8/13/2019 2014 Terry Meza

1/5

For use by Stonewall Democrats of Dallas

2014 State Level Office Candidates

Terry Meza, Candidate for House District 105

1. Why are you seeking the endorsement from Stonewall Democrats of Dallas?

Stonewall Dems is a premier organization in Dallas County Democratic politics and that

alone makes its endorsement important. Additionally, D1!" #r$ing%&rand 'rairie, as the

district # seek to represent, has a sizea(le )&*+ population, se$eral of whose names can

(e found as supporters on my candidate petition. n a personal le$el, it-s important to me

since my adult life has (een de$oted to ci$il rights issues. or o$er /" years, # ha$e (een

in$ol$ed in ci$il rights issues in the Dallas%ort Worth area, especially in )0)AC (ut also in

the AC)0. As you know, )0)AC has a ain(ow Council. #n 2!!3, at the State Con$ention in

Dallas, # ser$ed with 4esse &arcia on the esolutions Committee when we introduced and

passed a resolution supporting e5uality for the )&*+ community. # (elie$e that as asociety we cannot ha$e 6ustice and e5uality as long as politicians and citizens think

76ustice8 is spelled 76ust us8. *ut long (efore that, in 1399 as a Spanish instructor at +C4C%

:;, # (ecame close friends with 4uan o(erto ranco who is the primary person who

created an awareness in me of )&*+ issues. *ecause of our friendship, on any )&*+

issues, # think of him and how # would like for the law and society to treat my friends.

2. What are your plans to support or participate in a coordinated campaign in the general

election in Dallas County?

a your we(site?

>( your campaign literature and mailers? >c your social media assets >+witter, ace(ook,

etc.? >d your campaign ad$ertisements

# will proudly display the Stonewall Dems endorsement on my we(site, in campaign

literature and mailers, in social media, and ad$ertisements.

@. When elected, how will you recruit, retain, and create a friendly en$ironment for )&*+ and

)&*+%friendly staff?

When elected, # will work to recruit and retain a di$erse staff, including )&*+, using

resources such as Stonewall Dems, )0)AC, and )&*+ supporters in my district. As an ;;

8/13/2019 2014 Terry Meza

2/5

employer, the importance gi$en toward supporting )&*+ organizations and e$ents will

create a friendly en$ironment where # hope Stonewall Dems will use the office to create a

local presence.

". Would you (e willing to appoint a liaison to meet with the )&*+ community on an ongoing

(asis? #f not, why?

es, # am willing to appoint a liaison to meet with the community on an ongoing (asis.

owe$er, # prefer as your elected representati$e to (e the one to host regular meetings.

0nderstanding that there will (e times when # am not a(le to personally meet or attend an

e$ent, then a liaison will (e asked to represent the office. # hope to ha$e the Stonewall

Dems as ad$isors on )&*+ and other issues.

B. ow would you support or lead efforts to pass a resolution to support marriage e5uality?

As pre$iously mentioned in uestion 1, #-$e supported a pro%e5uality resolution in )0)AC.

esolutions supporting marriage e5uality should (e passed (y city councils, other localgo$erning (odies, church conferences, and other organizations such as the :AAC' and

)0)AC. +hese efforts are most helpful to win in the court of pu(lic opinion, (ut we also

need to win in court andor in the State )egislature. Although it appears that now a

ma6ority of +eEans appro$e of same%seE marriage, the current make%up of our courts and

our legislature do not make either path easy.

8/13/2019 2014 Terry Meza

3/5

9. Will you (e willing to lead or support efforts to de$elop a )&*+ +askforce, similar to the

structure and mission the Dallas City Council de$eloped?

# will (e willing to lead or support efforts to de$elop an )&*+ +askforce and commit to

(eginning with a taskforce for D1!".

G. ow would you lead or support state legislation andor constitutional amendments

pertaining to= >a )&*+ Couples adopting? >( )&*+ Couples pro$iding foster care? >c

Supporting safe schools for )&*+ students? >d Supporting the repeal of the +eEas

e.g.

the re5uirement to ha$e a sonogram prior to the legal termination of a pregnancy?

As a (oard mem(er and

8/13/2019 2014 Terry Meza

4/5

12. ow would you lead or support the efforts to teach comprehensi$e seEual education

in +eEas?

# will support efforts to teach comprehensi$e seEual education in +eEas. +his will not only

reduce illnesses from seEually transmitted diseases and decrease teen pregnancy, (ut will

also work positi$ely to foster healthy relationships and an understanding of their human

seEuality. or )&*+ youth, this may also ser$e to reduce (ullying and teen suicide.

1/. ow would you lead or support legislation to compara(le to a proposed inclusi$e

;mployment :on%Discrimination Act?

# will support state legislation compara(le to the ;mployment :on%Discrimination Act.

1@. What specific ideas do you ha$e andor what current legislation would you support

to impro$e our state economy and address the wealth disparity in +eEas?

# will support the )illy )ed(etter air 'ay Act for e5ual pay in +eEas. #t passed the last

legislature only to (e $etoed (y the &o$ernor. opefully, in the neEt legislature, it will pass

again and go to a Democratic go$ernor to (e signed into law. # also support an increase to

the minimum wage. # am the only candidate for D1!" who (rings small (usiness

eEperience not only as a small (usiness owner myself, (ut also as a non%profit director for

economic de$elopment, small and minority (usiness assistance, minoritywomen%owned

(usiness certification, neigh(orhood (usiness re$italizationhistoric preser$ation, and 6o(

placement. #n addition to my work eEperience, # also ha$e eEperience through my

community ser$ice, most nota(ly as a (oard mem(er for the +eEas Association of

+A

8/13/2019 2014 Terry Meza

5/5

#, +erry