and neighborhood organizations. Gloria plans to revitalize Fair Park as a year-round attraction to the southern sector, and to focus on crime reduction and neighborhood cleanups to foster economic development in District 4. Gloria will be a strong ally and supporter for the LGBT community at Dallas City Hall.

District 5 Betty Culbreath

Betty has a long and exceptional track record of public service and results within Dallas County and North Texas, including service as Director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, Dallas Housing Authority Chair, City of Dallas Plan Commission Chair, and DFW International Airport Board Chair. Her plans to increase growth in the southern sector include neighborhood cleanups and a professional marketing campaign to draw visitors and businesses south of the Trinity. Betty believes in the strength of diversity and fairness in building our city, and the LGBT community will have a strong ally and independent voice with Betty representing District 5 on the Dallas City Council.

District 7 Kevin Felder

A long-time community activist and real estate broker, Kevin has a strong record of civic involvement with the NAACP, Progressive Voters League, and realtor associations, and service on advisory boards for DISD and Richland College, and on City of Dallas boards and commissions. Kevin brings both knowledge and passion for strong economic development in District 7 and throughout the southern sector, and he sees coalition-building as an essential key to progress at City Hall. Diversity and fairness are important to Kevin as factors for our city's success, and he will be a strong advocate for the LGBT community and for District 7 on the Dallas City Council.

District 8 Sandra Crenshaw

As a former Dallas councilmember, Sandra brings experience, expertise, and energy to the Dallas City Council representing District 8. Her knowledge of District 8 and her enthusiasm for results will yield a strong voice for much-needed economic growth and employment opportunity in the southern sector. Sandra has made a career fighting discrimination and supporting civil rights, and her commitment to fairness and equity at City Hall will make her a robust advocate for the LGBT community and for her district.

District 9 Jill Kotvis

As an environmental attorney, Jill's track record reflects a distinguished professional held in high regard by her peers and a long history in national and international environmental law in the corporate, public, private, and research sectors, with past local service on the World Affairs Council of Greater Dallas board and on numerous City of Dallas boards and commissions. Jill's community activism has enormous depth and breadth in board service and support of the arts, parks, museums, foundations, mentoring programs, and women's issues throughout the city, including long service on the City of Dallas Cultural Affairs Commission. Jill believes equality and fairness are essential to Dallas' success and growth, and she will be a strong ally and advocate for the LGBT community, her District 9 constituents, and all Dallas residents.

District 12 Ron Natinsky

Ron is seeking a second term to build on his successes in his district as well as for the City of Dallas as a whole. As an entrepreneur several times over, Ron brings a strong voice for business growth throughout Dallas and an ability to work with others for thoughtful policy-making and common sense at the horseshoe. Ron believes firmly in fairness and equity for all Dallas citizens, and he will continue to be a valued supporter of the LGBT community within District 12 and across the city.

District 14 Angela Hunt

Seeking her second term at City Hall, Angela has a proven record of diligent study, knowledge of issues, working relationships with District residents and fellow council members, and problem-solving. With proven ability to be a team player on the council, Angela has also proven that she can take an independent stand when she feels issues need a voice at City Hall. A past DGLA endorsee, Angela has been a resolute advocate for the LGBT community within District 14 and throughout the city, and her personal involvement in neighborhood and community issues underscores her commitment to her constituents.

Mayor (Place 15) Ed Oakley

Throughout his three terms on the Dallas City Council representing District 3 (and the previous District 6), Ed Oakley has shown extraordinary leadership on issues important to all Dallas residents and taxpayers, and he has been a champion for safer neighborhoods, continued economic development, and greater employment opportunities in District 3 and beyond. Ed has been a go-to person for the mayor and other council members on city-wide issues such as the 2003 and 2006 Bond Programs and the Trinity River Project, and he brings common sense and a strong ability to work with other council members and diverse entities within the city, Dallas County, and North Texas. As an openly gay council member and a successful professional in business and at City Hall, Ed has been a leader and unwavering advocate for equal rights, benefits, and responsibilities for the Dallas LGBT community, including a leadership role in the successful passage of the 2002 Dallas non-discrimination ordinance and he helped to pass domestic partnership health benefits for City of Dallas employees that began in FY 2006. Ed has a long track record of success and consensus-building on both sides of the Trinity River, and will be a hardworking effective mayor for all of Dallas.

Since 1977, the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance (DGLA) has been the premier local voice for LGBT civil rights in the Dallas metropolitan area. The mission of The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance has been to advocate for full civil rights, dignity, and self-respect for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals by educating, creating social and political change, and fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in order to achieve the full participation of all people in society. The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance is a 501(c)(4) organization, and the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance Political Action Committee is a registered PAC. The Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance Don Baker Education Fund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.