James White, Joe Tave, Adam McGough
DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
Even though there are certain areas of town known as “gayborhoods,” LGBT people live all over Dallas. And response from candidates in next month’s Dallas City Council election show that at least some of the candidates understand that their constituencies include LGBT people.
When Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance began its endorsement process, candidates from every district applied and for the first time in its 38 year history, DGLA endorsed in every district. Also for the first time, every council member running for re-election — whether opposed or unopposed — sought the group’s backing.
Traditionally, the largest concentration of LGBT people are found in Oak Lawn and North Oak Cliff. Those districts are represented by Adam Medrano, Philip Kingston and Scott Griggs. All three are running unopposed.
For the 2013 election, council districts were redrawn. District 3 Councilman Scott Griggs’ neighborhood was redrawn into District 1, where he won re-election. District 5 Councilwoman Vonceil Jones Hill’s neighborhood was drawn into District 3.
Hill, who has been a vocal opponent of the LGBT community throughout her tenure on the council, suddenly found herself representing one of the city’s largest LGBT communities — southern Oak Cliff, including the Kiestwood neighborhood as well as the Mountain Creek Lake area.
Now, five candidates are running to replace Hill, who faces term limits.
DGLA endorsed Wini Cannon, and Joe Tave got the nod from Stonewall Democrats of Dallas.
DGLA said in its endorsement the group preferred Cannon over Tave because of Cannon’s willingness to make transgender issues a priority at City Hall.
Tave said it would take very little for him to get up to speed on LGBT issues.
“I’ve worked over the years for fairness and equality,” he said.
District 10 in northeast Dallas includes Lake Highlands. Three candidates are running for that seat.
Last week, Highland Park ISD ended an investigation against District 10’s DGLA-endorsed candidate Adam McGough. His children attended Highland Park schools for more than two years. The family maintained a home in Lake Highlands while also having an apartment in Highland Park.
McGough claimed his wife lived in Highland Park during that period.
The school district had the right to check residency using leases, electric bills and paperwork and could request a home visit.
Had the school district found McGough wasn’t eligible to send his children to HighlandPark schools, it could have charged him $50 per day tuition reimbursement for the two years they attended those schools. The investigation has ended with no charges filed.
The children are now enrolled in a private Christian school.
Stonewall endorsed James White in the race.
In District 5, which includes Pleasant Grove, incumbent Rick Callahan has said he’s struggled with the issue of same-sex marriage and voted with Sheffie Kadane and Hill against equal pension benefits for employees who are legally married to a same-sex spouse.
Sherry Cordova, who was endorsed by both DGLA and Stonewall, has promised to represent the interests of her LGBT constituents if elected.
District 4 is a South Dallas seat that includes a few LGBT neighborhoods in southern Oak Cliff. DLGA endorsed Carolyn King Arnold from a group of eight candidates running because of her commitment to support equality for the LGBT community.
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Early voting: When and where
Early voting begins for local elections runs Monday, April 27–Saturday, May 2, 1–6 p.m.
on Sunday, May 3 and 7 a.m.–7 p.m. on Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5.
Early voting locations in Dallas are:
Bethany Lutheran Church 10101 Walnut Hill Lane
Churchill Recreation Center, 6906 Churchill Way
Cockrell Hill City Hall, 4125 W. Clarendon
Dallas I.S.D. Administration Bldg, 3700 Ross Ave.
Eastfield College Pleasant Grove Campus, 802 S. Buckner
El Centro College-West Campus, 3330 N. Hampton Rd.
Frankford Townhomes, 18110 Marsh Lane
Grauwyler Park Recreation Center, 7780 Harry Hines Blvd.
Highland Hills Library, 6200 Bonnie View Rd.
J. Erik Jonsson Library, 1515 Young Street
Lochwood Library, 11221 Lochwood Blvd.
Marsh Lane Baptist Church, 10716 Marsh Lane
Martin Luther King Jr. Core Building, 2922 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Martin Weiss Recreation Center, 1111 Martindell Ave.
Mountain Creek Library, 6102 Mountain Creek Pkwy.
Oak Cliff Sub-Courthouse, 410 S. Beckley Ave.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 7611 Park Lane
Paul L Dunbar Lancaster-Kiest Library, 2008 East Kiest Blvd.
Preston Royal Library, 5626 Royal Lane
Records Building (Main Location), 509 Main Street
Renner-Frankford Library, 6400 Frankford Rd.
Reverchon Recreation Center, 3505 Maple Ave.
Samuell Grand Recreation Center, 6200 East Grand Ave.
South Oak Cliff High School, 3601 S. Marsalis Ave.
Before you vote, make sure you have an approved form of photo identification. Currently voters may
present a valid Texas driver license, Election Identification Certificate, personal identification card, concealed handgun license, military identification card, citizenship or naturalization certificate or passport.
For more information visit Citysecretary.dallascityhall.com/electionMay2015.html.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition April 24, 2015.