Candidate Name: Omar Narvaez

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 6 th, 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.

As an out and proud cisgender gay male that is a past president of Stonewall
Democrats of Dallas and currently employed at Lambda Legal as a community
educator in the Law & Policy section, I have worked tirelessly to achieve equality from
the school house, city hall, federal level and in the court house. I am also a member of
the City of Dallas LGBT Task Force.

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?

Yes I qualify.

1. 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?

We should actively tout our inclusive polices to any and every convention,
visitor, and business so that they want Dallas to be the place they visit and
more so the place they want to live because our quality of life is better than any
other city.

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

Yes
Will you support a Dallas City Council's resolution for a statewide ban on LGBTQ employment
discrimination?
Yes
 2. 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? We should advertise our job openings in LGBT targeted publications,
blogs etc. We should attend job fairs put on by LGBT organizations and join the LGBT
Chamber as a partner organization. Our LGBT inclusive policies and ordinances are a
model for many other cities, and our 100 Score on the HRC index also attracts many
LGBT people to our great city.

Do you support comprehensive transgender inclusive health benefits and as a council

member work with the City Manager to implement such benefits?

I have for the past eight years been working to get this done, and very optimistic that
it will come to fruition in the next budget cycle. Thanks to the members of the LGBT
Task Force and CM Medrano for all their support to keep working on this issue, and for
completing this super important goal.

1. 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 oppose this, and will continue to lobby legislators. I would also push that the city
continues to lobby at the state level to keep our local control.

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?
These should be completely eliminated.

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? Currently there is a bill in Austin that if passed and signed by the
Governor would make up a huge portion of this deficit. After that, I would not support
a tax increase to address the deficit, but I would support a creative solution, as there
are plenty of areas that money could be shifts. One example is taking 1/8 th of one cent
from the tax that goes to DART and move it to pay off the deficit. This in turn would
keep folks paying the same and help solve the issue.

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?
They are flat out stupid. Absolutely I will defend existing non-discrimination city
ordinance. In fact on March 6, I was down in Austin to testify against SB6 and have
been a member of the City of Dallas LGBT Task Force for 8 years fighting to get trans
inclusive health care benefits and to support other issues facing the trans community.

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?
First we need to have an open debate and approve a citizen run Homeless
Commission as well as have a complete forensic audit on all organizations that
receive funding from The City. Next we must find creative solutions to work with the
County and Federal Govt as well as Parkland in order to fund programs for the people
that are in need of mental health services.

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 completely support the living wage ordinance which was passed by the City Council
and supported by labor unions to $10.37 for city employees, contracts and
subcontractors. I am proud that during my time on the Dallas County Schools board,
we have passed two living wage increases first a minimum $10.50 an hour upon
graduating from training and a $3.00 an hour increase from $12.50 to $15.50 for our
Commercial Bus drivers. By creatively looking at the budget, these living wages can
be accomplished.

I also supported the housing ordinance passed by the council that requires housing
developments receiving tax abatement or subsidies that they must accept housing
vouchers. I would be more than happy to relook and tweak this policy to make it
stronger.

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

They should have no role in having to enforce 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 was proud to support and watch the County pass the recent resolution, as well as
the one passed at Dallas ISD. I am proud to support a Welcoming City Resolution
that will be presented by CM Adam Medrano in an upcoming council meeting.

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, all people deserve access to all city services. When our resident thrive our city
thrives. Immigration status has nothing to do with the services we provide as a city.

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? As a former board
member for the Bishop Arts Cultural Center owned and operated by TeCo Productions,
our small non-profit arts theater was in dire need of funds. These funds if distributed
properly can help promote local theater and arts which only betters neighborhoods. I
adamantly would support revising or canceling this boondoggle bailout.

I, Omar Narvaez_______________________________, am seeking an endorsement from the Stonewall

Democrats of Dallas for the 2017 Dallas City Council elections.

Signed___________________________________ Date March 5, 2017__________________________