Record number of candidates running in ‘07

Mon, Oct 15th 2007, 15:32

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has announced ten new endorsements, increasing the organization’s number of supported candidates to 71 for the 2007 political season.  The number sets a new record for an odd-numbered year--years in which there are no scheduled federal elections.  Of the 71 candidates endorsed this year, 45 still face a general election on November 6.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, said the breakthrough year is another sign gays and lesbians are embracing the power of participating fully in the decision making process by getting elected to public office.  “Our community increasingly understands that politics is a path to equality,” said Wolfe.  “Having a place at the table of power also means we have an equal voice and an equal vote.  That’s long overdue, and it leads to real change.”

“In 2007, dozens of pro-equality laws were passed in cities and states where openly gay elected officials served as powerful examples for their colleagues.  Being there makes a difference,” Wolfe said.  The Victory Fund expects to endorse more than 100 candidates in 2008.

Six states still have no openly LGBT elected officials at any level of government:  Alaska, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, South Carolina and West Virginia.  Tennessee came off the list this year when Keith Durbin was elected to the Nashville City Council.  In addition to those six states, 13 others have no openly LGBT members of their state legislatures, including Florida and Pennsylvania.

The ten newly-endorsed candidates are:

• Justin Armintrout--City Council, Missoula, MT
• Brian Bates--City Council. Doraville, GA
• Michelle Bruce--City Council, Riverdale, GA
• Jonathan Cote--School Board, Manchester, NH
• Frank Ferri--State Representative, Warwick, RI
• Lydia Lavelle--Board of Alderman, Carrboro, NC
• Steve Pougnet--Mayor of Palm Springs, CA
• William “Bill” Schmidt--Mayor of Peekskill, NY
• Jass Stewart--Mayor of Brockton, MA
• Patrick Wojahn--City Council, College Park, MD

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT elected officials, and the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee.  Since its founding in 1991, the Victory Fund has helped to grow the number of out officials from 49 to more than 380.  For more information and a full list of endorsed candidates, go to www.victoryfund.org. 

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