STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York

PO Box 85 7, Buffalo, NY 14205 Website: www.sdwny.org

2013 ENDORSEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE- ERIE COUNTY FAMILY COURT
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Other Party Lines Sought:
Before you continue, please understand that:
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Stonewall Democrats ofWNY 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 of WNY will hold you publicly accountable for actions inconsistent with your responses
during your campaign and if elected during your term in office.
Stonewall Democrats of WNY will not consider endorsement of any candidate if they support any tate or
national version of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) legislation.
Part 1:
Please submit your typewritten responses to the following questions on a separate sheet.
1.) Why are you running for a judicial position, and what qualifies you for the position?
2.) Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats ofWNY?
3.) Do you believe that bias affects our justice system, particularly in areas such as domestic violence and
custody/visitation issues involving LGBTQ individuals? If so, how do you propose to eliminate this?
4.) Do any of the organizations, associations or clubs to which you belong prohibit or limit membership on the
basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, national origin or gender identity and
expression?
5.) What is your experience with the LGBTQ community both generally and professionally? As an attorney,
have you ever represented clients involved with LGBT issues?
6.) Will you work to insure that gender identity and expression or sexual orientation is not a con ;ideration in
your staff hiring decisions?
7.) What kind of support would you like to have from the LGBTQ community ifyou win your primary?
8.) Stonewall Democrats of Western New York strongly believes that candidates have a responsibility to
provide voters with truthful, fair and clean campaigns for public office and to conduct her or himself in a
manner conducive to a civil, issue-oriented debate with their fellow candidates. Would you be willing to
sign a written pledge to conduct your campaign ai:cordingly?
Stonewall Democrats WNY- Erie County Family Court. 2013. page 3
Paul V. Crapsi For Family Court
PO Box 1381, Buffalo, NY 14213 (c) 716.352.8219
Stonewall Democrats of WNY
PO Box 857
Buffalo, NY 14205
May21,2013
2013 Endorsement Questionnaire for Erie County Family Court
1. Why are you running for a judicial position, and what qualifies you for the
position?
I am running for Erie County Family Court because I believe that Family Court
is the most important court in the judicial system. It is the most important court
because every case involves a child. In every case, a judge will be presented
with a certain set of facts and limitations, and will have to decide what, in this
particular set of circumstances, is in the best interest of the child involved.
I am proud of my qualifications for this position. First and foremost,
personally, I am a family man, married, with four children. I understand the
importance of raising children, and also understand the hardships and
sacrifices involved. I believe that this life experience is essential in order to
make sophisticated and difficult decisions about someone else's children.
Professionally, I have been in the legal field for approximately 20 years. I
have practiced law in almost all of the courts, and have developed a
reputation as a zealous advocate. As an attorney I have handled numerous
cases of distinction or first impression, and my cases have been covered by
the Buffalo News, the Buffalo Law Journal, and the New York Times. For the
last 5 years, I have been an administrative law judge, deciding vehicle and
traffic cases. In that capacity I decide over 1000 cases a year, and believe I
have developed a professional reputation as a just, fair, and firm decision
maker.
2. Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of
WNY?
I am seeking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of WNY because I
believe that Family Court is important for everyone in our community, and that
th,e definition of family should not be limited to traditional definitions. All
members of our community are entitled to equal protection under the law, and
that includes Family Court proceedings. I am proud of the professional work I
have done for equal rights, and would be honored and proud to receive the
endorsement of Stonewall Democrats. Additionally, Stonewall members are
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align with progressive, positive agendas.
3. Do you believe that bias affects our justice system, particularly in areas
such as domestic violence and custody/visitation issues involving LGBTQ
individuals? If so, how do you propose to eliminate this?
I believe that bias affects all aspects of our society, including our justice system,
in issues involving LGBTQ individuals. Although we have made significant
progress, there is still much to be done. I propose to eliminate LGBTQ bias in the
following way: I propose establishing a LGBTQ advisory panel to meet on a
regular basis for the purposes of advising and counseling on issues involving
LGBTQ community and family issues. This would allow LGBTQ community
members to advise sitting judges on issues which may be of ongoing concern.
This could start as an informal, conversational type meeting, and we could
extend the invitation to other judges once we got going.
No.
4. Do any of the organizations, association or clubs to which you belong
prohibit or limit membership on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual
orientation, gender, disability, national origin or gender identity and
expression?
5. What is your experience with the LGBTQ community both generally and
professionally? As an attorney, have you ever represented clients involved
with LGBT issues?
I have both general and professional experience with the LGBTQ community. As
an attorney, I have represented numerous clients with LGBT issues. My most
famous case regarding LGBT issues was the Humig v. Department of
Corrections case which was covered by the New York Times. That was the first
case in New York State where sexual orientation discrimination was the basis for
the lawsuit on a discrimination matter. My client alleged that she was
discriminated against because of her sexual orientation. At the time, sexual
orientation was a new protected class, but had yet to be tested in the courts. My
case was the first case in the state to be litigated on that basis. Not only did I
succeed with our lawsuit, my verdict was the highest verdict ever awarded by the
Division of Human Rights, $850,000. That award was later reduced on appeal,
and higher verdicts have since been rendered, but I was proud of our
accomplishments on that case.
6. Will you work to insure that gender identity and expression or sexual
orientation is not a consideration in your staff hiring decisions?
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consideration in my staff hiring decisions. Yes, I will work to insure that remains
the case.
7. What kind of support would you like to have from the LGBTQ community if
you win your primary?
I would be honored to have whatever large or small support is available. Some
possible ideas are handlers to walk me door to door to LGBTQ households and
to forage introductions, handlers for LGBTQ events to meet attendees, and any
other support your organization would deem appropriate.
8. Stonewall Democrats of Western New York strongly believes that
candidates have a responsibility to provide voters with a truthful, fair and
clean campaigns for public office and to conduct her or himself in a
manner conducive to a civil, issue-orientated debate with their fellow
candidates. Would you be willing to sign a written pledge to conduct your
campaign accordingly?
Yes, I would be willing to sign a written pledge to conduct my campaign in
accordance with your specifications as outlined above.
9. 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 organizational endorsements)?
I would be honored to have Stonewall Democrats of WNY endorsement, and
would proudly display that endorsement on my website and any other campaign
literature listing endorsements.
1 O.lf endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you attend a LGBTQ
community forum to introduce endorsed candidates held prior to the
primary election?
I would be honored to attend a LGBTQ community forum.
11. Would you knowingly seek endorsement of or advertise on any
homophobic/transphobic media?
No, I would not seek endorsement of or advertise on any
homophobic/transphobic media.
literature (i.e.: all literature listing any other organizational endorsements)?
10.) If endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats ofWNY, will you attend a LGBTQ forum to
introduce endorsed candidates held prior to primary election?
ll.)Would you knowingly seck endorsemeot 'rf or advertise on any homopbobic/transpbobic media?
Yes G
I attest that this questionnaire represents my opinion of the issues on this questionnaire:
Candidate's Signature:____ (JVVY\ l
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Date:
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Please complete the attached issues surveys, sign below and return questionnaire, surveys and your resume by Friday,
May 24.2013 by either by email to faxed to (716) 853-2448 (Attention: Bryan
Ball, Stonewall Democrats of\VNY) or mailed to:
Attention: Endorsernent Conunittcc
Den1ocrat:-c ()f \VNY
PO Box :\57
Hdffalo, 142G5
Stonewall Democrats WNY- Erie County Family Court. 2013, page 4