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 2nd.
1. Your background and the LGBT community
Please share any experience that illustrates your understanding and interest of the needs of LGBT Dallas
residents.
MARCOS I have life-long personal, professional, and social relationships of members of the
LGBT community.
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas seek to inform members of the LGBT 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 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?
MARCOS - I am lifelong Democrat and helped on national campaigns for numerous candidates
including the last 5 presidential candidates, DCCC, DSCC, Gubernatorial, and Mayoral candidates. I cohosted fundraisers for President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, Harry Reid, and Xavier
Becerra.
2. Creating an inclusive community
Cities compete for residents, taxpayers, 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 LGBT inclusion?
MARCOS
Non-discrimination laws (including Transgender issues)
Relationship recognition
Municipal employment policies, non-discrimination requirements for contractors
Inclusiveness of city services
Law enforcement
Municipal leadership on matters of equality

Would you recruit and consider qualified LGBT constituents for your commission and board
appointments?
MARCOS - Yes, my appointments will be inclusive of all communities of Dallas.
Will you support the Dallas City Council's resolution for marriage equality and also a statewide ban on
LGBT employment discrimination?
MARCOS - Yes.

Mayor Rawlings has refused to join the nationwide effort of mayors of 300 cities and 32 states to become
a member of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. This effort is chaired by Mayors of Boston, New York
City, Houston and Los Angeles. Would you actively lobby and take action to encourage Mayor Rawlings
to join this effort? (Please see http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/mayors-for-the-freedom-to-marry)
MARCOS As a Mayor, I will join national efforts to support and empower the rights of the
LGBT community in Dallas and use the Mayors influence to expand beyond our city.

3. The City of Dallas as a LGBT inclusive employer

The private sector has seen a large increase in policies and benefits for LGBT employees, how should the
City of Dallas remain competitive to attract and retain top LGBT talent?
MARCOS Foster and create and environment that is inclusive of all communities and treat
everyone with respect and dignity.
Do you support comprehensive transgender inclusive health benefits and as a council member work with
the City Manager to implement such benefits?
MARCOS All employees should have access to health care for their immediate and long-term
health and medical needs.
4. Current Events
The Governor and several state legislators intend to push legislation through to curtail the current
scope of governance of 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?

MARCOS I am a strong proponent of local control on virtually all matters that involve local
governance. The state should not dictate to the City of Dallas how we handle issues such as
fracking or LGBT issues and concerns.
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?
MARCOS As you may know, I discovered this loophole in the city campaign finance rules and
immediately called on the Mayor to return his loophole donations, which he refused. I think we
need extensive ethics reforms at City Hall, including getting rid of office holder accounts

The proposed Trinity Parkway toll road continues to make headlines. Do you see the Trinity Parkway as
an essential roadway project to alleviate projected road congestion around our downtown core, or are
there other solutions that Dallas should be focused on?
MARCOS The current Trinity River Toll Road plan is nothing close to what was approved by
voter in 1998 and 2007. We approved a park and a series of small lakes. Now the Mayor is
pushing for a massive, loud and expensive multilane toll road down the middle of our Trinity
parkland. One of my main goals as Mayor will be to end this boondoggle.

Given that tax revenue for the City of Dallas should rise this year without a tax rate increase, what are
the top priorities to which these additional funds should be directed citywide and within your district?
MARCOS Improving basic city services to strengthen our neighborhoods with better roads,
sidewalks, parks, walking trails and libraries. And, find ways to recruit economic development to
Southern Dallas.

I, Marcos G. Ronquillo, am seeking an endorsement from the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas for the 2015
Dallas City Council elections.

Signed

Date 3/02/15