...
result1 = connector_mysql(subSerialNum, ldev, today_date)

print(result1)  #this works and appears to be a dictonary but i can split it
                 ## into its elements like:
ldev_cap = result1['ldev_cap']   ##-> this dosn't work here.....???? if i return it as a dictonary..
                #and i'm unsure how to split them when i pass just the paramaters
                #back if i split the dictionary in the sql function.

...

def connector_mysql(subSerialNum, ldev, today_date):

    import pymysql.cursors

    db_server = 'localhost'
    db_name = 'CBDB'
    db_pass = 'secure_password'
    db_user = 'user1'

    sql_query = (
        "SELECT ldev_cap, ldev_usdcap FROM Ldevs WHERE sub_serial=%(serial)s "
        "and ldev_id=%(lun)s and data_date=%(todayD)s")

    connection = pymysql.connect(host=db_server,
                                 user=db_user,
                                 password=db_pass,
                                 db=db_name,
                                 cursorclass=pymysql.cursors.DictCursor)

    try:
        with connection.cursor() as cursor:
            cursor.execute(sql_query, {'serial': subSerialNum, 'lun': ldev, 'todayD': today_date})
            result = cursor.fetchone()

            while result:
                ldev_cap = result['ldev_cap']   #here the dictionary acts as
                                        #expected and i can assign a value
                ldev_usdcap = result['ldev_usdcap']

                print(result)
                return ldev_cap, ldev_usdcap   #here i can return

    finally:
        connection.close()