Attorney hopes to break into ‘good-old-boys’ club and become first Latina, first gay person on board in at-large race
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Hispanics comprise 38 percent of Dallas County’s 2.4 million residents, according to 2007 Census figures.
But the seven-member Board of Trustees for Dallas County Schools — which provides transportation and other services to 14 independent school districts in the county — has never included a Hispanic representative.
Cassandra Gandara, 27, an openly gay Latina attorney, is hoping to change that in the May 9 municipal elections. Gandara is among four candidates vying for two seats on the Board of Trustees in an at-large race.
"I really believe that it’s important that all Dallas government boards reflect the diversity that is Dallas," said Gandara, who’d also be the first openly LGBT member of the board. "In the past it’s been known as a good-old-boy’s board, and that’s been changing. I just want to see that change continue and make sure we don’t go back to the old ways."
Gandara, the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, grew up in Oak Cliff and graduated from Skyline High School. Gandara earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, where she also founded a chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
She went to law school at the University of Houston, where she was an officer in the LGBT student group. She said she "turned down the big firm jobs" so she could return to Dallas and complete a LULAC public interest fellowship under former Democratic state Rep. Domingo Garcia.
Gandara, who became an attorney in Garcia’s law office in 2007, said while she’s always been drawn to community service, she was inspired to run for office by the election of President Barack Obama.
"I believe that if what we really want is change, it needs to start at the local level," she said. "My parents always instilled in me that you needed to have an education to reach the American dream. I’ve always loved education and had a passion for it."
If elected, Gandara said she’d push for Dallas County Schools, which has 1,700 employees, to adopt an employment nondiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
"I also think it’s important that the employees, and specifically the bus drivers, undergo more training in regards to bullying and hate crimes directed toward GLBT students," Gandara said. "I was on these buses less than 10 years ago, and I remember what went on on them."
Gandara, who resides in Oak Cliff with her partner, has been endorsed by the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance.
DGLA also has endorsed incumbent Larry Duncan, a longtime LGBT ally, for the Board of Trustees at Dallas County Schools. "That’s two votes that are really convertible into a lot of good things for the LGBT community," DGLA President Patti Fink said. "I think that’s just an amazing opportunity that we have there."
Gandara is one of three known openly LGBT candidates running for office in North Texas this year. Daniel Benchot is running for Dallas City Council in District 1, while incumbent District 9 Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns is unopposed for re-election.
DGLA has endorsed 10 candidates in Dallas City Council races. For a complete list and more info, go to www.dallasgla.org. The Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance has posted survey responses from candidates in Frisco and Plano on the group’s Web site, www.ccgla.org.
Meanwhile, the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce has come out against Propositions 1 and 2 in Dallas. Proposition 1 would effectively bar the city from building and owning a $500 million Convention Center hotel. Proposition 2 would prevent the city from providing more than $1 million in incentives to developers without first conducting a referendum if 500 Dallas voters sign a petition.
It remained unclear this week whether Omni Hotels, which would operate the Convention Center hotel if it’s built, would offer domestic partner benefits to an estimated 800 permanent employees at the proposed facility. The question of whether Omni Hotels would offer DP benefits at the Convention Center hotel was first raised in a Dallas Voice article last week.
Chris Heinbaugh, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert’s chief of staff, said Thursday, May 7, that "serious discussions" were under way between the city and Omni concerning DP benefits. Leppert said last week he planned to try to persuade Omni Hotels to offer DP benefits.
"Omni has been very open to talking about this," said Heinbaugh, who suggested that a commitment from Omni to offer DP benefits was imminent.
Early voting numbers up
The battle over a proposed $500 million Dallas-owned Convention Center hotel appeared to be driving people to the polls in higher numbers for 2009 municipal elections. Toni Pippins-Poole, assistant elections administrator for Dallas County, said Wednesday, May 6 that 57,320 people countywide had cast ballots during early voting, which ended Tuesday. That’s up from 48,276 in 2007, when unlike this year a Dallas mayoral race was on the ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, when voters can cast ballots at their regular precinct locations. For more info, go to www.dalcoelections.org.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 8, 2009.
What a WONDERFUL story.
Way to go Cassandra! I wish you the best of luck.
At 27, she lacks any noteable community involvement to be elected to this office unless the reporter glossed over this. I will not vote for someone just because they are gay. Not sure why Jesse Garcia and and Jesus Chairez are so excited about this story. There are other GLBT latina activists that could outshine this novice. We don’t need to elect unprepared GLBT candidates. The stakes are too high. Remember that constable that the Stonewall Democrats kept on telling us to support (Mike Dupress?). He ended up being barred from running for office. We don’t need another Dupress. Too bad Domingo did not find a better candidate.
Amanda: You sound so pathetic. You know people have to start somewhere, she is not running for mayor. LOL. You have such a negative outlook on life. It is a wonderful story still and you hate it because they are not writing about YOU!
I am glad they wrote the story because I went ahead a researched the other candidates and found three that seem more qualified. Elected officials responsible for tax payer money and the safety of children should not be someone’s first volunteer/leadership experience. Look at Leppert! My vote this Saturday will not be for someone who is “just starting out”. Seriously, why is this a wonderful story? It’s a one sided puff piece. There is nothing compelling about it at all. It’s also poor journalism when the Dallas Voice does not mention the other candidates running. Maybe too much time was spent at Crews Inn. I have to remember that the Dallas Voice is really the Jesse Garcia Voice.
Blaahhh! I just feel out of my chair. The Jesse Garcia Voice. How funny.
Amanda, I find it interesting that your rationale for not voting for Cassandra Gandara in this election includes: (1) “There are other GLBT latina activists that could outshine this novice.” Perhaps, but none of these “activists” of whence you speak have stepped up, none are on the ballot. (2) “I went ahead a researched the other candidates and found three that seem more qualified.” Yes, perhaps – as a matter of fact, there are four candidates on the ballot (including Cassandra) vying for two at-large seats…top two vote-getters win the two seats. If you’re truly concerned about advancing GLBT issues within Dallas County Schools, why would you consider two extreme rightwingers who are both very much anti-GLBT (Mary Darby & Homer Fincannon … neither of whom would bring appreciable applicable experience beyond a history of running for office and teaching concealed handgun classes to Dallas County Schools)? Indeed, Larry Duncan and Cassandra Gandara have stepped up to offer their considerable intelligence, education, and talents to a board that affects tens of thousands of Dallas County kids and adults every day…AND they will be formidable advocates for GLBT issues at DCS as well. Can you say that about Darby & Fincannon?
If you seriously believe your own words, that “the stakes are too high”, then why in heck would you cast one or both of your two DCS at-large votes for anti-LGBT extreme rightwingers when two really wonderful outstanding unabashed advocates for LGBT equality are on the ballot? What universe of good reasoning do you hail from?
If Gandara is such a “wonderful outstanding unabashed advocate”, why is this the first time everyone has even heard of her? She has had ample time to get involved or even be a member in a number of community organizations including LGBT groups. I’m sure Legal hospice or Lambda Legal would have loved to had her involved all these years since she has been out of law school. Thanks to Amanda, I looked up the Leauge of Women Voter’s information and found that Darby and Duncan are the two qualified candidates. I plan on voting for them tomorrow.
I have personally worked with Cassandra Gandara in the past for about four years and don’t feel she should be discriminated because of her age. Cassandra should instead be applauded because at 27 she has more courage than most of us to put herself out there and take on a huge responsibility. A responsibility she feels she can handle otherwise I do not believe she would have stepped up. In 27 years, Cassandra has academically and professionally accomplished more than most people. This is not her first role as a leader. I have worked with her in planning and hosting a nationwide conference, voter registration drives, mentoring young students, starting a very successful student organization, motivating students to become leaders, and fighting for equality to name a few off the top of my head. Unlike other people who brag about every accomplishment they make, Cassandra doesn’t need to do that. Her work speaks for herself. I know that she will accomplish many great things if elected as a trustee. Cassandra is honest, hard working, a model citizen and the thing that impressed me the most when I first started working with her is that even if no one is looking or listening Cassandra continues to work on behalf of her community without expecting something in return. What a breath of fresh air!
“I’m With Amanda” — Oh but Cassandra has indeed been involved in every community she has lived in…in leadership roles, no less. She started the Pancho Villa LULAC chapter at UT-Dallas when she was a student there, she was an officer in Outlaw, the LGBT law student organization at U of Houston, and she’s currently fulfilling a LULAC fellowship.
Unbelievable that you would choose Darby over Gandara with such feeble reasoning. I seriously doubt you represent the majority of LGBT voters in your “researched” choice of an outspoken ultra-conservative Cathie-Adams-endorsed rightwinger in Darby over a fresh bright cream-of-the-crop lesbian latina attorney with a rich history of leadership and championing of minority rights in Gandara.
If you’re truly an LGBT voter, then your choice of Darby doesn’t make a lick of sense, but that’s your right as a voter. I’d be curious to know what LGBT organizations you are active in and for how long and in what capacities and to what accomplishment. Not to worry, we’ll be sure to come back to you (& your friend Amanda) on all of Darby’s votes on LGBT issues and others, should your vote help to bring Darby to office…we can only hope that you would be big enough to hold her publicly accountable on each & every vote as well, since you believe she’s all that and more.
My two Dallas County Schools votes are overwhelming going to Larry Duncan and Cassandra Gandara tomorrow, and I hope that all LGBT voters with a desire for fair-minded representatives will join me as well.
I looked up the information too and decided I won’t be supporting her this time around but she seems like a nice person. Maybe start on a city committee or something? The women voter’s guide is a good resource. Thanks for mentioning it. Not sure if I can post a link here but this is it https://www.lwvdallas.org/files/2009_VG.pdf
I’m ready for new leadership. Tired of hearing from the self appointed blow hards in our community. Stonewall Democrats do nothing but have events at guy’s bars, can never find out when there is a DGLA meeting and when you show up to volunteer for things people sit around talking about each other. Thank goodness for Queer Liberaction!
So, – Lance, Amanda, & I’m With Amanda, where exactly in the LWV voter guide does it show Darby’s history of involvement in, say, Legal Hospice or Lambda Legal or other LGBT organizations?
Other than simply being older, teaching concealed handgun classes within the Dallas County GOP, and serving as a McCain GOP elector in the last presidential election, exactly HOW is Darby more qualified than Cassandra Gandara? Especially for an LGBT voter?
Wow, I hope a LOT of LGBT voters swing by and read your comments here — you really are making your case to hold Cassandra’s age — and ONLY her age –against her in favor of ANYONE older. ANYONE. Even an anti-LGBT candidate, as long as she’s older than Cassie.
For more detail on Larry Duncan and Cassandra Gandara and their specific views affecting the LGBT community, visit http://www.DallasGLA.org.
The voters guide shows that Darby has a better grasp of the issues. Pegasus News has a good article too. https://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/apr/24/preview-dallas-county-school-board-election/
I don’t think your candidate’s age was mentioned but she sure does lack specific related experience. Duncan has some good qualifications. I am impressed with him.
There are many women in our community that have guns. So Darby’s hobby of going to the shooting range does not bother me.
Good Luck Cassey….
“Amanda
May 08, 2009 at 15:32
I’m ready for new leadership. Tired of hearing from the self appointed blow hards in our community. Stonewall Democrats do nothing but have events at guy’s bars, can never find out when there is a DGLA meeting and when you show up to volunteer for things people sit around talking about each other. Thank goodness for Queer Liberaction!”
Ahh, so now we get to the heart of the matter. Nothing whatsoever to do with Cassandra Gandara’s candidacy or the Dallas County Schools election at all.