Candidate Name: LINUS SPILLER (CRAFT) Council District: 6

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

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

I have been a long-term LGBTQ activist in the D/FW area (20 years). My activism started as the President of
The Mens Gathering, a social support organization for black men who met at the former Oak Lawn
Community Services facility. While serving this organization, I was tapped to serve as the local
Communications Chairperson for the 1996 National Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum conference
hosted in Dallas, Texas. It was the first time in the organizations history the convention was held in a
southern state, bringing much needed awareness of the issues of the local black LGBTQ community. I also
served as the Communications Chairperson/Organizer for the inaugural and 2nd annual Ajamu Collective
Black History Program held at Cathedral of Hope Church. Throughout the years, I have served as a guest
columnist for the Dallas Voice, providing a minority and general perspective on LGBTQ issues and needs. I am
also the inaugural winner of the Teco Theatrical Productions LGBT PlayPride play competition for my work
on the issues of acceptance of minority LGBTQ in communities of color.

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 qualify.

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?

The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau has done an initial good job of competing for new LGBTQ
residents, conventions, and new business activity through its LGBTQ Influencers campaign and other
 initiatives but it is not enough in terms of LGBTQ inclusion. Council members must to be better sales persons
at attracting LGBTQ individuals to our region, with the full participation of the LBGTQ community. As the only
openly LGBTQ minority elected official, it would consider it my responsibility to be the point person in charge
of spurring LGBTQ attraction to Dallas and surrounding suburban cities. Dallas is known as an entrepreneurial
hub and I would use my position to advance that activity. Dallas is also recognized as a family-friendly city and
I would tap into that dynamic to attract individuals and LGBTQ-centered/friendly companies with families to
consider Dallas as a permanent location for their operations. And this would be done completely through my
resources at no expense to the City of Dallas. I am an airline dependent and can freely travel to other U.S.
cities to identify best business practices that will benefit Dallas with no expense to taxpayers.

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

As a resident in one of the top 3 gayest zip codes in the city (75220), I know firsthand the wealth of experience
I can tap into for commission and board appointments when elected to the District 6 seat and I plan on using
it! Our district has a lot of work to be done and we need that pink talent. An equal concern is the
recruitment of qualified and talented members of the Latino community. We need fresh blood so in a District
that is predominantly Latino, it is a necessity that I draw from that talent pool as well.

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?

The update and amendment of the City of Dallas city charter (Chapter XVI, Section 16) in 2015 prohibiting
discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and genetic characteristics
opened the door for continuous adoption of policies and benefits for LGBTQ city employees. When elected as
the first openly minority LGBTQ council representative, I will work with the city manager through the LGBT
Task Force to address those gaps and bring before the full council for a vote and successful passage.

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

I support comprehensive, inclusive health benefits for ALL LGBTQ members, including transgender individuals.
I am on my husbands health plan for a major worldwide airline carrier and know firsthand the positive
impact inclusive benefits has whole on our families. I also worked two former companies who allowed me to
carry my husband on my health insurance but I was taxed for it, which isnt right. As a council member, I will
work with the new City Manager to see the best way to implement inclusive health benefits for city staff who
fall under the LGBTQ banner, including communicating with other municipalities who have successfully
implemented comprehensive health benefits for its LGBTQ workers.

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?
 Just like states have state rights guaranteed by the Constitution, I believe cities should be run by their own
laws and ordinances. The State should have no jurisdiction over local matters.

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?

Campus finance rules for Dallas County elections, including city elections, fall within the jurisdiction of state
law and must be addressed at that level. As a candidate four previous times, I will admit that running against
an incumbent with a significant political war chest is frustrating but the current law allows it. The challenge in
proactively addressing the issues lies in what to do with received campaign contributions after an individual
has successfully secured an elected office. Does the state mandated a specific cap based on the office? Will
the state mandate a freeze of all remaining contributions received, only to be used if the individual seeks
reelection? Does the state mandate that all unexpended campaign funds be returned to contributors if not
used by the candidate? And if that is the case, what is the formula for how those contributions will be
returned since they wont be the full amounts contributed? As you can see, all those scenarios would have to
be addressed by our state legislators and I highly doubt they would even consider a bill because it threatens
their incumbency, as well as that of local office holders. So, my thought is this is an issue that must be
addressed by Texas senate and house representatives, with strong advocacy for comprehensive campaign
finance regulations.

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?

While I am a strong police advocate and have worked in neighborhood crime watch activities since 1996 when
I moved into my District 6 neighborhood, I dont support bailing out the Police and Fire Pension Fund through
a tax increase or by including monies in the upcoming bond election. Financial mismanagement should never
fall on the backs of taxpayers who put their faith and trust in elected and appointed officials, who we expect
to manage our money prudently. The city is experiencing the same challenges with its federal HUD funds,
which the feds can stop providing monies that assist low-income families with the housing they need. While
not within the citys jurisdiction but impacting Dallas children and teens, we have witnessed the same issue
with Dallas County Schools and their mismanagement of public tax dollars. I do have a solution to this crisis
and when elected to the council, will bring it before the entire body to discuss it.

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?

Im a proud member of the LGBTQ community so my position on bathroom bills should be transparent: I hate
them. What happened in Indiana and North Carolina is going to happen in Texas, which is a negative impact
on business operations which wont be tolerated by the business community. While I dont see the existing
non-discrimination city ordinance protecting LGBTQ individuals being rescinded by the city council, if an
attempt is made, I wont tolerate it and will be the most vocal opponent of such a measure as the only openly
gay council member.

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?

Homelessness is a multi-level challenge that must be addressed in all its complexity. There is not a one size
fits all solution. I have worked with homeless individuals through employment with area non-profits and
 know this to be true. We have individuals who are situationally homeless, meaning they have found
themselves in this predicament due to a loss of employment and having lived paycheck to paycheck, as many
of us do, find themselves homeless and need to find employment to lift themselves out of their situation. This
is where wrap-around services provided primarily by non-profits, state agencies, and faith-based institutions
should be tapped to address the challenge at an immediate level. Then we have individuals who are dealing
with homeless because they are dealing with mental illness and chemical dependency, including veterans,
that are often resistant to treatment options available and homeless is a persistent challenge. Strategies to
get these individuals help will require a collective response and commitment from state and county resources,
as well as the support of area non-profits and faith-based institutions. For homeless LGBTQ youth who are
kicked out of their homes due to their sexuality, I believe the LGBTQ community has to develop specific
strategies to assist these youth and ensure they are not victims to the pitfalls of being homeless and surround
them with the necessary wrap-around services they need, primarily housing, educational attainment in safe
environments (we no longer have the Walt Whitman school locally and we REALLY need to consider how to
bring an educational institution like that BACK as a state-supported charter school). Again, addressing this
issue requires a comprehensive, multi-layered strategy if we are serious about reducing the persistence of
homeless. And the ENTIRE city must be committed to this effort, not just an occasional outcry of empathy as
we witnessing.

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 work in human resources and salaries for employees are based on position classification and average salary
levels for our region. Dallas sales tax revenues dictate what city employees can be payed because Dallas
operates on an annual balanced budget so that is a primary indicator of what city employees, contractors, and
subcontractors can be paid. I support the use of subsidies and tax abatements for housing development
because the City of Dallas should proactively address the housing needs of all residents requiring this level of
support. The working poor needs viable housing options that fits within their budget and we must do a better
job as a city in addressing this disparity. Likewise, we must aggressively work on growing our tax base so all
residents benefit from the growth in the city. Job creation, along with educational opportunities, will impact
the growing number of working poor and position them to obtain positions that allow them to surpass living
wage amounts and realize the American dream that for so many of us (present company included) seems to
allude us, particularly the working poor. Most of us are but one paycheck away from poverty and
homelessness and we must address this.

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

Its a federal issue and local law enforcement should let the feds handle their own issue.

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 do support the Welcoming County resolution and lament the fact it must exist. Every resident in the City of
Dallas, State of Texas, and United States of America should have the right to live freely from fear. We are a
nation of immigrants (enslaved Africans are the exception) so everyone should be welcomed in our borders.

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?
 Based on the previous question, of course I do and its something I have ensured through action and not
words through former employers and community/civic service.

While formerly serving as the President of the Site Based Decision Making Committee at Leonidas Cigarroa
Elementary school in my immediate community, I was charged with providing leadership to a campus with
98% Hispanic/Latino students enrolled. Some of those students are undocumented (for the record, I hate
that word as it relates to the Latino community), as are their parents and family members. For me, it was a
non-issue. I was there to make sure the children excelled academically and their parents were engaged in the
life of the campus.

Likewise, while employed by Brookhaven College, we had what we called the Southern Sector Initiative
aimed at increasing student enrollment on the campus in the institutions effort to receive Hispanic-Serving
Institution designation. I ran 5 satellite college readiness centers (Go Centers), including one in my
community, Thomas Jefferson High School. A significant number of students did not have the legal status
required to complete a FAFSA form to be eligible for federal aid so I personally set up a weekly onsite
schedule to help those students and their families complete a TASFA form (Texas Application for State
Financial Aid). I remember one gay Latino male student who was basically homeless, living with friends and
others temporary who wanted to go into nursing. Because of his address challenge (he had been thrown out
of the house when he confirmed to his parents he was gay), I navigated him through the process so he could
attend Brookhaven and achieve his goal of getting a nursing degree.

Those are just a few examples of support to ensure all residents in the city have access to the same services
regardless of immigration status.

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?

While I agree with and have argued for mini arts anchors in every quadrant of the city that feeds back into the
Arts District, unfortunately the $15 million bailout which the city council approved will not be revised or
cancelled. Council members who voted in favor of the measure felt maintaining the facility was in the long-
term best interest of the city.

Which brings me to the issue of arts and enrichment programming in local communities. As a former
Community Site Manager for Big Thought, Inc., which provided arts and enrichment programming to 40 Dallas
ISD schools at its funding height, I see the city having the opportunity to impact educational outcomes by
providing these same services in afterschool and weekend settings. The funds can be administered by Dallas
Parks and Recreation rather than the Office of Cultural Affairs, and existing recreation centers and other
facilities can be used for programming.

This effort will serve as a catalyst for harnessing new arts initiatives and organizations in local neighborhoods,
especially in communities of color where they are sorely needed. To make this a reality, we must have a city
council that understands the impact of investing in the arts and the financial benefits that come with local
investment, a facts numerous studies have demonstrated.

When I worked for the Dallas Coalition for the Arts in the early 90s lobbying city council members to maintain
and/or extend arts funding when the Arts District was in its infancy, we knew which council representatives
were advocates, supportive, or thought it was a waste of taxpayer dollars, preferring funding to come from
the private sector. Because of that knowledge, we engaged them one-on-one through information lunches at
 various local restaurants complete with full presentations, and a lot of pressure from 1-2 of their council
colleagues.

During the ATTPAC demonstrations, I asked organizer David Lozano if he knew who was pro-arts and an
advocate and who wasnt. He didnt know. Most people dont know. Just because a council members serves
on the Arts, Culture, and Libraries sub-committee doesnt mean they support the arts. So, addressing this
issue is going to require a comprehensive, hands on strategy to make it a reality. Having an arts background,
myself, it is one of those issues I want to address and it is included in my campaign platform under the
Economic Development plank.

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

Signed: Linus Spiller (Digital Signature) Date: 3/5/2017