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The Victory Fund Announces its Current Endorsements Outstanding Candidates Merit Fair Shot Election Day '99 |
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Compiled By GayToday
"We are very excited to be supporting this fresh crop of out and outstanding public servants at the local level, where our community's future national leaders get their start," said Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund Executive Director Brian K. Bond. "These endorsements reflect our continued commitment to ensuring that gay and lesbian Americans gain an equal place at the table of public policy throughout the country, from the heartland to the big cities. We are working for the kind of fair representation among policy-makers that will improve the lives of all Americans – and it starts at the local level. Only 180 of our nation's 500,000 elected officials are openly gay, lesbian or bisexual; we still have far to go until everyone has a voice in our government." The following is a list of current Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund endorsements for the 1999 elections, as well as a status report on previous endorsements for the 1999-2000 campaign cycle. Endorsed candidates currently up for election Nov. 2, 1999:
Scott Robinson (non-partisan race) for Melvindale City Council Minnesota: Al Oertwig (non-partisan race) for St. Paul School Board New Jersey: David Sivella (D) for Bergen County Board of Freeholders New York: Jon Cooper (D) for Suffolk County Legislature Judy Green (D) for mayor of Poughkeepsie Daniel Stewart (R) for mayor of Plattsburgh Ohio: John Farina (R) for Lakewood City Council Texas: Annise Parker (non-partisan race) for Houston City Council Previously endorsed Victory Fund Candidates for the 1999-2000 election cycle:
Toni Atkins (N) San Diego, California City Council March 7, 2000 (P) Ongoing Brian Ellner (N) New York, New York School Board May 18, 1999 Won Doug Robinson (N) New York, New York School Board May 18, 1999 Won Jeff Horton (N) Los Angeles, California School Board April 13, 1999 Lost Dan Baker (D) Long Beach, California City Council March 30, 1999 Won Zeke Zeidler (N) Redondo Beach, California School Board March 2, 1999 Won Patrick Baikauskas (R) Springfield, Illinois City Council Feb. 23, 1999 Lost Beyond publicizing its endorsements to inform the gay and lesbian community about worthy openly gay and lesbian candidates, the Victory Fund invites direct contributions from its members to the campaigns of their choice. The organization then bundles these contributions and sends 100 percent of this assistance to the campaigns in a strong demonstration of community support when the candidates need it most. In addition, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund's political action committee (PAC) also makes its own direct candidate contributions. "The victories we are working to make possible for these exemplary candidates are victories for our community, for the communities they will serve while in office and for the entire country," added Bond. "The whole nation wins when everyone is represented, when gay and straight policy-makers can work together to build common ground and create a more fair and equal society." |
