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City Council District 14 Candidate Questionnaire 2019

(Instructions: Please answer all questions. All responses are due March 29, 2019. Please return with a
campaign photo if you have one. We reserve the right to edit responses for brevity, clarity, or libel, but
will endeavor to avoid any heavy-handed edits. Return responses to Bethany@candysdirt.com).

1. Tell us about your Dallas. What are the best things about this city? What are the struggles?
Our greatest asset is the diversity that D14 includes. We are Downtown, Uptown, The Arts
District, Turtle Creek, Cedar Springs, and East Dallas neighborhoods...all of which have their
own flavor and characteristics. I would work strongly to preserve and enhance each
neighborhood's unique offerings.

2. Pick one of those struggles you just mentioned. How would you address it? Please be
specific.
Our city struggles with efficient and effective city government. I would not engage in petty
insults and divisiveness. And I reject an "us vs them" mentality.

3. Should the city council be more invested in building a Dallas for residents, or one for
visitors? Why?
Short answer, both. Think of it from a pride of ownership perspective. When we are proud of
the neighborhood, community and city we live in, we want to show it off!

4. Why do you think residents are distrustful of their city officials?

Currently, there is an attitude of “the rules don’t apply to me” amongst some of our elected
officials. Too often, our city leaders are putting their own best interests first, examples include:
accepting campaign contributions from children, voting on issues that benefit them financially,
as well as having been charged and prosecuted for accepting bribes. It is imperative that City
Hall be run in an ethical manner where the focus is upon what is going to help the entire
community, rather than serving only a few specific council members.

 
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5. What do you see as being the biggest strengths of your opponent?
He is passionate about the city of Dallas.

6. And if elected, would you reach out to your opponents to avail yourself of those strengths if
the occasion arose?
Absolutely.
We had a working relationship before the election, and I would hope to continue that after the
election.

7. If not elected, what will you do to help both your district (if you are running for council),
and/or the city as a whole? Please be specific.
My purpose for running for City Council was to further involve myself in the community I love.
The results of this election will not change that. I have been, and would continue to be involved
in our community particularly in my children’s schools.

8. How would you define a “progressive” candidate? What are the policy hallmarks of such a
candidate?
I believe a progressive candidate is one that embraces the new urbanism; a community that
values walkability, alternate transportation, great parks and a growing arts community. I think
it’s important to note that I strongly believe that progressive and conservative definitions are
not mutually exclusive.

9. How would you describe a “conservative” candidate? What are the policy hallmarks of such a
candidate?
I think of a conservative candidate as one who is fiscally conservative. I believe a candidate can
be both ideologically progressive and fiscally conservative.

10. What do you think are the three biggest controversies the current city council has faced, and
how would you have addressed those controversies if you were on the council?
Ethical violations. Police manpower and retention. Reducing taxes

11. Does Dallas need a youth curfew? Why or why not?

We currently have a shortage of police in our City. Our police department is already limited in
their ability to patrol and our neighborhoods have seen an increase of crime. Upon the
expiration of the curfew, our current ​Police Chief said the curfew was a “tool” for law
enforcement to keep teens and children safe​. This is about the protection of our youth and also
equipping our police department with the tools they need to effectively do their job.

12. Homelessness in Dallas has tripled under the current administration — what can be done to
curb and end homelessness in Dallas?
Homeless families need to be given help and housing immediately. Our community, region,
state and nation must address the huge issue of drug abuse, addiction and mental health issues
that play a significant contributing role in homelessness.

13. How would you address the police shortage and pay issues?

 
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The city of Dallas needs 1,000 more police officers. Our Dallas police force is down and it’s not
just a budgetary issue. DPD has a culture of going above and beyond. They do extra because
they love our city, they love their jobs and they love us. We must work harder to reestablish the
connection between officers and residents as members of one team.

14. If you agree we need to raise the starting salary of DPD to remain competitive with
neighboring communities, where would that funding come from?

I think pay must be competitive with surrounding municipalities. But I do not believe pay alone
is the reason we are losing our officers.

15. How would you suggest we discourage young trained officers from leaving our force once
Dallas taxpayers have paid to train them?

If we put the time and money into training an officer, we should have a minimum service
commitment before they can leave to join another force. Much in the same way with military
service.

16. What will you do to reduce gun violence in Dallas?

Give the police the tools and support they have asked for to better engage with our
communities.

17. In the last 12 months, two former city officials (one who was a council member at the time)
have pleaded guilty to various corruption charges. How does Dallas move forward from this,
and how do you reassure wary constituents?

Ethics issues have become central to this campaign and how our city government will serve us.
We must hold public officials accountable and remove those who break our trust.

18. Much of the recent corruption centered on real estate developments and alleged pay-offs to
developers. Developers met directly with Council members alone. Do you find this alarming?
And why or why not?

What is alarming is that select councilmembers have broken the law and Dallas’ ethics rules,
and some have gotten away with it. Growing our city sometimes involves disruption and an
open and fair process respecting all stakeholders is imperative. Corruption prevents fairness.

19. Do we need a code of ethics at Dallas City Hall? If so, what would the components be?
Absolutely! We need to ENFORCE the existing Code of Ethics put forth by the City of Dallas’
Office of Ethics and Compliance. City officials should be held and hold themselves to the
highest ethical standards. As a City Councilmember, I will represent District 14 in a fair, strong
and ethical manner.

 
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20. Do you feel that Dallas City Code 51A-4.501(i), which allows the city to demolish structures
3,000 square feet or smaller even if they are in a historic district, is applied fairly and evenly
across the city? Why or why not?

As someone who has lived in a Conservation District and values historic homes, I believe the
city must respect existing property owner rights in any neighborhood. Any demolition must be
taken on a case by case basis and applied evenly.

21. Should Dallas open the duties of promoting the city to an RFP, instead of renewing the
VisitDallas contract in 2020? Why or why not?

The recent audit of Visit Dallas showed financial mismanagement and inefficiencies. Dallas
needs a tourist agency to promote our city and attract visitors and businesses. We need to see
who the new CEO is and the internal changes they implement before we agree to end our
relationship.

22. Should Dallas expedite the process of securing of permits by homebuilders? Why or why
not, and if yes, how?

Homebuilders want to build more housing and complain about the lengthy process in securing
permits. We should expedite the process because Dallas is in desperate need of affordable
housing.

23. What, if any, conflicts of interest do you foresee in your sphere that would prevent you from
taking part in discussion or voting on an agenda item brought before the council?

None

24. What are your views on the Confederate monument debate?

Confederate monuments should not be on public land.

25. Since your district is partially downtown, what's your plan for downtown Dallas as it goes
from a business/commuter core to a residential/business/commuter core?

As a 25 year resident of Dallas, I have enjoyed seeing the positive transformation of

Downtown/CBD. Downtown has become a vivacious interconnected residential and business
corridor. We must be sure sidewalks are open and clear, public safety is ensured, and that we
have more green space and walkable areas.

 
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