In this second of two election issues, Windy City Times election guide charts are also available. They include the candidates' responses to 16 LGBT-related questions sent by the newspaper. Endorsements from other agencies are listed and will be update as groups send in their endorsements. Windy City Times does not endorse candidates for election.
Please see the Windy City Times Election Guide Chart ( questions detailed below ) at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/WCT_20110216_chart.pdf
Approximately 90 percent of the candidates in all the mayoral and aldermanic races were sent surveys. ( Windy City Times was not able to reach a few candidates. ) We have also included our questionnaire.
For AIDS Foundation of Chicago question responses from mayoral candidates see www.aidschicago.org/advocacy/candidate_questionnaire.php. Also, a broad coalition of Chicago-area LGBT organizationsincluding Equality Illinoishas assessed LGBT issue positions of five of the six candidates in areas including transgender rights and marriage equality. The questionnaire is at www.eqil.org/nextmayor.html .
Please also see the following and more election-related articles in the Feb. 9 and 16, 2011 online editions of Windy City Times:
ELECTIONS '11: 46TH WARD--MICHAEL CARROLL 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30634
ELECTIONS '11 Gender JUST Releases Mayoral Scorecard 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30632
ELECTIONS '11: 46TH WARD--ANDY LAM 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30633
ELECTIONS '11: MAYOR Patricia Watkins 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30571
ELECTIONS '11: 43RD WARD Michele Smith 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30570
ELECTIONS '11: 43RD WARD Carmen Olmetti 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30569
ELECTIONS '11: 43RD WARD Rafael Vargas 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30568
ELECTIONS '11: 46TH WARD Diane Shapiro 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30567
ELECTIONS '11: 47TH WARD Ameya Pawar 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30566
ELECTIONS '11: 47TH WARD Matt Reichel 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30565
ELECTIONS '11: 49TH WARD Brian White 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30564
ELECTIONS '11: 49TH WARD Joe Moore 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30563
ELECTIONS '11: 46TH WARD Emily Stewart 2011-02-02 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30395
ELECTIONS '11: 46TH WARD James Cappleman 2011-02-02 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30394
ELECTIONS '11: 46TH WARD Don Nowotny 2011-02-02 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30393
The following 16 questions appeared on the survey that Windy City Times sent out to candidates in the 2011 election. Surveys were sent out to all candidates for whom we had contact info; we estimate that surveys were sent to 90 percent of all candidates. The questions were the same for candidates in all races. NOTE: Regarding the mayoral candidates' answers, neither Bill "Dock" Walls nor Patricia Watkins favors marriage equality. In addition, Walls is not pro-choice while Watkins has not employed any LGBT campaign staffers. This is why they each scored 14/16.
1 ) Do you have or would you install a written policy in your office regarding sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination?
2 ) What is your position regarding funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and education?
3 ) Have you taken or would you take any steps to further HIV/AIDS treatment and education programs? If so, what are those measures?
4 ) What are feelings regarding abortion? ( i.e., Are you pro-choice or pro-life? )
5 ) Have you started or would you start sensitivity training for your staff members regarding LGBT-related issues?
6 ) Do you favor same-sex marriage?
7 ) If you were in the state legislature, would you have voted in favor of the civil-unions bill that recently passed through the Illinois General Assembly?
8 ) Do you favor hate-crimes legislation that increases penalties for crimes committed based on the sexual orientation or gender identity of the person attacked?
9 ) Do you believe that LGBT individuals should become foster parents if they are qualified?
10 ) Do you believe that LGBT individuals have the right to adopt children if they are qualified? 11 ) Would you keep committees around such as the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues and departments such as the Office of LGBT Health?
12 ) What are your thoughts on a school that would be designed specifically for LGBT students, much like the Harvey Milk School in New York City?
13 ) Would you advocate for mandatory anti-bullying policies/training in Chicago public schools?
14 ) Are any members of your current staffeither campaign or general office personnelopenly LGBT?
15 ) Please list any and all experience you have on LGBT-related issues.
16 ) What do you feel is the biggest problem facing the LGBT community today?