Candidate Name: Dominique Torres Council District: Dallas City Council District 5

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

I am a biracial woman who believes in equality for everyone due to the past discrimination that
I have personally witnessed against people of color, women and LGBTQ community.

Please share any experience that illustrates your understanding and interest of the needs of LGBTQ Dallas
residents.

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 a democrat and have only voted in Democratic Primaries.

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?

I believe that one of the best ways to ensure that Dallas remains competitive in LGBTQ
inclusion is by passing ordinances that are not discriminatory of this particular
community and instead are in lockstep with other minority antidiscrimination ordinances.
Would you recruit and consider qualified LGBTQ constituents for your commission and board appointments?

Yes, I strongly believe that diversity is strength and by bringing voices from different
communities will help the City grow.
Will you support a Dallas City Council's resolution for a statewide ban on LGBTQ employment discrimination?
Yes.
 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?

I believe that City of Dallas should attract and retain great talent across the board in all
capacities, as far as retaining and attracting top LGBTQ talent I believe that we should
tout our efforts to be an inclusive employer and ensure that LGBTQ employees share in
the same benefits as all other employees.

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 believe in local control and that we should be able to make decision for certain issues that
effect our city free from state inference.
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?

I believe that all candidates should be on an equal playing field when it comes to campaign
contribution donation limits. The Dallas City Charter should be amended to close this loophole
and also should impose regulations on SuperPac contributions as well.

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 support the proposed plan to take money from DART given to them from the sales tax. I
believe that this will not only help fortify the Pension plan but also cause DART to reconfigure
plans of expansions to suburbs and refocus on more efficient Bus Routes for Dallas Residents
and Riders and also not increase taxes for Dallas residents.
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 think that the current proposed state legislation to regulate bathrooms is stupid and incites
discrimination and is unenforceable. I will certainly defend Dallas existing non discrimination
City Ordinance for LGBTQ individuals.

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?

From the information I have gathered thus far I do support the Housing First Initiative as a tool
as long as we have a strong support base to ensure that the Homeless who are housed have
access to mental health, healthcare access, job training, and financial counseling.

I personally would like to take a collaborative approach with local NGOs and churches because
District 5 like many other Districts outside of Downtown Dallas has seen a spike in Homeless
problems and if we can provide services through the City we should be able to attack the
problem and help the homeless. I support a City Board that contains local citizens and others
who do not derive a financial benefit from this crisis.
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?

Minimum wage is not a living wage and I am in support of the citys ordinance on a living
wage for its city employees and city contracts and subcontractors because these people are the
people who make this City great by keeping it running.

However the Citys ordinance does not got far enough to ensure a living wage for the Citizens
of Dallas and therefore Id work to lobby the States Legislature to withdraw their ban on
allowing the City of Dallas to require a living wage for most businesses operating within the
City.

I also believe that Dallas should require developers who receive subsidies and tax abatements to
accept housing vouchers. Also, I believe that we should ensure that our Housing Department is
efficient in processing housing voucher applications and working with local nonprofits to
educate and disseminate information about the process.
What do you think the role of local law enforcement should be in the enforcing of federal immigration law?

I do not believe that law enforcement should be in the practice of racial profiling people. Local
law enforcement should be enforcing local and state laws and I do not believe that they should
be exhausting resources on enforcement of federal immigration law.

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 support the resolution which declares Dallas County a Welcoming County, I believe that
undocumented residents who are otherwise law abiding and productive members of our
community should not have to live in fear of racial profiling and deportation. I do not believe
that Dallas County or City of Dallas should act as Immigration Enforcement Agents, the City
and County has more important things to be concerned about.

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?

Yes, I support Dallas resident being allowed to have access to city services. As an immigration
attorney, I know the struggle of many undocumented whom are productive residents to have
access to city services.

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 would certainly be open to revising the bailout for the ATTPAC and to, at the very least
require that a portion of the money go directly to programs that benefit low income areas. I do
believe that the City of Dallas should equally support local art and small art organizations
which are in local neighborhoods to allow access to underserved communities to enjoy and be
educated from them.

I, Dominique Torres, am seeking an endorsement from the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas for the 2017 Dallas City
Council elections.

Signed___________________________________ Date: 2/6/17