Gpcbloc Vote on the Line Mays
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). election news GPCbloc vote on the line MayS Amid the swarm of candidates at GPC's the free-for-all for Ron Paul's seat in the endorsement night, heads turned to U.S. House of Representatives. watch a familiar, figure as he shook In what many candidates called the members' hands-Sheriff Jack Heard. city's most thorough procedure, GPC Heard, of course, was the mayoral candi- screened 57 Democrats and 3 Republi- date who criticized Kathy Whitmire for cans, endorsing 28 Democrats and 2 her gay support during their 1981 race. His Republicans. Several Republican judicial hopes dimmed -when gay voters asso- , candidates indicated they would screen "I'll change your 1'-' ciated him with a full-page homophobic after the May 5 primaries. Two Republi- perception of newspaper ad and a last-minute homo- can US. Senate hopefuls discussed the what a Southern phobic mailgram. Heard, who screened in possibility of screening, but neither actu- sheriff should be." March, specifically denied any connec- ally scheduled. 'tlon.with the ad or mailgram and told the like other gay organizations across the. endorsement night audience he had state, Gay Political Caucus was heavily -Klevenhagen never been involved in anything detri- courted by U.S. Senate candidates Lloyd .mental to gays. , Doggett and Bob Krueger. And like other The caucus, however, overwhelmingly gay organizations, the caucus overwhelm- endorsed Johnny Klevenhagen, a 20-year ingly endorsed state Sen. Lloyd Doggett, a law-enforcement veteran .. Klevenhagen, well-respected and well-financed candi- who retired from the Sheriff's Depart- date who has garnered the vast majority of ment with the rank of major, holds a mas- endorsements. To offset Krueger's name - Johnny Klevenhagen ter's degree in police administration. He recognition, Doggett has said he hopes to 'Jack Heard also considers gays an important part of build a coalition much like Ann Richards '.' /~ . his coalition. His is one of six races tar- and Jim Hightower did in their races two diffuse accusations he was gay. screerung committee, once served as an geted for volunteer emphasis. years ago. Changes for gay endorsements . GPC's growing political clout also was associate general counsel for the U.S. This is the first time GPC has endorsed a for Krueger capsized when gay endorsing' reflected in the county commissioner House committee on the assassination of serious sheriff's candidate. But March 21 organizations questioned the former con- Precinct 1 race. Six candidates screened, Martin Luther King lr, and John F. produced other firsts: the first U:S. Senate gressman about his vote for the McDon- and five spoke on endorsement night. In Kennedy. and county commissioner.endorsements. ald Amendment. The amendment-would the most hotly contested endorsement of The race for the 1st Court of h.ppeals, The caucus also chose to support the have cut off free legal aid to gays offered the evening, state Rep. EI Franco lee won Place 2; will be an uphill battle for Hous- county's first two Asian-American judicial through the legal Services Corp. Krueger caucus support 47-20 over Sylvester ton attorney Michol O'Connor against candidates and a Republican candidate in stated he voted for the amendment to Turner. Frank Briscoe, a former DA who once said Dr. Joseph Agris, a Republican who had Houston wasn't conservative enough for one of the season's best screenings, was him. O'Connor, a woman, was instrumen- --- - . .. - . t:!r.dorsed for U.S. representative, District tal in writing the "rape as assault" bill that r=;~~t :;t;hTe;;~T;=j:;:~~-~n~d~o-r~s~e-;"-e~ ·~ofiff:se;:;t~K::;ru~~e;'g;:e~rT.:s;-;:;n-;a'm~e:-·:---------------""""!:"::-----------:---------------- ter's degree in police administration. He recognition, Doggett has said he hopes to Jack Heard ' Johnny Klevenhagen also considers gays an important part of build a coalition much like Ann Richards his coalition. His is one of six races tar- and Jim Hightower did in their races two diffuse accusations he was gay. screeningcornrnittee, once served as an geted for volunteer emphasis. years ago. Changes for gay endorsements GPC's growing political clout also was associate general counsel for the U.S. This is the first time GPC has endorsed a for Krueger capsized when gay endorsing reflected in the county commissioner House committee on the assassination of serious sheriff's candidate. But March 21 organizations questioned the former con- Precinct 1 race. Six candidates screened, Martin luther King [r, and John F. f produced other firsts: the first U.S. Senate gressman about his vote for the McDon- and five spoke on endorsement night. In Kennedy. and county commissioner endorsements. aid Amendment. The amendment would the most hotly contested endorsement of The race for the 1st Court of Appeals, The caucus also chose to support the have cut off free legal aid to gays offered the evening, state Rep. EIFranco lee won Place 2; will be an uphill battle for Hous- county's first two Asian-American judicial through the legal Services Corp. Krueger caucus support 47-20 over Sylvester ton attorney Michol O'Connor against candidates and a Republican candidate in stated he voted for the amendment to Turner. Frank Briscoe, a former DA who once said Dr. Joseph Agris, a Republican who had Houston wasn't conservative enough for one of the season's best screenings, was him. O'Connor, a woman, was instrumen- endorsed for U.S. representative, District tal in writing the "rape as assault" bill that 22. Agris, whose race was targeted, im- radically changed this state's rape laws GPC Endorsement Card pressed the screening committee with an and afforded homosexual victims equal excellent understanding of AIDS and the protection. extensive political organization he is put- The final targeted candidate is lee Wil- DEMOCRATS: ting together. son, running for state representative, Dis- trict 148. Wilson, an attorney, is being United States Senator lloyd Doggett Other candidates profiled on Page 2 U.S. Rep. 18 Mickey leland supported by the same coalition that backed Frumencio Reyes two years ago. U.S. Rep. 8 Jay Marcus Hill Hannah Chow, running for County Wilson's opponent, Rep. Roman Mar- Chief Justice, Texas Supreme Court John luke Hill Civil Court No.3, and Toni lIagas Ingversen, seeking the judgeship of the tinez, was heavily supported by City Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 1 Sam Houston Clinton Councilman Ben Reyes during Martinez's 14th Court of Appeals, Place 1, are hoping first race. Martinez won that 1981 election to become the first Asian-American 1st Court of Appeals, Place 2 MicholO'Connor by a heart-rending 13 votes over longtime 14th Court of Appeals, Place 1 Toni lIagas Ingversen judges-in fact, the first Asian-American elected officials-in the county. Chow community supporter Frumencio Reyes. Judicial candidates don't get much pub- State Rep. 131 Ron Wilson serves on the University of Houston licity, especially in a presidential year. State Rep. 132 Paul Colbert Downtown Humanities Advisory Board State Rep. 137 Debra Danburg and is legal counsel to the Asian- Their races are seldom exciting. But few could argue with the importance of elect- State Rep. 142 Harold V. Dutton Jr. American Council of Organizations and ing judges who make life and death deci- State Rep. 148 lee Wilson· Asian Com-munity Support Services Cen- ter. Chow's race has been targeted. sions who also support gay rights. Harris Cty. Distriet Attorney David A. Jones Fortunately, it's here GPC's impact is Harris Cty. Sheriff Johnny Klevenhagen" Ingversen offers a wide range of legal Harris Cty. Commissioner Pet. 1 EIFranco lee experience, both civil and criminal, in- See GPC Page 3 Harris Cty. Constable Pet. 7 A.B. Chambers cluding research and writing appellate County Civil Court at law No.3 Hannah Chow" briefs and arguing before appellate courts. A crucial judicial race targeted by the 127th Dist. Court Judge Alice Trevathan caucus was the 174th District Court, pit- index 151st Dist. Court Judge Herb H. Ritchie ting James G. "Greg" Glass against in- Gay census 2 164th Dist. Court Judge Peter S. Solito cumbent Jon N. Hughes. The race is 174th Dist. Court Judge James G. "Greg" Glass" expected to put, GPC's political clout in Volunteers 3 178th Dist. Court Judge Doug O'Brien judicial races to a severe test. GPC seldom 215th Dist. Court Judge Sheila Jackson lee· endorses against an acceptable incum- Mini-Jam 3 333rd Dist. Cqurt. Judge Elinor Walters bent, and a loss here could cast a shadow 337th Dist. C'6urt Judge Bob Burdette across all the progress the caucus has Membership 3 339th Dist. Court Judge lupe Salinas made at the county courthouse. The cau- 351st Dist. Court Judge Jay W. Burnett cus has a chance, though, to put an ener- GPC office 4 County Ct1air Barbara Stanley getic proponent of pre-trial release and a strong supporter of minority rights on an Voting ins, outs 5 REPUBLICANS important court. U.S. Rep. 22 Joseph Agris" In the final targeted judicial race, Sheila Democrats 6 127th Dist. Court Judge Sharolyn Wood Jackson lee is seeking the 215th Civil Dis- trict Court seat. tee.who prompted such Republicans 6 • Indicates targeted races ~ remarks as "phenomenal" from the GPC Election News page 2 Candidates as diverse as gay community - , , Mickey Leland: ger to the community. Colbert is a well- tion of family violence cases: and effec- rose resident is in a crowded race for the ? One of Houston's most-respected black respected member of the House whose tive use of pre-trial release, a program 178th District Court seat.