Max for Mayor

Austin Women's Political Caucus Questionnaire

Austin Women's Political Caucus Questionnaire

l. Do you agree with the purpose and goals of the Caucus as presented in Caucus' Mission Statement? Mission Statement: "The purpose and goals of the Caucus are to increase women's participation in the political process, to increase the number of feminist women in elected and appointed positions, to win equality for women, and to support candidates who support our goals. In pursuit of these goals, the Caucus is dedicated to the eradication of sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, ageism, violence, poverty, discrimination against the disabled and discrimination on the basis of religion, and to ensuring reproductive freedom and freedom of sexual orientation."

Yes.

2. What is your position on adding the Equal Rights Amendment (without amendments) to the U.S. Constitution?

I support it.

3. Do you and will you support a woman's right to choose whether or not to have a safe and legal abortion, and that the decision should be between a woman and her doctor?

Yes.

4. Do you and will you support county funding of abortions for indigent women without restriction?

Yes.

5. a. Do you and will you support the right of teenage girls to obtain abortion services confidentially without their parent's permission or a court or agency order?

(not answered, see below)

b. Do you and will you support the right of teenage girls to obtain abortion service confidentially without a legal mandate requiring their parents being notified?

(not answered, see below)

c. If you have any comments on the issues of minors' access to abortion services, please state below:

I need more education and information on teenage abortion issues. This is not a City issue and I have conflicting feelings.

6. a. Do you and will you support the right of women to obtain abortion services without their spouses permission or a court or agency order?

Yes.

b. Do you and will you support the right of women to obtain abortion services without their spouse being notified?

Yes.

c. If you have any comments on the issue of spousal notification or consent, please state below:

(no additional comments)

7. Do you and will you support the right of women and/or teenage girls to obtain abortion services without a mandatory 24-hour waiting period?

Yes.

8. What role should the City play in providing either direct funding or incentives for affordable day care?

I was the first councilmember to use dollars for child care facilities. We need to do much more. I support using the central city entertainment center for child care.

10. Would you support programs which will call for an end to discrimination in employment, housing, credit and education in county employment and in all county-funded programs insofar as each of the following characteristics is concerned:

a. race: yes
b. gender: yes
c. physical handicap: yes
d. ethnic background: yes
e. sexual orientation: yes
f. religious preference: yes
g. socioeconomic status: yes
h. HIV positive test results: yes
i. age: yes

11. Has a complaint on the basis of race, sex, national origin or religious discrimination ever been filed against you or any firm of which you are/were an officer, director or partner? If so, please provide details.

No.

12. Do you belong to any group or organization which discriminates in policy or practice or conditions the treatment of guests on the basis of sex, race, religion, sexual preference or national origin? If the answer is yes, please list those organizations and how each discriminates.

No.

13. Have you ever accepted money or other contributions from a political action committee ("PAC")?

Yes. I have accepted money from labor union and law firm and business PACs. None from anti-abortion PACs.

a. If so, from which PACs have you accepted contributions and how much?

I have not accepted more than $500/election from any PAC, totaling a few thousand dollars in the last ten years.

b. Have you declined to accept money from those PACs with interests divergent from your own? If so please list the PACs from which you have refused contributions.

I take clear and strong stands on issues, so I'm not offered PAC money from opposing opinion PACs.

c. What influence do you feel PAC contributions have on your decisions on issues related to the group represented by the PAC?

None.

14. Why do you think the Austin Women's Political Caucus should endorse your candidacy?

I have always strongly supported women's issues and the mission statement of AWPC. I hired Austin's first woman city manager and was the only councilmember to protest her firing. Camille [Barnett] hired the City's first woman police chief and top lawyer, and also hired Betty Dunkerly to head the city's finances. All have done/are doing great work for the City! I have a record of supporting women in politics and government.

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