CA: Gay Dems working to re-elect San Diego’s GOP mayor

Link: Washington Blade

Excerpt:

It’s not often you find gay Democrats working to re-elect a straight Republican politician, but then again, 2008 is turning out to be an exceptional year in politics.

Stampp Corbin, a prominent Barack Obama supporter, and San Diego City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez are gay Democrats, but they're organizing gay support for the re-election campaign of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. Corbin and Murray-Ramirez. The organization run by Corbin is called 2008 GLBT Vote San Diego.

Sanders, a Republican, made national headlines — and YouTube infamy — in September when he wept while publicly announcing his support for same-sex marriage during a news conference.

He pledged his support for a resolution that the City Council passed directing the city attorney to file a brief in support of a California gay marriage bill.

Though the mayor had previously said he would veto the resolution, he had a change of heart when the measure hit his desk.

"The arrival of the resolution to sign or veto in my office late last night forced me to reflect and search my soul for the right thing to do. I've decided to lead with my heart, to do what I think is right and to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice. The right thing for me to do is sign this resolution," he said during the news conference.

[...]

When Sanders pledged his support for gay marriage, he also revealed that his daughter, Lisa, is a lesbian. Many have attributed Sanders' marriage views to his daughter’s sexual orientation, but Corbin and Murray-Ramirez said that having gay appointees to advise him also contributed to his support.

The 2008 mayoral race pits Sanders against Republican opponent Steve Francis.

"All of the polling shows that this is clearly a race between the two Republicans," Murray-Ramirez said. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote in the June election, a runoff will be held in November between the top two finishers.

Francis has said he would have vetoed the amicus brief measure in support of gay marriage.

Vince Vasquez, policy director for Francis' campaign, said that Francis is a supporter of gay rights, including domestic partnerships and considers himself a friend to the gay community.

"Our campaign and its message are inclusive," Vasquez said.

Fred Sainz, press secretary for Sanders, said he doesn't see the gay marriage issue playing a big part in the re-election campaign.

"Whether people supported gay marriage or not, it really demonstrated that [people] believe that the mayor is a man of justice and compassion," Sainz said, who is gay.

"I think that people felt for him, both as a human being and as a father, and that's what they take away from it more than having changed their mind on gay marriage," he said.

But Francis is less than friendly when it comes to gay issues, Sainz said.

"When Jerry made his decision on gay marriage, [Francis] openly lobbied the local Republican Party to withdraw their endorsement of Jerry. It didn't work, so he turned tail on them and now the most conservative guy in town is running as an 'independent.' He changes positions more often than most of us change clothes," he said.

An article in the San Diego Union-Tribune published last September said Francis supported domestic partnerships, but quoted him as saying that gay marriage is "disruptive to our family structure as a culture and a society."

[...]

Corbin and Murray-Ramirez are working to rally gay support for Sanders as part of an effort to "thank" the mayor for his support.

"You will not find one Republican mayor who has come out for marriage equality," Murray-Ramirez said. "I know that his daughter Lisa did not lobby him or push him on this issue one bit."

Since the announcement, Lisa has become involved in the San Diego gay community, Murray-Ramirez said.

"Now she is openly gay with her longtime partner and they are involved in the community and social service fundraising," he said. "And the mayor's very proud of her."

[jw]