Annise Parker Finishes First in Houston Mayor’s Race

Tue, Nov 3rd 2009, 22:52

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Washington, D.C.—Houston City Controller Annise Parker was the top vote-getter Tuesday in the race for mayor, garnering more than 30% of the vote in a crowded field of candidates.  Parker will  now face former city attorney Gene Locke, who finished second, in a runoff election in mid-December.
 
“We’re thrilled.  This is a tremendous first step, but the race isn’t over,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which endorsed Parker.  “There’s now a six-week runoff campaign to win, and that’s going to take a lot of hard work and lot of resources.  We’re committed to doing everything we can to help elect Annise.”
 
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT elected officials at all levels of government.  Since its founding in 1991, the Victory Fund has helped grow the number of out elected officials from 49 to nearly 450.