The Equality NC Action Fund endorsed Buncombe County General Assembly candidates Susan Fisher, Jane Whilden, Susan Wilson and Martin Nesbitt. Here’s the press release from the state LGBT advocacy group:
Equality NC Action Fund Announces 2012 Legislative Candidate Endorsements
Statewide LGBT Advocacy Group’s PAC Provides Online Voter Guide Endorsing North Carolina’s Pro-Equality Legislative Candidates
Raleigh, N.C. — Equality NC Action Fund, the political action committee (PAC) of North Carolina’s statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) advocacy group, Equality NC, today announced its first round of endorsements for the 2012 General Election. These endorsements highlight preferred candidates in races for the North Carolina General Assembly. Endorsements for Governor, Council of State, and judicial races will be announced next week.
The announcement comes on the one-year anniversary of the passage of Senate Bill 514, otherwise known as the ballot referendum “Amendment One,” that spurred record turnout in the May primary election and went on to ban relationship recognitions for gay and lesbian North Carolinians.
“We are excited to announce our support for candidates who have demonstrated through both words and deeds, their commitment to equality for all North Carolinians, including a stance against Amendment One.” stated Stuart Campbell, Executive Director of Equality NC Action Fund. “By evaluating their responses to our questionnaire, reviewing their voting records, and seeing first-hand their work over the past months and years, we are happy to not only recommend these candidates to North Carolina voters, but encourage all fair-minded citizens to support them financially, through volunteering and most importantly, at the ballot box.”
Equality NC Action Fund evaluates candidates using multiple factors. Each candidate is provided an LGBT issue-based questionnaire, some are selected for interviews, and public position statements and past voting records are also considered.
“All of the candidates listed below are worthy of our support and vote and Equality NC Action Fund will in turn focus on strong pro-equality candidates in key races statewide,” explained Campbell. “In the process, our work continues to not only support candidates who stand with us 100% of the time, but also to work with and educate elected officials who are willing to understand and evolve on our issues.”
All endorsements can be found in the Equality NC Action Fund 2012 Online Voter Guide at www.equalitync.org/pac/voterguide2012.
First round legislative endorsements, include:
State House of Representatives
District/Candidate
7 Angela R. Bryant
18 Susi Hamilton
24 Jean Farmer-Butterfield
29 Larry Hall
30 Paul Luebke
31 Mickey Michaux, Jr.
34 Deborah K. Ross
37 Jason Wunsch
38 Yvonne Holley
39 Darren G. Jackson
41 Jim Messina
42 Marvin W. Lucas
44 Rick Glazier
45 Eddie Dees
49 Keith Karlsson
50 Valerie Foushee
54 Deb McManus
56 Verla Insko
57 Pricey Harrison
58 Alma Adams
60 Marcus Brandon
63 Patty Philipps
71 Evelyn Terry
74 David Moore
85 JR Edwards
86 Jim Cates
88 Martha Alexander
92 Robin Bradford
93 Cullie Tarleton
99 Rodney Moore
100 Tricia Cotham
102 Becky Carney
107 Kelly Alexander
110 Jamar McKoy
114 Susan C. Fisher
115 Susan E. Wilson
116 Jane Whilden
State Senate
9 Deb Butler
11 Clarence A. Bender
14 Dan Blue
15 Sig Hutchinson
16 Josh Stein
17 Erv Portman
18 Doug Berger
20 Floyd McKissick, Jr.
22 Mike Woodard
23 Ellie Kinnaird
27 Myra Slone
31 Delmas Parker
40 Malcolm Graham
44 Ross Bulla
45 Roy J. Carter
46 John T. McDevitt
49 Martin Nesbitt
Equality NC is a statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians.
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