Peach trees aren’t the only form of life thriving in Georgia’s soil, as the state also is proving to be fertile ground for gay political dynasties.
Two openly gay local officials recently won four more years in public office after no challengers stepped up to run against them before the candidate qualifying deadline.
“I’m very excited and thankful for the support of my community,” said Decatur City Commissioner Kecia Cunningham, who is running unopposed for her District 2 seat after no other candidates registered by the Aug. 31 deadline.
Cunningham, who became the state’s first openly gay African-American elected official when she initially won office in 1999, will enter her third term after the Nov. 6 election results are made official.
One of the proudest moments of her eight years in office remains when Decatur became the second city in Georgia to offer domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian employees in 2001, Cunningham said.
East Point City Council member Lance Rhodes also locked-up another term when no other candidates qualified to run against him.
“I will be in for another four years,” said Rhodes, currently in his first term on the East Point City Council. Rhodes was the third openly gay public official elected in East Point, but will be the first to get a second term.
The city in south Fulton county has undergone gentrification and an influx of gay and lesbian residents in recent years, and Rhodes said East Point is settling into a progressive and welcoming climate.
“We’ve accomplished a great deal within the last three years and it’s because of the community,” said Rhodes, who added that having openly gay officials helps bridge the gap between new residents, who tend to be white and/or gay, and longtime African-American East Point residents.
“We’ve help demonstrate that being openly gay does not make us different from anyone else,” Rhodes said.
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a national organization that supports openly gay candidates for elected office, endorsed Rhodes and Cunningham.
“Atlanta is a hotbed of openly gay leadership,” said Denis Dison, Victory Fund vice president for communications. “In both cases, these are people who saw what it took to run and win with a clear eye.”
Also serving on the East Point City Council is Kevin Hudson, who is gay and was appointed in May to fill the seat vacated by Gregory Fann Sr.
Fann was indicted in Fulton County Superior Court on charges of using East Point city employees to do personal work at his house. Fann’s term was scheduled to end in 2010, and Hudson said he would occupy the seat at least until Fann’s legal problems are resolved.
“There is a small possibility an election could be called in time for November, but it’s more likely that this scenario will play out a little later,” Hudson said.
Riverdale City Council member Michelle Bruce — Georgia’s first transgender elected official — is in the process of seeking a Victory Fund endorsement as she braces for her first re-election challenge Nov. 6.
Bruce ran unopposed for the Ward Two seat on the Riverdale City Council in November 2003, but faces three opponents this fall: Wayne Hall, Georgia Fuller and Alberto Advincula.
Bruce, who was born intersexed and identifies as transgender, said she expects her gender identity to be an issue in the race, but she is also optimistic about her chances for a second term.
“I’m not really concerned because I’ve got a good record for the community,” Bruce said.
Neither Fuller nor Advincula could be reached for comment, but Hall said he would not make an issue out of her gender identity.
“I have nothing personal against Michelle Bruce, but I’m just one of the few that believe they can do a better job,” said Hall, who added that he supports non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
In 2005, Bruce proposed expanding the city’s non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The measure was defeated 3-2.
Bruce’s campaign literature cites training she has received from the Georgia Municipal Association, a perfect attendance record for all City Council meetings, and her efforts to get compensation for citizens whose homes were damaged by blasting for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport’s fifth runway, among others.
Bruce said she looks forward to the day when gay and transgender people can live more openly in Clayton County.
“People fear what they don’t understand,” she said. “There is a lot of LGBT community here, but they’re running scared, and we need a more organized LGBT community to start making a difference.”
Georgia Log Cabin Republicans Vice President Brian Bates announced Wednesday his intent to make a second run for the Doraville City Council. Bates, who lost his first bid in 2005, is seeking to fill the seat vacated by Tom Hart, who resigned Aug. 31.
Bates hopes to improve the “basic infrastructure” of Doraville by updating everything from the city’s technology to its zoning code, and said his first run for office puts him in a prime position.
“I’ve got volunteers in place, I’ve got the visibility and name recognition, and I’ve got the knowledge of running the last campaign,” Bates said. “I’m in a much better position to run and win.”
Official qualifying for the seat is from Sept. 17-19.
Laura Douglas-Brown contributed.
