Gay candidates victorious across the U.S.

11/07/07
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Denis Dison (202) 842-7308, denis.dison@victoryfund.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Dozens of openly gay and lesbian candidates running in municipal and state legislative races across the country won their elections Tuesday, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Of the record 71 candidates endorsed by the group in 2007, at least 31 won their races on Tuesday, while 10 were elected earlier this year. At least three more endorsed candidates received enough votes to advance to runoff elections.

Victory Fund president and CEO Chuck Wolfe said the growing number of out candidates demonstrates the gay community’s increasing involvement in electoral politics. “This is the path to change. We are not content to sit on the sidelines and hope that others do the right thing for our community. We will step up and lead the fight for a more equal and fair America, and we will win,” Wolfe said.

The Victory Fund’s 71 endorsements set a new record for an odd-numbered year in which there are no scheduled federal elections. In 2006, the group endorsed 88 candidates and it expects to endorse more than 100 candidates in 2008, according to Wolfe. He added that planning has already begun for next year’s races.

“2008 will be another record-breaking year for gay candidates, and they’ll need help to counter the inevitable attacks from anti-gay hate groups. We’ll be ready to fight,” Wolfe said.

Among the highlights Tuesday:

• Joel Burns, a candidate for the Fort Worth, Tex., City Council advanced to a December runoff election as the top vote-getter after being subject to anti-gay smears from an opponent.
• Craig Covey won his race for mayor of Ferndale, Mich., becoming the first openly gay mayor elected in the state of Michigan.
• Michelle Bruce, an openly transgender incumbent on the Riverdale, Ga., City Council was the top vote-getter in her race and advances to a runoff election.
• New Jersey State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, who became the state’s first openly LGBT state legislator when he came out publicly during his current term, won re-election to his seat.
• Jeffrey Anderson was elected to the Duluth City Council, becoming the first openly gay elected official in northern Minnesota.
• Tim Eustace won his race for mayor of Maywood, N.J.
• Brian Bates, won a seat on the Doraville, Ga., City Council, becoming the first openly gay Republican ever to win office in the state.
• Lydia Lavelle won a seat on the Carrboro, N.C., Board of Aldermen, becoming the seventh openly LGBT candidate ever elected in the state.

Winning candidates Tuesday night include (alphabetical by state):

CA Steve Pougnet--Palm Springs Mayor
CA Ruth Atkin--Vice Mayor-Emeryville,CA (i)
CA Henry Lo--Garvey School District Board of Education (i)
CO Karen Kellen--Lakewood City Council
CT Mike Pohl--Manchester Board of Education
CT Adam Gutcheon--Windsor Board of Education (i)
GA Lance Rhodes--East Point City Council (i)
GA Kecia Cunningham--Decatur City Commissioner (i)
GA Brian Bates--Doraville City Council
MA Joe DeMedeiros--New Bedford City Council (i)
MA Denise Simmons--Cambridge City Council (i)
MA Timothy Purington--Holyoke City Council
MD Patrick Wojahn--College Park City Council
MI Craig Covey--Mayor-Ferndale
MN Greg Lemke--Moorhead City Council (i)
MN Jeffrey Anderson--Duluth City Council
NC Lydia Lavelle--Carrboro Alderman
NH Jonathan Cote--Manchester School Board
NJ Reed Gusciora--NJ General Assembly
NJ Randy Bishop--Neptune Township (i)
NJ Timothy Eustace--Mayor- Maywood,NJ
NY Jon Cooper--Suffolk County Legislator (i)
NY Debra Silber--Judge, NYC Civil Court (i)
NY Ken Zalewski--Troy City Council
PA Geri Delevich--New Hope Borough City Council (i)
PA Bruce Kraus—Pittsburgh City Council
TX Sue Lovell--Houston City Council (i)
TX Annise Parker--Houston Controller (i)
WA Tom Rasmussen--Seattle City Council (i)
WA Sally Clark--Seattle City Council (i)
VA Adam Ebbin--Virginia House of Delegates (i)

(i) = incumbent
Other races are too close to call. For up-to-date election results for all endorsed candidates, go to www.victoryfund.org.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender public officials at all levels of government. It is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee. Since its founding in 1991, the Victory Fund has helped grow the number of out elected officials from just 49 to nearly 400 in the United States. For more information, visit www.victoryfund.org.