Big City Politics
The Out People of Color Political Action Club (OutPOCPAC), a four-year-old New York City-based non-partisan political organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and two-spirited (LGBTTS) people of color, held an endorsement meeting July 26, to pick candidates for a number of city offices in this year’s election.
"Our endorsements reflect the diversity of our city and the deliberative process that highlights some of the tough choices we had to make," said OutPOCPAC Co-President Gerard Cabrera. "The races in which we made no endorsement signify that the club will neither rubber stamp incumbents nor make endorsements without meaningful dialogue with candidates.”
“Newcomers to the political field received a respectful hearing and their willingness to come and talk with us demonstrated their own understanding of the important role the LGBT people of color community has to play in these upcoming elections,” Cabrera continued. “The club was likewise willing to not just look at a candidate's achievements but also their aspirations and vision for the city."
Co-President Doug Robinson added: "We were particulary impressed by many of the candidates in the Manhattan Borough President's race, some of whom have proven themselves as effective leaders and valuable allies to our community in their own right. The club felt that Margarita Lopez best represents the values and goals of our community. We look forward to working with her to ensure her victory in the fall."
At an earlier endorsement meeting, OutPOCPAC backed Democrat Fernando Ferrer for Mayor.
The full list of endorsed candidates:
Mayor: FERNANDO FERRER
Comptroller: WILLIAM THOMPSON JR.*
Public Advocate: NORMAN SIEGEL
Manhattan Borough President: MARGARITA LOPEZ
Manhattan District Attorney (New York County): LESLIE CROCKER SNYDER
Brooklyn District Attorney (Kings County): MARK PETERS
City Council
District 1 (Lower Manhattan): ALAN GERSON*
District 2 (Lower East Side, Gramercy, Murray Hill): ROSIE MENDEZ
District 7 (West Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood): ROBERT JACKSON*
District 8 (East Harlem, Mott Haven, Upper West Side): MELISSA MARK-VIVERITO
District 9 (Harlem, Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley): No Endorsement
District 20 (Flushing North): JOHN C. LIU*
District 21 (Corona, East Elmhurst): HIRAM MONSERRATE*
District 25 (Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst): BRYAN PU-FOLKES
District 34 (Bushwich, Ridgewood): No Endorsement
District 35 (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights): LETITIA JAMES*
District 42 (Brownsville, East New York): No Endorsement
District 49 (North Shore Staten Island): MICHAEL E. McMAHON*
*denotes incumbents
OutPOCPAC is the nation’s first political club for LGBTTS people of color. For more information, check out their website, email outpocpac@yahoo.com, or call 917-804-9579.
Posted by bernie at July 27, 2005 8:44 PMTrackBack