Tampa Elects First Openly LGBTQ Mayor

Jane Castor becomes mayor of Tampa, FL

Tampa, Florida has elected its first openly gay female mayor, ex-police chief Jane Castor, who won a runoff election in a landslide.

Within thirty minutes of the polls closing, the outcome was clear. Castor defeated wealthy businessman David Straz garnering a huge 73% of the vote.

“It shows a change in the times, but really all along, the majority of people just want someone who can do the job,” Castor said of her historic win. “They want a leader who’s gonna improve their lives and focus on the issues that matter to them. And that’s what I intend to do.”

“We don’t tear people down with negativity, so thank you all for believing in that message,” added the 59-year-old former police chief.

The reference to negativity was a clear nod to her opponent who reportedly spent $5 million, much of that his own money, in the race.

In the week’s leading up to the runoff vote, Straz declined any debates or forums saying voters had grown tired of them.

“That means Straz spent nearly $345 for every vote he received,” The Tampa Bay Times reports. “Castor, who won all but 7 of the city’s 103 precincts, spent about $44 per vote.”

Castor nearly won the general election outright, but fell 2 points short with 48% of the vote. That number was triple Straz’s 15.5% he earned to come in second.

Acknowledging her long-time partner, Ana Cruz, Castor gushed, “She was everything. I’ve never been involved in campaign before, that’s her wheelhouse. She knows how to run a positive campaign.”

In conceding the race, Straz called for the city to rally around the new mayor.

“This is all about the future of Tampa,” Straz told the media. “The voters have spoken. They elected Jane Castor. And we need to get behind our mayor and help move the city forward.”

According to her campaign website, Castor served 31 years at the Tampa Police Department, first as a beat cop and then six years as police chief.

LGBTQ advocacy groups celebrated the news.

“Jane Castor’s victory is a clear sign that LGBTQ Americans are being welcomed as leaders in every part of society,” said Erin Uritus, CEO of Out & Equal. “Tampa is the second major American city to elect an openly lesbian mayor so far this month, coming just weeks after Lori Lightfoot won in Chicago.”

“For decades we have fought to make sure that LGBTQ Americans like Castor can have a seat at the table,” she added. “Elections like this show us that all of us belong at the table.”

VICTORY: Jane Castor makes history as Tampa’s first openly LGBTQ mayor. 🏳️‍🌈@HRC was proud to endorse @JaneforTampa and look forward to working closely with her to ensure the city continues to move forward as an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone. https://t.co/7unu3pb5VH pic.twitter.com/FqILD4OYam

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 23, 2019

.@eqfl_actionPAC spotlight candidate @JaneforTampa has made history tonight as Tampa's first openly #LGBTQ mayor! We look forward to working with Mayor-elect Castor as she continues the work to keep Tampa a beacon of diversity in the South! #sayfie pic.twitter.com/f0fUKo4oXw

— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) April 23, 2019

(Source: Tampa Bay Times)

Hillary Clinton For New York City Mayor?

According to the New York Daily News, Hillary Clinton did not rule out a run for mayor of New York City when asked in recent private conversations.

Current Mayor Bill de Blasio has known and worked with the Clintons for for years, but his initial reluctance to endorse Hillary for president didn't sit well with her camp.

De Blasio's term ends at the end of this year, and no high-profile Democrat has weighed in as a challenger.

Personally,  I can't see her jumping back into a campaign so soon after her second loss in presidential politics.

Plus, she would have to move from her comfortable home in Chappaqua, NY, should she win. State law requires candidates for mayor to live within the five boroughs of the city by Election Day.

She would, however, be breaking one of those famous "glass ceilings." The Big Apple has thus far never had a female mayor.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Bans City-Funded Travel To Indiana

Mayor Ed Murray with George Takei

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced a ban on travel to Indiana by city officials today, in light of the passage of Indiana's anti-gay "license to discriminate" legislation - S.B. 101.

"Seattleites know that discrimination has no place in our City – that's just equality 101." - Seattle Mayor Ed Murray

Via press release:

Indiana's S.B. 101 doesn't reflect the values of our City. Seattle has been a leader in the fight to protect civil rights and ensure equality for all people - no matter who you are, or who you love. This is why I am ordering that none of our taxpayer dollars should go toward supporting this discriminatory law. To those in Indiana today who are working hard in the fight for equality - know that Seattle stands with you as you continue your efforts to end discrimination and protect civil rights for everyone.

The executive action will ban all work-related and city-funded travel to the state of Indiana.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has issued a similar executive order for his city, and more are lining up.

According to King5 News, Mayor Murray made his announcement after meeting with actor and LGBT activists George Takei and his husband Brad Altman last evening.

Nashville Mayor joins Mayors for The Freedom To Marry

Nashville's Mayor Karl Dean joined the right of history today by publicly stating his support for marriage equality. Said Karl:

"I believe that all people should be treated fairly and equally and that their individual dignity should be respected.

"Embracing and celebrating our growing diversity makes our city stronger.

"Nashville needs to continue in that direction, and it’s my hope that joining this effort will help us do that."

Tallahassee Mayor John Marks for the Freedom To Marry

Tallahassee Mayor John Marks shares why he supports the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.

"This is the right thing to do. Individuals have rights and freedoms, and we need to allow everybody to have those same rights and those same freedoms."

Robert Garcia becomes first Latino, first openly gay and youngest mayor of Long Beach

With 52% of the vote, Long Beach City Councilman Robert Garcia becomes the city's first openly gay mayor. Garcia is also the city's first Latino mayor and the youngest candidate ever elected to the office of mayor.

Speaking to NBC Los Angeles, Garcia had this to say about being "first":

"I think you run, not necessarily to be the first, I know that there are certainly historical implications of my election," Garcia said. "I’m in this to be mayor of everyone, no matter the age or the color of their skin or who they love."

Garcia believes the city’s diversity is one of its assets. "We have one of the largest Cambodian communities outside of Cambodia, a large Latino community, a large LGBT population, and we have everyone. I really think that’s what makes Long Beach strong," Garcia said.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker marries longtime partner

Kathy Hubbard (L) and Mayor Annise Parker (R)

Via press release issued by Houston:

Mayor Annise Parker and her long-time partner, First Lady Kathy Hubbard, were joined in marriage today in a sunset ceremony held at a private home in Palm Springs, California.

A small gathering of family and friends, including the mayor’s mother and Ms. Hubbard’s sister, were on hand for the exchange of vows, which were presided over by the Reverend Paul Fromberg, a family friend from San Francisco. Two other close friends from Houston, Judge Steve Kirkland and Mr. Mark Parthie, served as the attendants and formal witnesses.

Mayor Parker and the First Lady selected January 16th for their wedding because it marks the 23rd anniversary of the start of their lives together.

“This is a very happy day for us,” said Mayor Parker. “We have had to wait a very long time to formalize our commitment to each other. Kathy has been by my side for more than two decades, helping to raise a family, nurture my political career and all of the other ups and down and life events that come with a committed relationship. She is the love of my life and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life married to her.”

Washington Post: Those with conventional views must repress gag reflex over new NYC mayor's interracial family

I can't believe the Washington Post actually let Richard Cohen print this crap.

Read his entire op-ed here.

Chilly looking reception for NYC Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio

NYC Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio with outgoing Mayor Bloomberg

Do you get the sense that outgoing NYC Mayor Bloomberg isn't all that warm and fuzzy with incoming NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio?

Check out the pic of their first meeting at the Mayor's offices.

Oy. Can you say "chilly"?

(h/t BoyCulture)

Washington: Seattle elects first openly gay mayor Ed Murray

From the Advocate: Seattle elected the city's first openly gay mayor when state senator Ed Murray defeated current Mayor Mike McGinn with 56% of the vote Tuesday night.

Murray was instrumental in bringing marriage equality to Washington in 2012 as a state senator.

According to the Seattle Times, Murray's campaign embraced and even touted his marriage equality efforts as his signature legislative accomplishment.

When addressing supporters Tuesday night, Murray, 58, was joined onstage by his husband, Michael Shiosaki. The two wed over the summer.

Texas: Annise Parker re-elected as mayor of Houston for third term

Annise Parker re-elected as mayor of Houston, TX

Annise Parker was reelected to her third (and final term) as mayor of Houston yesterday.

From the Houston ABC affiliate:

Parker claimed victory after her biggest challenger, former Houston City Attorney Ben Hall, took to a stage minutes before to concede the race. "I love this city. Tonight, I feel like it loves me back, so thank you for the very warm welcome. Thank you. Thank you to the many people who made this victory possible," Parker said. "I want to make Houston an even better place to live, work and raise a family. I thank my family for the great support that they always give me but the amount of time they've taken to run the campaign."

Hall's concession came after only 8 percent of precincts reported Parker had taken 50 percent of the votes. But as more votes poured in, Parker's lead continued to grow.

Houston remains the largest US city with an openly gay mayor.

(via JMG)

NYC: Bill de Blasio has 50 point lead in mayoral race

Mr. De Blasio, a Democrat, received the support of 71 percent of likely voters, compared with 21 percent for Mr. Lhota, the poll found. The Independence Party candidate, Adolfo Carrión Jr., received 2 percent.

The poll, conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1, showed Mr. de Blasio, the city’s public advocate, with a comfortable lead among white voters and an enormous one among blacks and Hispanics. Only 5 percent of likely voters remained undecided, and less than a tenth of those who favored Mr. de Blasio said there was a good chance they would change whom they supported.

Both De Blasio and Lhota have released the first campaign ads.

(via New York Times)

NYC: Bill de Blasio jumps to 43% in mayoral race

From the NY Times: A new survey from Quinnipiac University finds that 43 percent of likely Democratic voters plan to support Mr. de Blasio, the public advocate, in the Sept. 10 primary.

William C. Thompson Jr., who captured the Democratic nomination in 2009 but lost the general election that year to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, was supported by 20 percent of likely Democratic voters. Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, who had been the front-runner for most of the campaign, now has the support of 18 percent.

A runoff will be held, on Oct. 1, only if none of the nine Democrats on the ballot receives 40 percent of the vote.

NYC: Mayoral race flipped on it's head as de Blasio races to top of polls

A new poll conducted by Quinnipiac University shows Bill de Blasio with 36 percent of the likely Democratic vote - striking distance of avoiding a widely-expected runoff election.

The two other leading Democratic candidates, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and former Comptroller Bill Thompson, posted 21 and 20 percent respectively.

“Talk about breaking out of the pack!” pollster Maurice Carroll said in a statement acknowledging Mr. de Blasio’s quick rise. “Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, in fourth place just five weeks ago, is edging up on the magic 40 percent needed to avoid a Democratic primary runoff. And if there is a runoff, he clobbers Council Speaker Christine Quinn or former Comptroller and 2009 Democratic challenger William Thompson.”

The poll also shows de Blasio would easily beat the competition in a run-off. According to the poll, Mr. de Blasio would beat Ms. Quinn 59-30, and Mr. Thompson 52-36.

bdb poll

(source)

When Anthony Weiner's campaign implodes, it IMPLODES

In a rant rarely seen in a political circles, Anthony Weiner’s communications director Barbara Morgan went off the rails while talking to a reporter at Talking Points Memo.

Former intern for the Weiner campaign, Olivia Nuzzi, published a story on the blog NSFWCORP, which then landed her on the front cover of the Daily News.

On a call to TPM about an unrelated issue, Morgan apparently roared on and on about Nuzzi and her article:

“Fucking slutbag. Nice fucking glamour shot on the cover of the Daily News. Man, see if you ever get a job in this town again,” said Morgan.

According to Morgan, Nuzzi stopped interning for the campaign “like four weeks ago.” Nuzzi’s story on NSFWCORP described her as having spent “four weeks” as a Weiner intern. When asked whether the claims in Nuzzi’s stories were true, Morgan suggested many of them were “bullshit.”

“It’s all bullshit,” she said. “I mean, it’s such bullshit. She could fucking — fucking twat.”

According to Morgan, Nuzzi's job performance left much to be desired.

“She sucked. She like wasn’t good at setting up events. She was clearly there because she wanted to be seen. Like it was, like, terrible and I had to like - she would like, she would just not show up for work,” said Morgan. “For the four weeks she worked there — she didn’t work weekends, so twenty days total. Of those twenty days, she missed probably five because she would just like not show up and not tell me she wasn’t going to be there. So, yeah, so there’s that.”

Morgan also expressed disbelief that Nuzzi criticized her credentials.

“And then like she had the fucking balls to like trash me in the paper. And be like, ‘His communications director was last the press secretary of the Department of Education in New Jersey,” Morgan said. “You know what? Fuck you, you little cunt. I’m not joking, I am going to sue her.”

Late last night, Morgan issued a statement to Business Insider about the screed:

“In a moment of frustration, I used inappropriate language in what I thought was an off the record conversation. It was wrong and I am very sorry, which is what I said tonight when I called and emailed Olivia to apologize,” said Morgan.

(via TalkingPointsMemo)

Popular parody - Kristin Chenoweth skewers Anthony Weiner's NYC mayoral bid

You KNOW it's over when this happens...

NYC: Mayoral hopeful Anthony Weiner drops 9 points in new poll

In the New York City mayoral race, some expected shifting in standing has occurred regarding the current Democratic candidates. Christine Quinn has improved her position from 20% to 25%, and Anthony Weiner has quickly dropped 9 points.


Talking Points Memo has the ins and outs of the first poll taken since "Anthony Weiner 'sexting' scandal 2.0" hit the news:

Weiner's standing in the race has clearly slipped due to the scandal, though he's not entirely out of contention. The poll showed him in second place in the Democratic primary with 16 percent compared to 25 percent for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and 14 percent for both Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and former Comptroller Bill Thompson. Prior to the scandal, Weiner had been leading his rivals in multiple polls. The last Marist poll, which was released June 26, had Weiner with 25 percent, Quinn with 20 percent for Quinn, and Thompson with 13 percent. Weiner has dropped nine points since then.

By city election law if no candidate gets 40% in the primary on September 10th, the top two finishers go into a runoff on September 24th.

(h/t JMG)

Washington: Openly gay state senator Ed Murray running for mayor of Seattle

Notice how Mr. Murray puts who he is right out front in his first campaign ad.

Read more about Ed Murray's campaign for Mayor of Seattle at www.murray4mayor.com.