The Paper | Calendar | |Businesses | Attractions | Nightlife | Resources | Gay Links | Home SpeakOUT Election Special - Vote June 2nd by Matthew Friday & Bruce Carlson [Editor's Note: The views expressed in this column are solely those the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or viewpoints of The Paper.] Resources for this list include our own (Bruce and Matt's) experience at the Democratic State Convention in Los Angeles this spring and our private summations of research presented by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund, the Bay Area Municipal Election Committee (BAYMEC, a GLBT political action committee), local Democratic clubs, and discussions between friends and activists. While there was a great deal of consistency between these bodies, where there was any disagreement Bruce and I have provided our own position.   Governor We're not making a specific recommendation for governor, but all three Democratic candidates for the office are very good on GLBT issues. Al Checchi - Thought by some to be the candidate who will most easily beat Republican Dan Lungren in November. Very competitive, strong work ethic, new to politics, used to being his own boss, financing this stage of his campaign himself (and says he'll start fundraising after the primary). Sensitive to minority concerns but, as far as we know, does not have widespread union support at this point. Supports domestic partnership laws for GLBTs and favors needle exchange programs. Jane Harman - Describes herself as the best Republican in the Democratic Party. She's the current democratic congresswoman from a difficult, largely Republican Congressional District in southern California. She is said to have an exceedingly strong record on gay rights and HIV/AIDS issues. She has broad experience on military issues and yet, if I remember correctly, supported gays in the military in public and private conversations with the brass. She's the long shot at this point, but was introduced at the convention by the powerful (and lesbian) Assemblymember Carole Migden. Gray Davis - Party regular, has "paid his dues" and has a lot of support from the usual Democratic standard bearers, including unions, education, minority groups, and even police and fire departments, etc. He has a long history of working with us and maintains a very strong following in the GLBT community. Whereas the previous two seem to be paying for their primary campaigns largely from their own checkbooks, Davis (as of this spring) supposedly has a "small" $4 to $5 million  "war chest." This puts him at some disadvantage, but things should change mightily if he wins the primary. He was introduced by GLBT star Sheila Kuehl at the convention. As for the Republican Dan Lungren, he "would be an unmitigated disaster," in the words of BAYMEC director Wiggsy Sivertsen. Lt. Governor Democrats Tony Miller and Cruz Bustamante are both very good on our issues. Tony Miller is an openly gay man and ran for Secretary of State in the last election. The Republicans are running two state senators, Tim Leslie and Richard Montjoy. Both of these have shown their very anti-gay stripes while serving as senators. Secretary of State We recommend Michela Alioto State Controller We recommend Kathleen Connell State Treasurer We recommend Phil Angelides (Curt Pringle and Jan Goldsmith are described as ultra conservative GOP assemblymembers.) Attorney General We recommend Senator Bill Lockyer, who has always been very supportive of our issues. Insurance Commissioner No recommendation Member, State Board of Equalization, 1st District Johan Klehs US Senator The irrepressible Barbara Boxer US Representative, 17th District (all of Monterey County and parts of adjacent counties) Sam Farr (who has been an outspoken supporter of LGBT rights in Congress) 14th District Anna Eshoo, BAYMEC long-time supporter 16th District Zoe Lofgren, longtime BAYMEC supporter Member of the State Assembly, 27th Assembly District (western Monterey/Santa Cruz counties) Current Assembly Member Fred Keeley, who, among other good things, authored Assembly Bill 492. This bill would have allowed persons alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation to have one year from the date of an incident in which to file their claim with the Labor Commissioner. (Defeated in the Assembly 36 to 40.) He voted for Assembly Bill 101, authored by Assembly Member Shiela Kuehl, a bill that would have prohibited sexual orientation discrimination in education. (Defeated in the Assembly 36 to 40.) He also supported Assembly Bill 257 which would have put prohibited sexual orientation discrimination under FEHA, thus giving sexual orientation discrimination the same level of legal standing as all other forms of discrimination.) Keeley voted to defeat a state version of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), authored by conservative Assembly Member Bob Margett. His bill, Assembly Bill 800, would have forced California to only recognize marriages that occur outside the state if they are between heterosexual couples. This bill was killed in the Judiciary Committee, of which Fred Keeley is a member. Fred is also a supporter of Assembly Bill 1059, which was still alive as of a few months ago, which would require that a health care service plan offer the same benefits to a domestic partner that it would offer to other dependents. Fred is considered a moderate Democrat in most areas, but progressive on education, the environment, and social justice issues. Member of the State Assembly, 28th District (eastern Monterey and Santa Cruz counties) We recommend Mayor Alan Styles from Salinas, who would be a far better choice than current Assembly member Peter Frusetta on our issues. (Frusetta has made some very derogatory comments about gays, and always votes against us). We believe that candidate Styles will be an enormous improvement on our own and minority issues generally, as well as education, labor, and the environment, and should be given a chance to work for Monterey County alongside 27th Assembly Member Fred Keeley. State Superintendent of Public Instruction We recommend Delaine Eastin, who has been supported by BAYMEC in the past and continues to be supportive of our issues. Monterey County Residents For the single-candidate races, we're not making any recommendations County Supervisor (these districts do not include the Monterey Peninsula) 2nd District Kurt Hunter (contacted our community for support) 3rd District Richard V. Ortiz (contacted Matt to write his position papers early in the campaign. Although we were unable to help at that time, it made us think he might be favorable on our issues.) Assessor-County Clerk/Recorder Joseph Pitta Sheriff Gordon A. Sonne