Responses of Charles Gaither to
GLAA 1998 Questionnaire for Council Candidates

1. If elected, what will you do to encourage the Council to exercise its powers more responsibly and thereby facilitate a speedy return of home rule powers to the District?

When I am elected, I will make certain that the council exercises its powers more responsibly and facilitate a speedy return of home rule powers to the District by continually to achieve a balanced budget and being accountable to the issues in a timely manner. I am committed to working with my peers to achieve this goal. I believe such measures will ensure a favorable response from Congress to restore the return to Home Rule powers to the citizens of District of Columbia.

2. The Council has seldom aggressively exercised its oversight powers over the District government. Instead, too often it has been passive and reactive in addressing the mismanagement problems which routinely plague the District government's administration. What will you do to improve the Council's performance of its oversight responsibilities?

To ensure that the Council aggressively exercises its oversight responsibilities over city agencies I will work with my committees to ensure that the committees function in an accountable fashion. As a former District government employee I recognize that the talent and the resources are present, however we should make certain that the employees have the adequate skills and training to function efficiently.

3. Do you support passage and full funding for the new civilian complaint review system to be established by Bill 12-521, the "Citizen Complaint Review Act of 1998"?

Yes, I support full funding for the Office of the Citizen Complaint Review Board. I recognize that the existence of this office will provide A Better Quality of Life for all Washingtonians.

4. Do you support Bill 12-612, the "Opened Alcoholic Beverage Containers Amendment Act of 1998" (a.k.a. the "Chardonnay Lady Bill"), that would allow people to drink alcoholic beverages on their porches without fear of arrest?

Yes, provided that the porches are minimally screened in or enclosed.

5. In an apparent effort to bolster his standing with some segments of the District community, the recently-ousted chief of the Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs, David Watts, instituted a zoning regulation earlier this year barring video stores from deriving more than 15% of their revenue from sexually-oriented videos. Do you agree that this attack on the rights of adult consumers is utterly unwarranted and that there should be no limits on the proportion of video store revenues derived from adult videos?

Yes, I agree this approach restricts the rights of both the consumer and the proprietor and should not be permitted.

6. Will you support legislation to authorize and regulate the issuance of liquor licenses to establishments (in designated non-residential commercial districts) that want to offer nude dancing as entertainment?

Yes. In commercial areas only.

7. Do you support Initiative 59 (or similar legislation) to legalize the use of medical marijuana when a patient's doctor recommends it as a means to combat some of the effects of AIDS, cancer, and other diseases?

Yes. I signed and supported Initiatives 57 and 59. I believe in the medicinal use of marijuana to combat the effects of AIDS, cancer and other diseases for A Better Quality of Life.

8. The New York State Legislature recently passed legislation saying that: (1) doctors must report the names of people who test positive for HIV to public health officials; and that (2) health workers must attempt to have infected patients identify their sex of or drug-use partners and then must notify those partners of possible exposure. Such measures are invariable counter-productive and discourage those most at risk from being tested and treated for HIV. Will you oppose any such legislation in the District?

I clearly see the benefit of both sides of the argument. However, my primary concern is for the safety and well being of all human beings. If it can be scientifically determined that reporting such names helps the matter, then I support such legislation. If it can be scientifically determined that these are counter-productive then I will oppose legislation.

9. Do you support an increase in District government funding to combat AIDS in line with the continuing increase in the caseload?

Yes. The increased AIDS infected population requires more funding for A Better Quality of Life and awareness for Washingtonians.

10. Do you support continued District government funding for the needle exchange program to combat the spread of AIDS?

Yes, I support continued government funding for the needle exchange program as means to eliminate potential transmission of diseases for A Better Quality of Life for all District residents.

11. Do you support legal recognition of marriages between partners of the same sex?

Yes.

12. Do you support the current District policy, sanctioned by a court rule, of allowing adoptions by unmarried couples?

Yes.

13. Do you support both an increased budget for the Office of Human Rights (OHR) so that its heavy case backlog can be eliminated, and the re-establishment of OHR as an independent, Cabinet-level agency whose Director has direct access to the Mayor?

Yes, it is important for Washingtonians to be recognized, heard and served by the Mayor through the Office of Human Rights. This agency should receive full funding so that the priorities of Washingtonians will take precedence for A Better Quality of Life.

14. Will you support legislation codifying OHR's current practice of granting top priority to discrimination complaints from those afflicted with AIDS or other life-shortening conditions?

Yes, the District government should provide service to all residents. If it can be determined that a resident is living under duress, then the District once again has the responsibility of providing A Better Quality of Life.

15. Proposals for establishing a system of vouchers for private schools, whether here or elsewhere around the country, would funnel taxpayer dollars to religious schools controlled by denominations that fr3equently are aggressively homophobic. Will you oppose any legislation authorizing vouchers for religious schools?

Yes, I oppose school vouchers because vouchers do not serve all school children.

Charles Gaither Phone: (202)723-VOTE
Campaign website: http://members.aol.com/cgaither98/