Windy City Times Election Guide Chart ( questions below ) at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/WCT_20110216_chart.pdf
Please also see:
ELECTIONS '11: 46TH WARD--MICHAEL CARROLL 2011-02-16 www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=30634
Read more story below....
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
Another year, another election. However, this year is quite different in Chicago as there is no one named Daley on the mayoral ballot for the first time in more than two decadesgenerating a free-for-all among the six candidates. In addition, the city council is getting a makeover of sorts as 11 aldermen are stepping down.
In this first of two election issues, Windy City Times is running interviews with two more openly gay candidates: 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney ( who is unopposed ) and 48th Ward challenger Jose Arteaga. More interviews with aldermanic and mayoral candidates will run next week, in print and/or online.
Windy City Times does not endorse candidates for election. The Windy City Times election guide charts include the candidates' responses to 16 LGBT-related questions sent by the newspaper ( and included below ) .
[ NOTE: 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 ]
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.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago responses from mayoral candidates are available at www.aidschicago.org/advocacy/candidate_questionnaire.php. Also, a broad coalition of Chicago-area LGBT organizations has assessed LGBT issue positions of candidates in areas including transgender rights and marriage equality; available at www.eqil.org/nextmayor.html . Equality Illinois PAC's and Planned Parenthood's endorsements will be in next week's issue.
KEY TO THE CHART:
WCT = Windy City Times questions, number listed is of the total questions correct for that race
IVI = Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization
PPAC = Personal PAC
NOW = National Organization for Women Equality PAC
CNOW = Chicago chapter of National Organization for Women PAC
PLAN = Planned Parenthood
NOTE: Sixteen 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.
WINDY CITY TIMES QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES
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?
Keep in mind that a coalition of LGBT organizations is sponsoring a mayoral forum Wed., Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, 17 N. Dearborn. All the candidatesGery Chico, Rahm Emanuel, Carol Moseley-Braun, Miguel del Valle, William Walls and Patricia Van Pelt-Watkinshave accepted the coalition's invitation to participate in the forum. Attendance is sold out but people still can submit questions via afc.aidschicago.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx and watch live streaming at www.windycitymediagroup.com or www.radioarte.com .