FROM: KRYZONEERGER FAX ND. ? 715-832-2713 May. 18 2009 G1:12M PL To EndorsementGOTV Committee Fax: 1-800-857-3981 From: Alice Kryzan Date: 5/18/2009 Ret Amherst Town Supervisor Race Pages: _7 (ine. cover page)FROM = KRYZANVEERGER FAX ND. ? 715-832-2713 May. 19 2009 G1:15eM FO STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York PO Dex 057, Butialo, NY 14205 Webster ww stonconllden 2009 ENDORSEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE — r i Names Bue Keyzaa) i i Campaign Address: 7 (x0/STRL C7 fan eps, MM eke. ll Daytime Phone:_ 7/6 - £9 7- 2/50 Evening Pho! WG FFT = BCE? FaxNumber // emai: atice prarnkeetoat @ Vengzen Red Office Sought: Ava ieutsT 7) StsP Eb. ui ul Party Affiliation: PANO LAPT HE. We HH Before you continue, please understand that: * Stonewall Democrats of WNY may publicize your responses in press releases and voters’ guides, on our webs site, and via other channels of communication. Stonewall Democrats of WINY will also identify candidates ‘who fail to respond to this questionnaire. ‘+ Stonewall Democrats will hold you publicly accountable for actions inconsistent with your responses during your campaign and if elected during your term in office. Stonewall Democrats of WY will not consider endorsement of any candidate if they support any state or national version of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) legislation. © Stonewall Democrats of WY will not consider endorsement of any candidate if they advertise on any homophobic website, including, but nat limited to, politicswny.com/politiesny net Please submit you typewritten responses to the following questions on a separate sheet. 1). Why are you seeking this office? 2) Why are you secking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of WNY? 3) What three issues do you consider to be most important to the people served by the office you seek? For each issue: 2) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken-either as a pul private citizen--to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and 1») Specify what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office you seek. 4) What three civil rights issues do you perceive to be the most important to the gay, lesbian, bisex al and transgender (GLBT) community? For each issue: 8) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken-either as a public official or as a private citizen~to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and ») Specify what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office yo seek. 5) Stonewall Democrats of WNY strongly believes that candidates have @ responsibility to provide voters with truthful, fair and clean campalgns for public office and to conduct themselves in a manner cond).xve to @ Civil, issue-oriented debate with their fellow condidates. Will you sign a written pledge to conduc: your campaign accordingly? ©) iFendorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY. will you list the endorsement on all applicable campaign literature (ce, all literature listing any other endorsements)? official or as a(a 2 KRYZAN/BERGER FAX ND. : 716-092-2713 May, 19 2009 G1:14PM PL 7) endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you attend a GLBT community forum to introduce endorsed candidates? Please describe how you will eliminate prejudice in your own office if elected. ®) Please describe how your election to this office would be a benefit to the lesbian, gay, bis=xual and transgender community. 10) What are you doing or what will you do to advocate for greater GLBT representation anc| ‘empowerment at the ballot box and in elected office locally? 11) A) Would you seek endorsement of or advertise on any homophobic websites, including hut not limited to, politicswny.com/politicsny.net? Yes No Explanatic B) Have you advertised or intend to advertise on such websites for your election/reelecticn? Yes No Explanation: Although the office you seek has no direct authority in local or state legislative matters, if elected you will have the ability to indirectly influence the region’s local, state and federal elected officials. Please indicate your support or opposition for: Tegislation/issue Favor Oppose ‘GENDA (A.5710/5.2406): Prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or ‘expression; defines “gender identity or expression" as having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self image, appearance, behavior or expression whether or not that gendar identity, selFimage, appearance, behavior or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned x to that person at birth; further includes offences regarding gonder identity or expression within the list of offenses subject to treatment as hate crimes. Dignity For All Students Act (A 3661/S.1987}: Enacts the *Dignity For All Students Act"; authorizes the commissioner of education to establish polices and procedures affording all students in public schools an environment free of harassment and discrimination based on actual or perceived race, national x origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gander or sex; requires reporting harassment and discri exemptions. ‘Marriage Equality Bill. The domestic relations law is amended by adding a new section to read as follows: A marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid x tion to such commission; makes regardless of whether the parties to the marriage are of the same or different Sex. '§ 1835/- Equal access to Family Courts for domestic partners (Duane):Provides that orders of protection may be entered against any member of the same family or household; expands the definition of "members of the same family or household”, for purposes of issuance of orders of protection and temporary | orders of protection and the concurrent jurisdiction of family courts and x | criminal courts, t former spouse whether or not living together and unrelated persone who continually o at regular intervals reside in the same household or hrave done so in the past, and persons who are or have been in a dating or ‘Stonewall Democrats WAY — Countywide Offce/Non legislative General Questionnaire, page 2FROM KRYZAN BERGER FAX ND. : 716-092-2713 intimate relationship whether or not they have ever lived together. May. 19 2009 GL:15PM Fe ‘A-3496/5.1571 - Dignity For All Students Act: Enacts the "Dignity For All ‘Students Act"; authorizes the commissioner of education to establish policies and procedures affording all students in public schools an environment free of harassment and discrimination based on actual or perceived race, national Origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex; requires reporting harassment and discrimination to such commission; makes exemptions. >< ‘4 4978/5 2800 (2008) - New York State Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) (Maltese/Semineria): Makes a marriage absolutely void if contracted by two persons of the same sex. ‘County GENDA - Gender Non-Discrimination Act: Prohibit discrimination based | on gender identity or expression; define "gender identity or expression” as having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self image, appearance, behavior or expression that is different from that traditionally associated with | the sex assigned to that person at birth | County Domestic Partnership Legistation: To provide legal status for domestic ips and to extend provisions of laws that currently apply to spouses or next-of-kin to domestic partners. County Bereavement Leave for domestic partners: Provide that bereavement leave be granted to individuals involved in same-sex relationships on the same basis as those granted to employees who are married, | attest that this questionnaire represents my offinion of the icsues on this questionnai Candidate's Signatur Please complete the attached issues surveys, sign below and return questionnaire, surveys and your risumé by fax to (200)557-3981 by May 18, 2009, ‘Stoneweil Democrats WAY — Countywide Offce/Non-leysltive General Questionnaire, page 3FROM : KRYZAN-BERGER FAX ND. : 716-092-2713 May, 18 2009 G1:17PM PL STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF Western New York 2009 Endorsement Questionnaire Submitted by Alice Kryzan, Democratic Candidate for Amherst Town Supervisor 1. Why are you secking this office? Tam secking this office because I think we need new, progressive leadership at all levels of government in New York. 1 believe that T can make a positive differance as an clected official with an agenda solely directed at helping the people of ‘Amherst. I think we need more public officials whose first priority is the people they serve. 2. Why are you secking the endorsement of the Stonewall! Democrats of WNY? {am sccking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats because, were I to receive your endorsement, it would be a signal to the GLBT community tbat there is a candidate running for Supervisor of the largest town in New York State north of New York City who believes that discrimination in any form. is unacceptable and who would welcome their participation in the life of the tow. 3, What three issues do you consider to be most important to the people served by the office you seek? ~~ Lower taxes a) Thave never had an opportunity to take specific action on this iseue. 'b) I believe that high property taxes are a tremendous burden on taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes and those now suffering job losses in the current economy. I plan to work with department beads in the Town to identify ways that we can ran the Town more efficiontly, and to adopt other practicas, such as sustainable development theories, that can help control costs in the Towa. ~ Protection of neighborhoods a) Asa lawyer, I represented a group of homeowners in Amherst who were opposing the rezoning of property adjacent to theirs from residential to commercial. 1b) Residents of Amherst are concerned that developers are still being permitted to develop green space in Amherst without regard to the Town's Master Plas or residents’ needs. [ oppose development that does not conform to the Mastr Plan and will support development in older areas of Town where infill development and re-development of existing properties makes the most sons for the Town and its residents. Page 1 of 3FROM : KRYZAN-BERGER FAX ND. : 716-092-2713 May. 19 2009 GL:17PM Pe — Open and responsive government a) [have never had an opportunity to take specilic action on this issue. ) Residents in the Town of Amherst think that town government is a closec! process designed to benefit a few “insiders.” Whether or not this perception: s true, itis important that residents know and believe that their town government exists to work for them. If clected, I plan to maintain a community hotline as. a place where people can bring their requests or complaints and the Town cat. publicize how it has responded to those requests or complaints. 1 also pledge to make promises only when I kmow I can follow through on them. | believe that areal, corrosive cynicism is created among voters when politicians promise things that they know they cannot produce. 4. What three civil rights issues do you perceive to be the most important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community? — Legalizing gay marriage 2) Asa candidate for federal office in 2008, | supported federal legislation ‘that would have extended federal benefits to same scx partners. b) Obviously, a Town Supervisor has no direct authority to legalize ‘gay marriage. All I can do is be clear that I support the legalization effort. ~-Prohibiting discrimination in jobs and housing 8) Asa candidate for federal office in 2008, T supported federal legislation ‘hat prohibited diserimination based on gender identity or expression +») Again, a Town Supervisor has no direct authority to legislate on this issue, but a Town Supervisor can introduce a resolution stating that it is the polizy of the Town that there shall be no gender discrimination in hiring for Town jobs. If Amherst has no such resolution now, I would introduce one if | were lected. Creating a safe environment for GLBT community children in our schools 2) The only opportunity I have had to take specific action in this area is to teach ‘my son tolerance and acceptance of people regardless of their sexual orientation. b) As an elected Town official, } will offer to participate in any programs offered ia the Amherst, Williamsville or Sweethome School Districts that are designed to create this safe environment that we seek. 5, Will you sign a written pledge to conduct your campaign [according to the Stonewall Democrats’ principles]? T believe that the voters are entitled to a civil, issues-oriented debate. I conducted my Congressional campaign on these principles and | would bope to conduct riy Town Supervisor campaign on these principles. But, I will nt and cannot igasre negative campaigning against me. And, I will not avoid discussing relevant issues about my opponent that some may consider “negative” campaigning. Page 2 of 3FROM = KRYZANVEERGER FAX ND. ? 715-832-2713 May. 19 2009 GL:168M FS 6. If endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you list the endorsement or: ill applicable campaign literature? Yes. 7. Ifendorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you attend a GLBT commusity forum (0 introduse endorsed candidates? Yes. 8. Please describe how you would eliminate prejudice in your own office if elected. ‘Asan clevted public official, J will not discriminate in my own hiring or appointment process and I will use my public position to advocate for nop- discrimination policies. 9. Please describe how your election to this office would be a benefit to the lesbian, yay, bisexual and transgender community. ‘Asa young lawyer, | worked for several years for the Chicago Lawyers’ ‘Committee for Civil Rights, Ine, While the focus of our work was racial and ‘gender discrimination, I believe that the principles I worked for apply to all tyres of discrimination. I think that any time a public official with a record of workiag, for equality and to end discrimination is clected, it is a benefit to people who suffer from discrimination in their daily lives. Public personalities, including elceted officials, can do a great deal to create a climate of tolerance by their words and examples. 10, What are you doing or what will you do to advocate for greater GLBT. representation and empowerment at the ballot box and in elected office locally? Quite frankly, I don’t think it is up to me to be an advocate for the GLBT community on these issues, J think it is up to the GLBT community to stay “organized, continue to educate the public and candidates for elected office, expect public officials to be accountable and work to support candidates who support the issues important to them. 11. A) Would you seek endorsement of or advertise on any homophobic websites, includiag, but not limited to politicswny.com/politicsny.net? No. B) Have you advertised or intend to advertise on such websites for your election/reelection? No. Page 3 of 3