TEP, Victory Fund events promote GLBT candidacies, political activism

Tue, Mar 2nd 2010, 13:59

With activists from around the state converging for the Tennessee Equality Project’s annual Advancing Equality Day on the Hill on March 2, national and state leaders were on hand to capture some of that enthusiasm for 2010 races and beyond.

On March 1, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund held an abbreviated version of its three-day training workshop for GLBT office-seekers, bringing in James Dozier, deputy political director of the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute, the fund’s candidate-training arm. Dozier addressed more than a dozen people from around the state at OutCentral, pointing out the various do’s and don’ts not only of campaigning, but also for the months and years prior to entering a race.

“Take advantage of the opportunity you’ll have tomorrow to talk to legislators,” Dozier said, “People say you can’t run and win in a red state, but you can. The trick is finding the right seat to run for, and being a positive role model. Start early, and do your homework.”http://www.outandaboutnewspaper.com/article/3898

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National gay rights groups endorse Providence Mayor Cicilline for Congress

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:32

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two national gay rights groups endorsed Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline, who is openly gay, in his bid for Congress in the First District on Monday.

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced its support of Cicilline for his "long record of supporting full equality for the LBGT community" and his record as Providence mayor.

In a separate announcement, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that provides financial and campaign support to gay and lesbian political candidates, threw their support to Cicilline for his "reputation as a reformer who helped root out corruption and lower the city's crime rate."

http://politicsblog.projo.com/2010/02/national-gay-ri.html

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Victory Fund Endorses Cicilline for Congress

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:25

The gay mayor of Providence, R.I., who is running for a seat in Congress, has been endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

David Cicilline has been mayor of Providence for eight years and is often credited for a drop in crime and corruption in the New England city. Now Cicilline wants to represent Rhode Island's first congressional district in Washington. He faces a primary challenge in September before the general election in November.

"Mayor Cicilline’s election will be good news not only for the people of Rhode Island but for LGBT Americans everywhere, who will gain another authentic voice in Congress," said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. "Having managed Providence for the past eight years, Mayor Cicilline knows what Congress needs to do to help cities emerge from a harsh recession and to put Americans back to work." http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/02/22/Victory_Fund_Endorses_Cicilline_for_Congress/

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Finding Common Ground

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:24

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION | In 2002, Michael Fleming, executive director of the David Bohnett Foundation, helped launch the midcareer fellowship for government officials that the Kennedy School runs in concert with the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute. But it was only after becoming a fellow himself in 2005 that Fleming was able to fully appreciate the value of the program.

Following his recommendation, in 2007 the Bohnett Foundation contributed $500,000 to endow the program, which has grown from 3 fellows in 2002 to 16 in 2009, and covers about half the participation costs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual students.

Each year, two classes of fellows come to the Kennedy School for the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program. The dozen or so Bohnett fellows are part of a group of some 70 students overall. “We wanted our fellows to be integrated with a larger class of government attendees, who may not be gay or lesbian, so that each group could learn from the other’s experience,” says foundation head David Bohnett, a Web entrepreneur who became a major philanthropist in 1999 after selling GeoCities.com, the social networking company he cofounded, to Yahoo! for $3.6 billion. “After interacting with our fellows, other participants in the program told me they had learned quite a bit about the struggle that gay and lesbian people had for equality.”

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/publications/hks-magazine/archives/winter-2010/finding-common-ground/

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Yes on 8 expert contends gays wield coalition power

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:21

Miller’s testimony seemed to suggest he had only cursory knowledge in any area regarding gay political power. When asked about gay political power nationally, he spoke about the “upward trajectory of power” for the movement in its efforts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and “Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell” (DADT). And he testified that President Obama has given “significant support” to the community during his first year in office. And he talked about the Gay & Lesbian Victory fund having boasted that most openly gay candidates are elected.http://www.keennewsservice.com/2010/01/26/yes-on-8-expert-contends-gays-wield-coalition-power/

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Profile: Openly lesbian Illinois lawmaker Deb Mell

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:19

Representative Mell and I had a very long and delightful conversation about how she got to Springfield and what the past year has been like for her. The daughter of popular Chicago Alderman Richard Mell and sister-in-law of former Governor Blagojavich, it would seem Deb was destined for politics, but she says it was a long road.

"I was working at Christy Webber Landscapes. I was there for five years. I loved my job there as project manager for her, but I felt like I wanted something different--I needed a change. Equality Illinois sent me to the Victory Fund candidate training." Though Representative Mell lived in the heart of San Francisco for nearly a decade, she had never been interested in Politics, "I was like 'yeah, I'll go,' but I didn't really know [what was in store], but I went there and I kind of got the bug a little bit."

http://www.bilerico.com/2010/01/interview_openly_lesbian_illinois_lawmaker_deb_mel.php

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Houston's Parker scores big as lesbian mayor of a sports town

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:15

Parker's alliance with the pro-LGBT Victory Fund dates back 15 years, and it certainly was helpful in the 2009 election, she admits.

The Victory Fund came to the aide of Parker's campaign with money and volunteers to staff telephone banks in a get-out-the-vote effort.

"The Victory Fund was a help," she said. "It was more important when I ran 12 years ago." In 1997, Parker prevailed in the runoff election to City Council, becoming Houston's first openly gay elected official.

"In an odd way, it was almost like getting the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval that an independent, third-party group had vetted me as a candidate and decided that I was worthy, and then contacted their members in the Houston region, and their financial contributions were very important.

"They were a big part of my fundraising base, but it wasn't the critical element.

"The Victory Fund certainly was, and is, extremely helpful and I value their support, and am grateful to them for it."

Parker's ties to the Victory Fund date back to 1994.

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=24564

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Daniel Alter Nominated For Federal Bench; Would Be First Openly Gay Male Judge

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:11

Denis Dison, spokesperson for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, praised Schumer for his recommendation, telling DC Agenda that "we're entering an era where qualified people are no longer excluded from leadership positions because of their sexual orientation or gender identity."

Alter previously worked as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and is a graduate of Columbia and Yale Law School.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/09/daniel-alter-nominated-fo_n_455557.html

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Gay Candidates Head To Florida For Campaign Bootcamp

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:09

While political parity remains an elusive goal for the gay community, the number of openly gay elected officials has surged over the past decade.

In the United States, many of the country's most successful out politicians received help from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group dedicated to supporting openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender candidates.

Later this month, the group returns to Fort Lauderdale to put on its 17^th annual Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute (GLLI) Candidate & Campaign Training, where attendees learn how to press the flesh from proven campaign professionals.

Steve Kornell, who fought off anti-gay attacks to win a seat on the St. Petersburg, Florida City Council last November, is expected to address attendees.

http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5248&MediaType=1&Category=26

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Are they, or aren’t they?

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:07

By John Wright | News Editor wright@dallasvoice.com
Feb 11, 2010 - 7:22:40 PM

Despite gains, some gay candidates still not open; experts say shying away from the issue isn’t an effective campaign strategy

Over the last eight years, the number of openly gay and lesbian elected officials in the U.S. has gone from 257 to 445, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

In addition to numerous city council members, Dallas voters have elected an out lesbian sheriff, and an openly gay county judge and district clerk. And voters in Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city, recently elected an out lesbian mayor.
Despite this apparent progress, however, some gay and lesbian political candidates in North Texas remain unwilling to discuss or even confirm their sexual orientation in the media.

One local candidate who’s running in 2010, widely known to be gay in LGBT circles, has repeatedly refused to respond to questions about his sexual orientation posed by Dallas Voice. And another local 2010 candidate has confirmed she’s a lesbian but isn’t willing to be interviewed about her sexual orientation.

Denis Dison, a spokesman for the Victory Fund, which backs openly LGBT candidates nationwide, said although he understands why some are less than fully open about their sexual orientation, he doesn’t believe shying away from the issue is an effective strategy.

“I respect people’s decision to be out or not out, that’s up to them, but our recommendation to gay people who are running for office is always, be honest and answer the question, and move on to the issues that you’re running on,” Dison said.

http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_12476.php

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Three gay nominees among the 27 confirmed by U.S. Senate

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:05

The three gay officials were nominated to their positions after being recommended by the Presidential Appointments Project, a Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund-led initiative that helps openly LGBT individuals get appointments in the Obama administration.

Denis Dison, a Victory Fund spokesperson, praised the Senate for confirming Wilson, Atwood and Mills.

“We’re glad the Senate finally confirmed these three outstanding individuals,” he said. “They are proof that the president is focused on finding the best people to work in his administration, and we’re proud they’ve stepped up to serve their country.”

http://dcagenda.com/2010/02/three-gay-nominees-among-the-27-confirmed-by-u-s-senate/

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Osteen Thanks God for Annise Parker

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 16:01

Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen, who ignited a firestorm in November with his comment to The View that gay people were not among “God’s best,” thanked the heavens on Monday for Annise Parker, the newly inaugurated lesbian mayor of Houston.

According to a tweet from the Victory Fund, during the inauguration ceremony Monday morning, Osteen thanked God for "lifting up our new mayor, Annise Parker."http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/01/04/Osteen_Thanks_God_For_Annise_Parker/

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Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Elects Nashvillian Co-Chair

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 15:59

Nashville’s Jim Schmidt has been elected to help lead a part of the country’s largest GLBT political action committee, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

Schmidt was elected to a two-year term as co-chair of the Victory Fund’s Campaign Board (VCB) last month and will help lead the 100-member board responsible for recruiting, endorsing and raising money for GLBT candidates running for office.

“It’s a great opportunity to make a huge difference in politics across the country,” Schmidt said.

http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2009/12/30/gay-lesbian-victory-fund-elects-nashvillian-co-chair/

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Deb Price: Election shows the future has arrived in Houston

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 15:57

Deb Price, Detroit News, writes the first nationally syndicated column on gay issues. | Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 5:00 am 

Early in her victory speech, Houston Mayor-elect Annise Parker addressed the pink elephant in the joy-throbbing room, the history she’d just made as an openly gay candidate for the top office in America’s fourth-largest city.

“All right,” Parker said on Dec. 12, as her partner of nearly 19 years beamed at her side, “let’s get this out of the way. Here’s the announcement that you’ve been waiting for: I am proud, very proud, to have been elected the first, the very first graduate of Rice University to be mayor of Houston.”

Her supporters burst into laughter and cheers at what was a textbook moment for other aspiring lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender candidates. A little humor does indeed go a long way. But in this case, the humor carried with it some Texas-sized truth about why Parker won: Voters appreciated her deep Texas roots.

Parker was born and raised in Houston, graduated from Rice, worked 20 years in the oil and gas industry, then began a political career -- serving six years on the City Council, then five as city controller, where she was in charge of billions of tax dollars and oversaw Houston’s investments.

As her campaign website put it, Parker has “Houston Hometown Values.”

Despite anti-gay mailings, she won a runoff against lawyer and political newbie Gene Locke, 53 percent to 47 percent. Denis Dison of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which helps elect gay candidates, predicts Parker’s triumph will “embolden out leaders to run for office and give young LGBT folks the courage to seek leadership positions while still living authentic lives.” Dison notes Parker always has been open in her campaigns about her sexual orientation.

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/article_f28a1c7e-02be-5f90-9fcc-8e0731b06604.html

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Obama administration names two transgender people to posts

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 15:52

Amanda Simpson starts work this week as one of the first presidentially-appointed transgender persons to the executive branch of any administration. The honor of the first belongs to Dylan Orr, a 30-year-old law school graduate from Seattle.

The Obama administration appointed both Simpson and Orr in late November. Orr began work on December 7 as special assistant to Assistant Secretary of Labor Kathleen Martinez in the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the Department of Labor.

Simpson, 49, began work on Tuesday as senior technical adviser in the Bureau of Industry and Security in the Commerce Department. The bureau's mission is to protect national security through the management of international trade, the enforcement of treaties, and the promotion of economic, cyber, and homeland security.

http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4458

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Obama Admin. On Track To Set Gay Appointment Record

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 15:50

A Tuesday announcement on the filling of key administrative posts included President Obama's latest openly gay official, Beatrice Hanson. Hanson, who heads a crime victim assistance organization in New York City, has been nominated to serve as director of the Office of Victims of Crime in the Department of Justice.

Her nomination keeps the Obama administration on track to setting a new record on appointing openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender officials.

Denis Dison, vice president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that promotes openly gay elected officials, told On Top Magazine that the Obama administration is almost certain to shatter the old record, perhaps as soon as next year.

“Obama has appointed about 100 openly LGBT staff to the executive branch in his first year in office,” Dison said in an email. “[President] Clinton appointed about 140 over 8 years.”

“Obama is certainly on track to set a record in this regard,” he added.

http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5043&MediaType=1&Category=26

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Year ahead filled with promise, pitfalls

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 15:42

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent comment that her 2010 agenda wouldn’t include controversial votes unless the Senate acts first has disappointed some LGBT lobbyists on Capitol Hill.

There are several LGBT-related bills pending at the federal level, including repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the enactment of employment non-discrimination and extending benefits to the same-sex partners of federal workers.

http://dcagenda.com/2010/01/year-ahead-filled-with-promise-pitfalls/

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Europe's Gay Leaders: Out at The Top

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 15:39

When Iceland installed Johanna Sigurdardottir as Prime Minister last February, newspapers around the globe printed variations of the same headline: ICELAND APPOINTS WORLD'S FIRST GAY LEADER. Everywhere, that is, except Iceland. The Icelandic media didn't mention Sigurdardottir's sexuality for days, and only then to point out that the foreign press had taken an interest in their new head of state — a 67-year-old former flight attendant turned politician whom voters had consistently rated Iceland's most trustworthy politician. Sure, she was gay and had entered a civil partnership with another woman in 2002. But Icelanders hardly seemed to notice. "The media silence echoed the sentiment of the public. Nobody cared about her sexual orientation," says Margret Bjornsdottir, the director of the Institute for Public Administration and Politics at the University of Iceland. "Being gay is a nonissue here. It's considered unremarkable."

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1952221-1,00.html

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Gay Candidates Get Support That Causes May Not

Thu, Feb 25th 2010, 15:36

HOUSTON — When an openly gay woman won the mayor’s race here this month, it was the latest in a string of victories by gay candidates across the country, a trend that seems to contradict the bans on same-sex marriage that have been passed in most states in recent years. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/us/28candidates.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=%22victory%20fund%22%20gay&st=cse

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McCoy asks LDS Church to support same-sex rights

Mon, Nov 10th 2008, 12:54

State Sen. Scott McCoy joined Equality Utah in asking the LDS Church to follow up on its previously stated commitment to the rights of same-sex couples.

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Rietschel endorsed by The Seattle Times

Tue, Oct 28th 2008, 15:23

The Seattle Times states: "We like both candidates, but sense in Rietschel a toughness that gives us confidence she could control any courtroom. We endorse Rietschel."http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008298835_edit23judgesendorse.html

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Rebecca Kaplan Endorsed by San Francisco Bay Gaurdian

Wed, Oct 22nd 2008, 11:22

City Council, at large

REBECCA KAPLAN

Rebecca Kaplan is exactly what the Oakland City Council needs: an energetic progressive with the practical skills to get things done. As an AC Transit Board member, she pushed for free bus passes for low income youths — and defying all odds, managed to get all-night transit service from San Francisco to the East Bay. She did it by refusing to accept the conventional wisdom that transit agencies on the two sides of the bay would never cooperate. She put the key players together in a meeting, convinced the San Francisco supervisors to allow AC Transit buses to pick up passengers in the city late at night, and put through an effective program to get people across the bay after BART shuts down.

Kaplan is running for City Council on a progressive platform calling for affordable housing, rational development, and community policing. Her latest idea: since Oakland has so much trouble attracting quality candidates for vacancies in its police department, she suggests the city recruit gay and lesbian military veterans who were kicked out under the Pentagon's homophobic policies. Her proposed slogan: "Uncle Sam doesn't want you, but Oakland does."

Vote for Rebecca Kaplan.

http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?page=17&entry_id=6247&catid=4&volume_id=317&issue_id=376&volume_num=42&issue_num=31

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Oklahoma wind power has vast potential

Thu, May 29th 2008, 08:25

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth wrote the following article for Tulsa World, extolling the potential of wind energy.http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=20080508_49_E4_spancl424732

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Jamie McLeod speaks on California marriage ruling

Mon, May 19th 2008, 11:28

McLeod speaks with other leaders on the California Supreme Court ruling overturning the state's ban on marriage. See the video here.http://video.mercurynews.com/mms/rt/1/site/medianewsgroup-bang-mercurynews-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=mercurynewsvideomc&maven_referralPlaylistId=2702c907691535a6f106bf50a4e68dda7d6d763f&maven_referralObject=f75bf6e9-1778-4e7b-8f76-a7e9

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Despite mayor's veto, Riverdale to proceed with project

Wed, Oct 31st 2007, 08:39

 By MEGAN MATTEUCCI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/29/07

Despite some last-minute political wrangling, Riverdale will move forward with plans to break ground on a new town center early next year.

Voters approved the downtown redevelopment project — part of a tax allocation district — during a special election in September.

"It's not only a town center," Council member Michelle Bruce said. "This will create jobs and a sense of unity that we never did have in this city. It will bring everybody together and give kids something to do."

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2007/10/29/riverdaleplan_1030_web.html

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Riverdale City Council overrides mayor's TAD veto

Wed, Oct 31st 2007, 08:36

By Joel Hall

The Riverdale City Council has overturned a veto by Mayor Phaedra Graham that would have derailed the city's plan for the Riverdale Town Center, a tax allocation district (TAD).

"To me, [Graham] slapped the voters in the face when she did this," said Councilmember Bruce. "[The Town Center] creates jobs for our citizens, it creates tax base ... [the voters] wanted this and this hurts the taxpayers in the city."

http://www.news-daily.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=22460&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&S=1

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Proposed mortgage rules face hurdles

Mon, Oct 29th 2007, 16:37

WASHINGTON -- Democrats introduced legislation Monday that would tighten an array of mortgage lending standards and require U.S. regulators to issue new rules ensuring that loans be made only to borrowers who can afford to repay them.

The bill, by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and two North Carolina colleagues, could set the baseline for the emerging debate over how to prevent a repeat of the mortgage meltdown. But its passage is by no means assured, and elements of the bill are likely to draw intense opposition from the lending industry.http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mortgage23oct23,1,6715773.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage&ctrack=1&cset=true

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Novice challenges city council incumbent Clark

Thu, Oct 25th 2007, 14:10

Judy Fenton, who wants to retrofit the Alaskan Way Viaduct and remove statues at the Olympic Sculpture Park, is running for Position 9 against incumbent Sally Clark, who wants to continue the work she's done for the city's neighborhoods.

"I'm a geek for Seattle's neighborhoods," Clark said.

"I want to figure out how to both retain the character that we like about them and see them grow in ways that allow new people to move in."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003946792_elexseacouncilnine13m.html

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Governor Schwarzenegger Approves DPA Legislation to Expand Clean Syringe Access

Thu, Oct 25th 2007, 13:55

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed Assembly Bill 110, authored by Assemblymember John Laird (D – Santa Cruz), which allows local governments to use state HIV prevention funds to purchase clean syringes. http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/102307ab110.cfm

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Washington Post Endorses Adam Ebbin

Thu, Oct 25th 2007, 10:04

District 49: Democratic incumbent Adam P. Ebbin faces only nominal opposition from James Ronald Fisher, an Independent Green Party member. Mr. Ebbin, the only openly gay member of the General Assembly, has the rare courage in Richmond to speak out against the political scapegoating of illegal immigrants, religious minorities, homosexuals and other easily exploited groups.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/24/AR2007102402341.html

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Oklahoma’s first openly gay legislator visits Dallas

Mon, Oct 22nd 2007, 08:12

From one “blue” region to another, gay Oklahoma Rep. Al McAffrey is coming to share his experiences with Dallas’ political activists.

“We have a lot in common with his district,” said Jesse Garcia, president of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas. “He’s in a little blue island of Oklahoma City, and he’s coming to Dallas County where there’s another blue island in a sea of red.”http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_7018.php

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Dallas County sheriff vows to crack down on warrants

Fri, Oct 19th 2007, 11:56

Dallas County constables have started helping the Sheriff's Department serve felony and other high-level criminal warrants, giving the county a total of 100 full-time warrant deputies – a force unrivaled by any other county in Texas.

  "If you have a warrant out in Dallas County, someone is going to be knocking on your door," Sheriff Valdez said.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/101607dnmetwarrants.30d1adb.html

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A December Primary in New Hampshire? It's His Call.

Mon, Oct 15th 2007, 17:16

One person who may know what Gardner is thinking is Jim Splaine, who was along for the ride to Keene and back. Splaine, 60, is a Democratic state legislator who wrote the 1975 law giving the secretary of state power to set the primary date. Splaine also wrote subsequent amendments extending that power.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101102109.html?hpid=topnews

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Okla.: Utilities' Rate Increase Denied

Mon, Oct 15th 2007, 14:45

Commissioner Chairman Jeff Cloud and Commissioner Jim Roth signed two separate orders rejecting the request of Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. PSO is a subsidiary of American Electric Power Co.http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/0a229e7c61966c73612c99b4bdd1be86.htm

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Houston City Council: The Chronicle recommends Lovell, Noriega, Jones, Adams and Williams

Mon, Oct 15th 2007, 13:21

• At Large Position 2, Sue Lovell — After decades of community involvement, this longtime Montrose resident was elected to her first term on council two years ago and has shown both independence and the ability to build consensus. Lovell is a strong advocate for providing more after-school programs and park space in densely developed parts of the city.http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5211158.html

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Baldwin fights for trans-inclusive ENDA

Fri, Oct 12th 2007, 10:42

Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), one of two openly gay members of Congress who are leading efforts to pass pro-LGBT legislation, broke her public silence on the controversy this week.http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2304

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SAVE Dade endorses Beach candidates and responds to offensive flyer

Thu, Oct 11th 2007, 12:03

Among the candidates for Group VI, is Frank Kruszewski, a long time community activist and an openly gay candidate who is a board member of SAVE.  In responding to the flyer, Frank Kruszewski stated "It is clear that three specific candidates in the Group VI race are being targeted in this mailer. It is ethnically bigoted, homophobic and sexist."

Commissioner Michael Gongora, currently running for re-election in Group V, stated "I have seen the piece and I am very offended by the content and do not believe the residents of the City of Miami Beach deserve or want this type of politicking in our community. Although, this piece is not a consequence of the Group V race, it is important that all candidates in all the races this year denounce this type of campaigning as wrong and not what the voters of Miami Beach want to hear.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2007/10/save-dade-endor.html

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Improve Seattle Council

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 16:34

In Position 9, Sally Clark is endorsed to retain the council seat she has held since January 2006, when she replaced Jim Compton. Her past experience as a legislative aide and department staffer and her current work as a council member place her far ahead of newcomer Judy Fenton. Clark has earned a full four-year term.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003928186_counciled07.html

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New law to keep drug dealers farther from kids

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 16:26

Sen. Julia Boseman helped propose legislation that will expand safe zones around schools and parks from three hundred feet to one thousand feet. That means if you sell drugs within those areas, you can be charged with a class-E felony.http://www.wwaytv3.com/new_law_to_keep_drug_dealers_farther_from_kids/10/2007

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Commissioner Michael Góngora Pushing Green Initiatives

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 15:32

Miami Beach October 2007 - Commissioner Góngora issued a proclamation marking September 27, 2007 as:  “DadePaper Greensafe & Innovations Expo Day.” DadePaper was founded in 1939 by current Chairman Irving Genet and his father Harry Genet in Miami, FL. The company remains family owned and operated. It was the first annual expo and its mission was to showcase a variety of products and services- both “green” and innovative in order to educate customers on the latest options in foodservice disposables and janitorial supplies.http://www.citydebate.com/florida/miamibeach/template.php?url=0110080705.htm

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AEP-PSO case before regulators: The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is expected to approve a final order that could affect electricity rates for more than half a million utility customers

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 15:22

"This state is hungry for energy efficiency, and this commission is taking the step . . . to require a utility to begin that journey," Commissioner Jim Roth said in August, following final deliberations in the case. http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=071009_5_E1_spanc88676

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Panel to Fight Poverty in Alabama

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 15:18

"I hope we can walk away with something we can use to help people," said Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, chairwoman of the panel and sponsor of the resolution that set up the committee.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/10/09/ap4203140.html

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State budget: Revenues fall -- projected deficit soars

Wed, Oct 10th 2007, 15:06

Assemblyman John Laird, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee, said projections in the last three budget years have been worse than reality.

"You always have to be a little nervous, but it's too early to tell," Laird said.

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/424058.html

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House speaker creates task force to study poverty

Wed, Oct 3rd 2007, 09:30

Posted by The Associated Press October 02, 2007 12:40 PM

MONTGOMERY -- A task force formed by House Speaker Seth Hammett to study poverty in Alabama will hold its first meeting next week.

 "We want to look at policies that adversely impact those in poverty and look at new policies that could lift people out of poverty," said Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, chair of the task force.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/10/house_speaker_creates_task_for.html

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Global Warming Commission holds first meeting

Wed, Oct 3rd 2007, 09:14

 Wednesday, Oct 3, 2007

By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK - Protecting the environment and promoting economic development don't have to be mutually exclusive goals when reasonable people seek common ground, Gov. Mike Beebe said Tuesday in convening the newly formed Governor's Commission on Global Warming.

When the goals cannot be reconciled, Beebe said, the environment is his top priority.

On Tuesday, the panel elected the House sponsor, state Rep. Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock, co-chairman of the commission, along with Pearlie Reed of Marion, former chief conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2007/10/03/News/343531.html

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A People Person: Adam Ebbin is emphasizing constituent work in his reelection campaign.

Tue, Oct 2nd 2007, 13:41

 By David Schultz
October 2, 2007

For Adam Ebbin, being a Delegate in the Virginia General Assembly is simple: your first priority is to work for the people you represent.

Ebbin, a Democrat in Virginia’s 49th House of Delegates district who is trying to be reelected to his third term, doesn’t tout his partisan credentials or subscribe to a rigid ideological philosophy. According to him, his strength as a politician is that he knows how to compromise and get things done.

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=88022&paper=60&cat=197

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Gay man named planning chief

Tue, Oct 2nd 2007, 09:44

As Upper Market, the Castro District and other parts of San Francisco face big changes, the city is getting a new planning director.

John Rahaim, who is openly gay, has been Seattle's planning director for four years. He will start his new job in January at a salary of $196,000.

http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2234

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Removal of transgender protection from ENDA angers gay rights groups

Tue, Oct 2nd 2007, 08:58

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that several gay rights groups have withdrawn their support from the End Non-Discrimination Act after Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Barney Frank pulled language from the bill protecting transgendered individuals. A statement from Pelosi said that House Democratic leaders have decided to postpone a vote on the bill in order to "allow proponents of the legislation to continue their discussions with members in the interest of passing the broadest possible bill."http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/02/MN6QSHRA6.DTL&tsp=1

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Council: All displaced renters must be told of aid

Tue, Oct 2nd 2007, 08:40

By Rebekah Schilperoort

Monday, October 01, 2007

To recognize the effect of condominium conversions on displaced renters, the city council unanimously passed an ordinance last week that penalizes developers and property owners who fail to notify eligible renters of tenant relocation assistance.

Tenants who earn at least 80 percent of median income are supposed to receive notice they are due $500 in assistance and the new ordinance just "puts teeth into that requirement," said Tom Rasmussen, chair of the council's housing committee and sponsor of the bill.http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/articles/2007/10/01/news/local_news/news02.txt

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NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS: Mayor wants city hall to do most planning work

Tue, Oct 2nd 2007, 08:38

Monday, October 01, 2007

By Rebekah Schilperoort

Ballard and Crown Hill have done better than most communities at keeping track and implementation of its neighborhood plan, according to assistant city auditor Mary Denzel.

Nearly 900 residents were surveyed for an audit ordered by Seattle City Council member Sally Clark to review the mid-life progress of the 20-year plans. It included people who had helped craft the plans in the late 1990s and some who did not.http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/articles/2007/10/01/news/local_news/news03.txt

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