Candidate Name: Tammy Johnston Council

District: 7
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 6 th, 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.
Let me first state that I have ALWAYS advocated for the equal treatment and equal rights for ALL
people. As a woman of African American and Middle Eastern decent, I grew up poor and have
experienced first-hand the effects of discrimination, neighborhood redlining, being overlooked for
positions I know I was qualified for, being followed in stores and not being included in important
professional decisions because of my gender and race; and I know that discrimination is as real
in the LGBTQ community as any of those mentioned above.

The LGBTQ community and minority communities have long shared in the burden of having to
prove our equality and, quite frankly, our humanity.

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?

I am, and have always been a Democrat, and my voting history will affirm this. Additionally, I will
also sign an oath of allegiance form from the Dallas County Democratic Party.

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?
As councilperson, it will be my duty to ensure Dallas, as well as my District (7), does not
discriminate in any way against LGBTQ communities or any other community. I firmly believe
that this bathroom law is a rouse, and a total waste of taxpayer resources. Who uses what
bathroom is not a concern of mine, and I will support non-discrimination city ordinances. I am
interested in ensuring Dallas and my District attracts the best and brightest talent that includes
LGBTQ, and creates fair and equitable space for all residents and their families to flourish. I will
work to have City council pass a resolution opposing the State of Texas bathroom law.

Would you recruit and consider qualified LGBTQ constituents for your commission and
board appointments?
Absolutely.

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

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?
By continuing to champion efforts like promoting transgender health benefits, support services
for same sex families, and ensuring same sex marriages can enjoy the same employee benefits
as those in traditional marriages. I will also encourage the new City Manager to continue to raise
awareness, provide education to all employees about our LGBTQ community and promote
workplace equality.

Do you support comprehensive transgender inclusive health benefits and as a council

member work with the City Manager to implement such benefits?
Absolutely.

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?

While I wont pretend to know the legal intricacies of home rule, I will say that some of the
aspects of home rule are appealing especially the category that allows authority to set
employment rules, remuneration rates, employment conditions and collective bargaining and
could be beneficial in ensuring LGBTQ protections locally. But I think it can be a slippery slope,
and city leadership should be thoughtful about potential long-term ramifications. With that said, I
am in favor of home rule and will work with our state legislators to maintain home rule

Additionally, I would seek out expertise and guidance on home rule as it pertains to LGBTQ and
other communities, and be conscientious in my decision making.

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?
While I generally favor restrictions on campaign contributions, I find this rule gives incumbents
an unfair advantage, and as a first-time candidate, this rule creates an undue hardship on
constituents who want to support the candidate they believe in.

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?

The pension crisis is unfortunate and its obvious so many mistakes were made when creating
the fund. I believe we should support our first responders, and as councilperson I will seek to
find common ground so that we keep our promise to take care of our first responders while
ensuring our citys budget is fiscally sound. Before supporting any tax increase, I would like to
see City staff recommendations for the DROP plan thoroughly vetted and the sunset for tax
increase tied to solvency of the Pension System.

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?
As I mentioned in an earlier response, I firmly believe that this bathroom law is a rouse, and a
total waste of taxpayer resources. Who uses what bathroom is not a concern of mine, and I will
strongly support the existing non-discrimination city ordinances.

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 absolutely support a housing first initiative in dealing with the homeless issue. I will support a
compassionate response that will provide temporary housing until a longer term solution is
developed.

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?

District 7 has the highest rate of unemployment in the city, and has more people living in
poverty than anywhere else in the Metroplex. One of my top priorities as Councilperson for
District 7 is to ensure that residents and community businesses benefit from the reinvestment
efforts in the district, this includes advocating for living wage increases for city-based jobs. And
while District 7 suffers from a concentration of low income housing, I will be looking to attract a
mix of housing options for working and middle class residents and this can be done by prudent
use of TIFFs and abatements. My housing philosophy is to invest in existing neighborhoods by
directing City housing funds with the intent of preserving these neighborhoods while attracting
new residents.
What do you think the role of local law enforcement should be in the enforcing of
federal immigration law?
The Dallas Police Department should focus on making the streets in Dallas safer and not spend
our limited resources on federal immigration laws.

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 absolutely support this resolution, and any resolution that is inclusive to marginalized
communities

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?

As City Councilperson, I will absolutely support all residents having access to city services
regardless of immigration status. Most immigrants are not criminal and come for work. This
country is a country of immigrants and they provide an essential service to this community.

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 cannot in good conscious vote for any big dollar, vanity project when so many of the
constituents in District 7 are suffering from severe quality of life issues. I understand the
connection between arts groups and revitalizing communities and I support including artist
communities in the revitalization planning for my district.

I, ___Tammy Johnston____________, am seeking an endorsement from the Stonewall Democrats of

Dallas for the 2017 Dallas City Council elections.

Signed______ Date_ 3/5/17____