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For use by Stonewall Democrats of Dallas

2012 County Level Office Candidates:

1. (All Countywide Offices) Why are you seeking the endorsement of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas? STONEWALL DEMOCRATS IS A RESPECTED ORGANIZATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY. LGBT PEOPLE ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY AND I AM DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PRINCIPLES OF EQUALITY AND NONDISCRIMINATION. 2. (All Countywide Offices) What are your plans to participate in a coordinated campaign in the general election in Dallas County? YES 3. (All Countywide Offices) Will you use the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas endorsement in or on: a) your website - YES b) your campaign literature and mailers - YES c) your social media assets (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) - YES d) your campaign advertisements - YES 4. (All Countywide Offices) How would support or lead efforts to pass a resolution to support marriage equality? ALTHOUGH THE DUTIES OF THE DISTRICT CLERK TO NOT TOUCH UPON THIS ISSUE, I WILL AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND COMMUNITY LEADER WORK WITH OTHERS IN SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY. 5. (All Countywide Offices) When elected, how will you recruit, retain, and create a friendly environment for LGBT and LGBT-friendly staff?

THE DISTRICT CLERKS OFFICE WAS THE FIRST DALLAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT TO INCLUDE A NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY FOR GAY, LESBIAN AND TRANSGENDERED PERSONS IN ITS PERSONNEL POLICIES. THE OFFICE TODAY HAS TWO LGBT MEMBERS AMONG ITS 16 MEMBER MANAGEMENT TEAM. THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE OFFICES POLICY OF OPEN RECRUITMENT WHICH ENCOURAGES APPLICANTS FROM OUTSIDE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT POLICY TO ENSURE THE DISTRICT CLERKS WORKFORCE ALWAYS REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF DALLAS COUNTY. 6. (All Countywide Offices) Would you appoint a liaison to meet with the LGBT community on an ongoing basis? If not, why? AS THE ELECTED DISTRICT IT WOULD BE MY PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PERFORM THE FUNCTION OF COMMUNITY LIAISON FOR THE OFFICE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH STONEWALL OR OTHER LGBT GROUPS TO DEVELOP MOBILE PASSPORT FAIRS FOR LGBT TRAVELLERS AND SPEAK TO LGBT GROUPS REGARDING APPLICATIONS FOR CRIMINAL HISTORY NON-DISCLOSURES AND EXPUNCTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED WITH THE CIVIL, FAMILY AND FELONY COURTS. IN ADDITION, I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING REGULARLY WITH THE LGBT BAR ASSOCIATION. 7. (County Commissioners Court) What would you do to support and assist the many people with mental illness who must rely on the public system for care in or out of incarceration? THIS IS NOT A ROLE EXCLUSIVE TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE DISTRICT CLERKS OFFICE PROVIDES A CRITICAL LINK IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO OFFENDERS WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DISORDERS. THE CLERKS OFFICE PROCESSES THOUSANDS OF COMPETENCIES EVERY YEAR AND THAT NUMBER IS GROWING. THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE NOT BUDGETED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE OFFICE TO HANDLE THAT VOLUME WHICH REQUIRES MANAGEMENT TO CAREFULLY MANAGE THE WORKLOAD TO AVOID ANY DELAY IN PROCESSING. I HAVE PERSONALLY OVERSEEN THAT PROCESS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND HANDLE MOST OF THE COMPETENCIES MYSELF TO ENSURE THEIR APPROPRIATE PREPARATION AND TRANSMISSION. IN MY ADMINISTRATION, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY AND I WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSIONERS TO APPROPRIATE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO HANDLE THIS CRUCIAL AREA. 8. (County Commissioners Court) Do you support continuation of funding at the current levels for jail mental illness programs? If you favor increased funding, what would you identify as new revenue streams to support that? N/A

9. (All Countywide Offices) Dallas County recently enacted a Partners Benefits insurance option for family members of county employees, but the enrollment has been negligible. How would you better promote and support this option? What can you do to enhance this program and/or lessen the burden to participate? IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE PARTNER BENEFIT OPTION IS NOT COMMENSERATE WITH THE BENEFIT ENJOYED BY AN EMPLOYEE IN AN OPPOSITE SEX MARRIAGE. IT IS SIMPLY A FIXED SUBSIDY TO BE USED BY AN EMPLOYEES PARTNER TO PURCHASE A SEPARATE NONCOUNTY POLICY. THE BENEFIT ENJOYED BY A LEGALLY MARRIED SPOUSE IS THE SAME AS ANY EMPLOYEE SINCE HE/SHE IS INSURED THROUGH PEBC (PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFIT COOPERATIVE) AND THE MONTHLY PREMIUM IS FIXED. BECAUSE A DOMESTIC PARTNER IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INSURANCE THROUGH PEBC AND MUST BUY A PRIVATE POLICY, THE MONTHLY PREMIUM IS A FUNCTON OF ALL THE UNDERLYING FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE COST OF A POLICY. THEREFORE THE SUBSIDY MAY BE CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THE PARTNERS MONTHLY PREMIUM AND THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE THROUGH THAT POLICY MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS COMPETITIVE. THE DALLAS COUNTY PROGRAM IS A WORK AROUND THE FACT THAT THE COUNTYS PARTNERS IN THE BENEFIT COOPERATIVE WILL NOT ALLOW DALLAS COUNTY TO ADD A DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFIT TO ITS GROUP INSURANCE PLAN. IT IS A SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL BENEFIT. THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS COUNTY VALUE DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY IN A WAY THAT IT IS NOT VALUED BY THE PEOPLE OF COLLIN AND DENTON COUNTIES. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD WORK TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLAN TO CHANGE THE HEALTH BENEFIT STRUCTURE TO ENSURE IT REFLECTS THOSE VALUES. THAT MAY MEAN PARTNERING WITH COUNTIES SUCH AS TRAVIS AND BEXAR OR DEVELOP A NEW HEALTH INSURANCE STRATEGY. 10. (County Commissioners Court) In light of decreased federal and state funding, what are your ideas to address the issue of the increase in HIV/AIDS infections in Dallas County and for persons living with HIV/AIDS in Dallas County (Dallas has the highest infection rate in Texas and one of the highest in the country)?

I, _FELICIA PITRE____, am seeking an endorsement from the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas for the 2012 elections.

Signed__S/ FELICIA PITRE /S_______

Date__12/23/2013____

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