Michael Fjetland
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas finished screening candidates on Saturday for the 2014 Democratic primary. The daylong screening was the continuation of the interviews held Jan. 2-5.
No candidate in the U.S. Senate’s seat received a recommendation for endorsement by the screening committee, and Michael Fjetland, who is running for that seat, is the only candidate who attended.
“Marriage equality should be a given,” Fjetland told the Stonewall members.
He called the new voter ID law “voter suppression designed to keep poor blacks and Hispanics from the polls.”
He said he’s for legalizing marijuana and using the tax money to fund education and healthcare and for raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
None of the candidates in the Senate race are well known or have been elected to office. Fjetland ran in one previous political race — against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
His experience, he said, includes negotiating in 50 countries selling American-made products, which he said qualifies him as someone who knows how to create jobs and compete in the global economy. He used that as an example of his understanding equality issues.
“I was a minority in each of those countries and believe all deserve equality and respect regardless of color, religion or sexual orientation,” he told Stonewall. The same message is repeated on his website.
Fjetland has four competitors in the race.
Kesha Rogers is running on a platform of impeaching Obama. David Alameel is the dentist who ran for the District 33 U.S. House seat and came in fourth in the 2012 primary. Rep. Mark Veasey won the election. Alameel refused to answer a Dallas Voice questionnaire in that race and would not return repeated phone calls. However, he participated in the Stonewall debate in 2012.
The other candidates are HyeTae “Harry” Kim, a physician, and Maxey Scherr, an attorney.
George Clayton
In the state House District 102 race, out candidate George Clayton spoke to the Stonewall members. Clayton is a former state school board member, and after his sexual orientation was revealed, he was defeated for re-election in his North Dallas/Richardson district.
Incumbent GOP Rep. Stefani Carter, considered running for Texas Railroad Commission but then decided to seek re-election to her House seat. Former Dallas City Councilwoman Linda Koop filed for the House race before Carter jumped back in. After Koop and other Republicans filed for that seat, Clayton switched parties and is unopposed in the primary.
At the endorsement meeting, Clatyon introduced his partner of 35 years, Jim Southworth, who is also running the campaign. He said he believes his base support by moderate Republicans and the area’s Democrats will help him defeat a tea party Republican in this swing district. Democrat Carol Kent held the seat before Carter.
Stonewall members voted to endorse Clayton.
In the U.S. House District 30 race, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson appeared to ask for the group’s support again. Her primary opponent is former state Rep. Barbara Mallory-Caraway, who has unsuccessfully sought Stonewall’s endorsement in a previous primary.
“The goal in Congress right now is to hurt anything Obama is for,” Johnson said.
While little is getting done in Congress, she was hopeful the Employment Non-Discrimination Act may pass this year, especially since it already passed the Senate.
“We need 50 to 60 Republicans to make up for the Democrats we won’t get,” she said.
A number of judges got the nod from the endorsement committee, including 68th Judicial District Court Judge Martin Hoffman who is running unopposed. He said Stonewall’s was the only endorsement he is seeking.
Other candidates echoed the top platform plank of Sen. Wendy Davis who is running for governor. Education, they said, is the top issue in this campaign.
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Many candidates said they support marriage equality including District Clerk John Warren. His office issues marriage licenses. He compared his position to that of New Mexico district clerks.
“You have to have a superior court that will back you up,” he said.
Warren’s office has denied issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Leigh Bailey is running for state House District 108, currently held by Dan Branch who is running for Attorney General. She said her main issues are marriage equality and choice and mentioned she had volunteered with DIFFA at the Resource Center.
Although the House seat has been held by a Republican for years, Battleground Texas targeted the district as a potential spot for Wendy Davis to do well. Battleground Texas is a national group whose strategy is to turn Texas blue.
State Rep. Yvonne Davis, who is running unopposed and did not send in a Stonewall questionnaire, stopped by to thank the group for its previous support. Davis’ district includes large gay areas in Oak Cliff, including Southwood and Oak Park Estates.
Juan Ayala, chief of staff to state Rep. Eric Johnson, spoke on his behalf. Ayala is a former president of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas.
Endorsements are finalized by the board and then by a vote of the general membership at its January meeting.
