Fort Worth City Councilman Chuck Silcox urged a group of Republicans on Wednesday to vote for Chris Turner in the nonpartisan District 9 council race because Turner is Republican and straight.

Silcox predicted a runoff in the six-candidate race to replace Wendy Davis between Turner, a Republican political consultant, and Joel Burns, a real estate agent and city zoning commissioner. The election is Nov. 6.

"This is an excellent time to have Republicans get out and support a Republican: Chris Turner," Silcox told a group of about 50 at a Fort Worth Republican Women's Club meeting and a forum for Republican state House District 97 candidates. "We have two people of opposite partisan politics, opposite philosophical persuasions and opposite sexual orientations.

"I didn't tell you which one was homosexual," Silcox said as the crowd laughed. Pointing to Turner, Silcox continued: "He's married to a female, and the other's married to a male. You make your own mind up."

Burns, Turner and bicycle shop owner Bernie Scheffler were among the first to announce their candidacies for the District 9 seat. They were joined by retired businessman Jim Beckman, real estate agent Mark Pederson and Fort Worth school Trustee Juan Rangel.

Burns said he is not surprised that his sexual orientation was raised publicly but disappointed that it was called a negative.

"We live in the state of Texas, and I have a partner that I live with, who is a partner of 15 years," Burns said. "It is unfortunate that Mr. Silcox and Mr. Turner want to bring partisanship to a nonpartisan race."

Burns' partner is J.D. Angle, a vice president of the Tyson Organization, a Fort Worth company that specializes in political telemarketing.

Silcox later said he raised the issue because he believes that the Star-Telegram's coverage of the race has not mentioned that Burns is gay.

"The Star-Telegram doesn't talk about it. They don't put the negative out there," he said. "Every damn article that was written about Louis McBee mentioned that he was gay. I'm just [angry] about the way that the Star-Telegram has treated this."

McBee has been quoted or featured in 21 articles, according to Star-Telegram archives. One report in May 2006, when McBee was running for the City Council District 4 seat, mentioned his sexual orientation. Danny Scarth won the election.

"My objection to that one article was that it went against the Star-Telegram's long-standing policy that if it had nothing to do with the campaign, then it wasn't mentioned," McBee said Wednesday. "I think it was done simply to influence the religious factions..."

An opinion piece Aug. 19 by columnist J.R. Labbe mentioned Angle and described him as Burns' partner. A Sept. 25 news report about a campaign phone survey said Burns is an active member of the Stonewall Democrats, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group.

Turner was initially reluctant to comment on Silcox's statements because Burns' sexual orientation has not been raised as an issue in the race.

"I was in the audience just like everybody else," he said. "You know that Mr. Silcox has strong opinions, and his comments are his own. He's the one who needs to explain what he meant."

Turner said the only issue he has with Burns' partner is that Angle's telemarketing firm has "been inundating people with thousands and thousands of calls."

Silcox said he is prepared for any backlash he might get.

"I'm not trying to be derogatory about the young man. I've never even met him. ..." Silcox said. "From what I understand, he is openly gay. I'm not saying good, bad or otherwise. He has a different political philosophy and philosophy about life than most Republicans."