The Greg Pettis for the California 80th Assembly District Campaign has announced that U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) will headline a fundraiser for the campaign on Saturday, May 24, 2008. Pettis has served with distinction for more than 13 years on the Cathdral City Council, also serving previously as Mayor Pro-Tem, and is presently the leading Democratic candidate for the 80th AD. Pettis was one of the first openly-gay electeds in the Coachella Valley and has solid support in the LGBT community amongst local, state, and National electeds.
Rep. Frank has served in Congress since 1981. He is the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Previously, he was a Massachusetts State Representative and an assistant to the Mayor of Boston. Frank has also taught at several Boston area universities.
In 1998, Frank founded the National Stonewall Democrats, the national gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democratic organization. In 2004, and again in 2006, a survey of Capitol Hill staffers published in Washingtonian magazine gave Frank the title of the “brainiest”, “funniest”, and “most eloquent” member of the House.
As of May 2007, Frank is one of two openly-gay members of Congress, the other being Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who has also endorsed Pettis for the CA 80th AD (see BlogActive.com for its listing of the closeted gay members of Congress who regularly vote to harm their own clan).
Frank’s blunt stance on outing certain gay Republicans has become well-publicized, dubbed “The Frank Rule” – that it is acceptable to out a closeted gay person, if that person uses their power or notoriety to hurt gay people.
More below the flip…
Others co-hosting the Frank fundraiser include Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, Palm Springs Councilwoman Ginny Foat, Palm Springs Councilmember Rick Hutcheson, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, Equality California, The Bottom Line Magazine, the Palm Springs Democratic Club, and the Desert Stonewall Democratic Club.
Mayor Pougnet was elected to the Palm Springs City Council in 2003, and was elected its second openly-gay Mayor in November 2007. Pougnet serves on numerous boards and committees, including President of the Mizell Senior Center, chairman of the Coachella Valley Association of Government’s Energy Conservation subcommittee, board member of the Valley Action Group, and a member of the Palm Springs Unified School District Advisory Committee. He was also co-chair of the Citizens Task Force for Mountain and Foothill Preservation and Planning.
Pougnet lives in Palm Springs with his partner of 15 years, Christopher Green. They became the father of twins, Beckham and Julia in April 2006.
Councilmember “Ma” Foat has been a businesswoman, activist and community volunteer in a variety of settings prior to and following her elections to Palm Springs City Council as its first openly-lesbian Councilmember. In addition to Councilmember, Foat serves as Human Resources Committee Member of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, Alternate to the Riverside County Transportation Commission, Member of the League of California Cities, Member of the Sub Committee on Neighborhood Involvement, Member of the Sub Committee on Convention Center Opening, and Member of the Sub Committee on Indian Oasis.
Councilmember Hutcheson was first elected to Palm Springs City Council in November 2007. Hutcheson is a former-member of the Palm Springs Planning Commission, former-member of the Palm Springs Police Advisory Board, founding board member of the Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization, and former-member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development Block Grants in Palm Springs.
The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT elected officials at all levels of government. Since 1991, the Victory Fund and its national donor network have helped hundreds of openly LGBT candidates win election to local, state and federal offices. The Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly-LGBT candidates and their campaigns. Victory Fund staff of political professionals help to recruit and vet qualified candidates, train them, and assist them in raising the crucial funds required to run for office. In addition to providing funding from its political action committee, the Victory Fund cultivates a national network of donors whose commitment to the Victory Fund mission results in vital support for our endorsed candidates.
Equality California (EQCA)was founded in 1998, and celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. In the past ten years, EQCA has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. EQCA endorsed Pettis for the 80th AD as Pettis fully supports the principles of the organizaiton. Pettis has a long history of fighting for equal rights for all residents of the Coachella and Imperial Valleys, unlike his three opponents who either oppose full equal rights for all including Marriage Equality or equivocate on their support.
The Palm Springs Democratic Club (PSDC) is a growing group of concerned and committed citizens who are taking an active and vocal role in the political process. The founders of PSDC created the club as a section 527 organization in July 2006. PSDC focuses on Palm Springs because it is the home of its members
We focus on Palm Springs because it is our home — where we live out fundamental family values and care deeply about our loved ones, friends, neighbors, community and livelihood. Currently, we have more than 100 members, are chartered under the auspices of the Riverside Democratic Committee and guided by a nine-member Board.
PSDC endorsed Pettis for the 80th AD because he best represents their guiding principles of
Social equality and equal opportunity, guided by a conviction that government should be used to pursue both.
A safe, secure America, fair wages, universal healthcare, first-rate education systems accessible to all, environmental policy that sustains the planet and human life on it.
A belief that the only role for the United States in world affairs is to practice foreign policy that reflects fundamental tenets of our Constitution, goodness of our citizens and irrevocable commitment to continuity of human existence.
A belief that we can best achieve these principles by actively working for them in our own city.
A belief that the government and citizens of Palm Springs face growing challenges in addressing homelessness, healthcare, environmental and energy matters, housing, development and quality of life issues.
A belief that activism and involvement in political processes are fundamental responsibilities of citizenship.
A community of Palm Springs Democratic registered voters where all can express their beliefs, promote their values and actively pursue a progressive society within our city.
A focus on voter registration and turnout because these are proven, direct methods to influencing outcome of elections.
PSDC Co-Chair David Pye, PSDC Co-Chair Sandy Eldridge, PSDC co-founder Lisa Arbalaez, and PSDC Secretary Peter East, amongst other PSDC activists, are all energetically, and sometimes frenetically, involved in the Pettis for Assembly campaign.
The Desert Stonewall Democratic Club organization is devoted to advancing equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. DSD supports the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates who support this mission. DSD endorsed Pettis for the 80th AD as the only candidate working to realize equality for all:
To educate the LGBT community and people who are supportive of it about the vast differences that exist between the two major parties on the issues of concern to our community;
To lead our party to improve its record on issues of importance to our community, and to work for the nomination of Democratic candidates from the local to national level, including qualified openly LGBT candidates who will be fully supportive of our fight against bigotry and intolerance;
To encourage our community to support and vote for Democratic candidates who are committed to defeating homophobia and prejudice; and
To work with local LGBT Democratic clubs and individuals to encourage and foster the creation of new clubs.
Pettis’ support in the National, State, and local LGBT communities include but is not limited to:
National:
U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-MA)
U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
State:
The Entire LGBT Caucus in Sacramento including
CA State Senator Christine Kehoe
CA State Senator Sheila Kuehl
CA State Senator Carol Migden
Ca State Assemblyman John Laird, Chair LGBT Caucus
CA State Assemblyman Mark Leno
Local:
Palm Springs City Councilmember Ginny Foat
Palm Springs City Councilmember Rick Hutcheson
Cathedral City City Councilmember Paul Marchand
Desert Hot Springs City Councilmember Karl Baker
Organizations and their Leaders:
Desert Stonewall Democratic Club
Vice-President Desert Stonewall Democrats Roger Tansey
Treasurer Desert Stonewall Democrats Bob Silverman
Secretary Desert Stonewall Democrats James Reynolds
Membership Chair Desert Stonewall Democrats Lynn Worley
Public Relations Chair Desert Stonewall Democrats Donald W. Grimm, Ph.D.
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democrats Bob Mahlowitz
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democrats Richard Oberhaus
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democrats Greg Rodriguez
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democrats Robert Lee Thomas
Steering Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democrats Lynn Worley
Political Action Committee Member Desert Stonewall Democrats Bond Shands
Desert Stonewall Democrats Member Bill Cain-Gonzales
Equality California
HRC Board Member Andy Linsky
Inland Stonewall Democratic Club
Co-Chair Palm Springs Democratic Club Sandy Eldridge
Co-Chair Palm Springs Democratic Club David Pye
Secretary Palm Springs Democratic Club Peter East
San Diego Democratic Club
Victory Fund
Below is the announcement for the Frank fundraising event:
Andy Linsky
HRC Board of Directors*
and co-hosts
Mayor Steve Pougnet
Hon. Ginny Foat
Hon. Rick Hutcheson
Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
Equality California
The Bottom Line Magazine
Palm Springs Democratic Club
Desert Stonewall Democrats
Invite you to meet
Congressman Barney Frank
and to join him in supporting
Greg Pettis
For California State Assembly (80th AD)
Saturday May 24th 2008 at 5 O’clock
Location for the Cocktail Reception at the home of Andy Linsky will be provided with a confirmed reservation
Suggested minimum contribution: $100 per person
Sponsor: $500 ~ Co-Host: $1000
Computer Generated; Labor Donated. © 2008 | Pettis for Assembly 2008 | P.O. Box 2692 Cathedral City, CA 92235-2692 | FPPC ID# 1285158
Contributions are not tax deductible for income tax purposes.
Limits to this campaign are $3600 per person, company or PAC
Reservations: [email protected] or (760) 841-3189
For more information, or to contribute online:
http://www.gregpettis.com/dona…