At Least 31 Gay
Candidates Win Elections Across the Country

Of the 71 gay and lesbian political candidates endorsed this year by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, at least 31 were elected on Tuesday, and 10 others won races earlier this year, according to a press release from the political action group.

"This is the path to change," Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, said in the release. "We are not content to sit on the sidelines and hope others do the right thing for our community. We will step up and lead the fight for a more equal and fair America, and we will win."

Among the group's endorsements were Craig Covey, who clinched the mayoral race on Tuesday in Ferndale, Mich., becoming the state's first openly gay mayor, and New Jersey state assemblyman Reed Gusciora, who came out during his first term and won reelection.

The group's 71 endorsements set a new record for an odd-numbered year in which there is no planned federal election. The Victory Fund officially supported 88 candidates in 2006 and said it expects to endorse more than 100 in 2008.

The release highlighted the following races from Tuesday:

-Joel Burns, a candidate for the Fort Worth, Texas, city council, advanced to a December runoff election as the top vote-getter after being subject to antigay smears from an opponent.

-Craig Covey won his race for mayor of Ferndale, Mich., becoming the first openly gay mayor elected in the state of Michigan.

-Michelle Bruce, a transgender incumbent on the Riverdale, Ga., city council, was the top vote-getter in her race and advances to a runoff election.

-New Jersey state assemblyman Reed Gusciora, who became the state's first openly gay state legislator when he came out publicly during his current term, won reelection to his seat.

-Jeffrey Anderson was elected to the Duluth, Minn., city council, becoming the first openly gay elected official in northern Minnesota.

-Tim Eustace won his race for mayor of Maywood, N.J.

-Brian Bates, won a seat on the Doraville, Ga., city council, becoming the first openly gay Republican ever to win office in the state.

-Lydia Lavelle won a seat on the Carrboro, N.C., board of aldermen, becoming the seventh openly LGBT candidate ever elected in the state.

Other winning candidates the Victory Fund cited included (alphabetical by state):

CA Steve Pougnet -- Palm Springs mayor pro tem

CA Ruth Atkin -- vice mayor, Emeryville

CA Henry Lo--Garvey School District Board of Education

CO Karen Kellen -- Lakewood city council

CT Mike Pohl -- Manchester board of education

CT Adam Gutcheon -- Windsor board of education

GA Lance Rhodes -- East Point city council

GA Kecia Cunningham -- Decatur city commissioner

MA Joe DeMedeiros -- New Bedford city council

MA Denise Simmons -- Cambridge city council

MA Timothy Purington -- Holyoke city council

MD Patrick Wojahn -- College Park city council

MN Greg Lemke -- Moorhead city council

(The Advocate)