1. If endorsed,
would you list the Caucus' endorsement along with your other endorsements?
Yes.
2. Are you
willing to make a commitment NOT to run against a DFL-endorsed candidate?
Yes.
3. Are you in
favor of a women's right to control her own reproductive system, including the
right to have an abortion?
Yes.
4. Do you support
extending health insurance, pension benefits, sick and bereavement pay to unmarried partners of
city employees as currently afforded married heterosexuals?
Yes.
5. Do you support
City funding for the Minnesota AIDS Project and the Aliveness Project?
Yes
6. Are you
opposed to measures like the Minnesota Defense of Marriage Act?
Yes.
Questions Requiring Longer Answers
7. What is your
definition of family?
A family is a collection of people brought together
in mutual love and respect that support each other’s efforts to reach their
full potential.
8. How do you
define homophobia?
Homophobia is the irrational fear or hatred of gay,
lesbian, bisexual and/or transgendered people.
It may be internally or externally directed.
9.
If
elected, how would you use your position on the Board to promote the interests
of the GLBT community?
I would be a voice on the Park Board for GLBT
issues. In addition, I would insure
that interested GLBT organizations have the opportunity to be heard with the
Park Board. Lastly, I would clearly
vote on GLBT related issues based, in part, on my experiences as a gay man.
10. What experience
have you had with Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) issues and why are
they important to you?
I am a single
gay father. I have 2 adopted children
(now 13 and 22 years old). GLBT issues
have had a huge impact on my life in that I:
1) Had to come to
terms with my sexuality and came out at the age of 26. Being open about my sexuality has resulted
in numerous issues with family, friends and coworkers.
2) Have had to
deal with homophobia in my workplace and in the court systems.
3) Have dealt
with external homophobia in raising my children and in dealing with their own
internal homophobia instilled prior to my becoming their parent.
These issues
are clearly central to my own well-being as well as those of my children.
Some of Those Who Have
Endorsed John Erwin
Campaign CoChairs: Dore Mead
Julie Ostrow
Campaign Manager Gary Schiff
Campaign Treasurer Scott Schulte
Rep. Dee Long
Sen. Allan Spear
Paul Ostrow
Dore Mead
Sandy Colvin Roy
Jim Niland
Lisa Goodman
Barn Johnson
Bryan Herron
Scott Benson
Greg Abbott
Dean Kallenbach
Julie Matson Ostrow
Gary Schiff
George Garnet
Dick Senese
Rick Stafford
Allan Bernard
John Ferman
Cara Letofsky
Wally Swan
Barb Lickness
Tamara Johnson
Rep. Jim Davnie
Rep. Scott Dibble
Doug Kress
Mike Mattson
Dan Niziolek
William Nynas
Kim Harvey