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 6th, 2017.

1. Your background and the LGBTQ community

As a legislative aide for my State Representative, Rafael Anchia in the 84 rd Session of the Texas
Legislature I worked on passage of HB 130, which sought to repeal the statutory prohibition against the
recognition of a civil union or similar relationship entered into in another state between two persons of
the same sex, replacing the words, husband and wife with the word spouse in Section 3-204(b) in
Texas Family Code.
Also in my capacity as a staff member for the Representative during the Session, I worked
closely with constituents who visited, and otherwise communicated with, our office on the interests,
needs and legislative priorities of members of the LGBTQ community

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?

Under the Stonewall Democrats by-laws I do not qualify for endorsement. As an

independent, not wishing to be inextricably aligned with any party, I have never voted in the
Primary of any party. I am not prepared to sign an oath of allegiance from the Dallas County
Democratic Party, Republican Party, or any other party.
Despite my automatic disqualification for your endorsement, Im completing this Candidate
Questionnaire because I want the Stonewall Democrats to know where I stand on the issues of
importance to your organization.

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?

Im proud that Dallas is one of only 38 cities to achieve a score of 100 on the Municipal
Equality Index in the major categories of relationship recognition, non-discrimination laws,
municipal employment policies, law enforcements relationship with the LGBTQ community
and overall municipal leadership on matters of equality.
However I would not call that a perfect 100, as Dallass basic score was 89 of 100, with
16 bonus points for doing well on criteria not available to all cities at the time of scoring. Dallas
did not get perfect MEI scores in three important areas: 1. Dallas does not have a Human
Rights Commission. 2. Dallas does not have transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits. 3. Dallas
does not specifically provide services to LGBTQ homeless.
As a member of the City Council, and as a vigorous representative of District 6s
LGBTQ community, I would advocate for the implementation of all three policies.
In the current political climate at the state and national level, it is critical that our local
elected officials step up now to protect and preserve the Human Rights of all residents.

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

Yes, absolutely.

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

Yes, although I generally do not believe that Resolutions carry much effective weight. As a
practical matter, as a member of the City Council, I would work to see that a statewide ban on
LGBTQ discrimination is included in the list of council-approved issues that the City Councils
Capitol lobbyist is required to work on getting passed in the next session of the Texas
Legislature.
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?

To keep Dallas competitive Ill work to maintain, and improve on, Dallas 100 rating on the
Municipal Equality index, in the ways I enumerated earlier.

Do you support comprehensive transgender inclusive health benefits and as a council member work with the City
Manager to implement such benefits?

Yes.

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?
I have personal history in this issues when I was a legislative aide during the 84th session of the
Texas Legislature. My boss, Representative Rafael Anchia was one of only 18 members that
voted against HB 19, which curtailed cities ability to restrict fracking within the city limits. I
am steadfastly opposed to any and all legislation that seeks to curtail or in any way diminish
Home Rule. As a City Council member, I would use whatever political influence I could muster
to forestall such legislation at the State level.

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?

In March of 2015, the Dallas City Council voted to limit to $100 an incumbents donation from
an unrestricted officeholder account to the incumbents campaign for re-election. This was
good. In light of the innumerable advantages an incumbent already enjoys in a City Council
election, not setting a limit on transfers from an incumbents officeholder account to the
campaign account was an outrageously undemocratic policy.

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?

I agree with Councilmember Philip Kingston that the Flynn plan is the best of the bad options
at this point. However, in coming up with a solution to this enormously complicated and critical
issue, almost all options should be on the table--except for any solution that claws back
money already distributed to qualifying account holders. Im intrigued by the concept of pulling
1/8 cent off the DART sales tax, but I want to study the option more.

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?

I oppose legislation aimed at keeping transgender Texans from using restrooms that align with
their gender identity. I will defend the existing non-discrimination city ordinance for LGGBTQ
individuals. Including public accommodations. As a teacher with transgender students in my
classroom, it is imperative to their safety, and all members of the LGTBQ community, that we
fight this discrimination at all levels of government.

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?

The City of Dallas needs to invest in homeless housing infrastructure. A Rapid Rehousing approach, establish a City of
Dallas Citizen Homeless Commission, and finally make financial commitments to end the homeless crisis our city is
facing. There are over 3700 homless children in DISD, and over 10000 homeless city wide. These number are
unacceptable. As a member of the city council I will work hard to decrease homelessness in Dallas. Mental health
facilities need to be created, and jobs programs similar to ones established in Albuquerque and elsewhere.
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?

I absolutely support a living wage for city workers. The wealth gap in Dallas is at an all time high. As a city that prides
itself on thinking big, we sure have botched up the small things, that more heavily impact the quality of life. Dallas
gives tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives to developers building high end luxury units. In West Dallas,
there is a housing crisis, and all over the city affordable housing is sparse. Our city is only as great as our poorest
neighborhoods. It is unacceptable, for a city that strives to be world class to have such poverty and housing
discrimination. As a member of the city council, I will work to increase the amount of property in the land bank, establish
ordinances to protect historical neighborhoods from rapid gentrification, work with state lawmakers to pass similar state
level laws, and attempt to set up a city backed improvement fund, that will assist landlords and home owners, in lower
income areas, make necessary improvements to their structure for safety and quality living. We need to get back to the
basics, and improve our communities, before we build big ticket items.

What do you think the role of local law enforcement should be in the enforcing of federal immigration law?

Our police are already overburdened, without having to additionally enforce federal
immigration law. However, the City of Dallas cannot afford to lose State funding. If proposed
Sanctuary Cities legislation passes this session of the Texas Legislature, and the State of Texas
proposes to withhold State funding if the Dallas Police Department does not enforce federal
immigration law, I will propose that the City of Dallas adopt the policy that the Dallas Police
Department is instructed to first arrest the executives of Dallas major home building companies
and commercial construction companies, virtually all of whom violate Federal Immigration
Law, hiring thousands of undocumented construction workers. We need to crack down on
sanctuary industries, and stop corporations from benefitting from undocumented workers.
First we go after the job dealers, the executives of companies.

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 wholeheartedly support the Welcoming County Resolution. It sent an important, and

much needed signal to the leaders of our State and the people of the nation about where Dallas
County stands on the issue of refugees and immigrants, both documented and undocumented.

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?

All residents of the City of Dallas should have access to city services, regardless of immigration
status. Its outrageous that people who live among us every day, whose children go to school
with ours, are forced to hide in the shadows, in constant fear of being suddenly snatched up and
separated from their families, then deported. This, while our companies are making money off
their hard labor, often at below standard wages, with no overtime pay.
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?

The ATTPAC situation brings to light a longstanding and ongoing problem at Dallas City Hall:
Wealthy individuals with influence at City Hall lobby to construct arts projects, entertainment
venues, water features and other expensive amenities for the city, often donating millions of
dollars toward the effort, but then for many years to come, the taxpayers have to fund
maintenance and operations of these big projects, often at the expense of ongoing maintenance
of parks, medians, streets and other basic necessities.
The ATTPAC bailout needs to be seriously reconsidered.

As for increasing funding for small arts organizations, and efforts to expand cultural
opportunities to neighborhoods outside the Arts District, in addition to reprogramming ATTPAC
funds, I will push for increased funding for small arts organizations using money from the
Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureaus multi-million dollar annual hotel tax entitlement. By
the way, that DC&VB entitlement was increased by approximately $10 million a year due to the
Tourism PID that was formed in 2012, which should give the DC&VB plenty of leeway to
supplement small arts organizations.

I, __Alex Dickey _______________________, am unable to receive an endorsement from the Stonewall Democrats of
Dallas for the 2017 Dallas City Council elections.

Signed_____XX______________________________ Date_______3/6/2017___________________