Help Alabama Elect It's First Openly Lesbian State Representative!

[Syrinx]

Patricia Todd is her name. She came in first in a five-way primary. The runoff election is on July 18.

This is for a very Democratic district, and the winner of the runoff faces no Republican opposition.

Visit her campaign website here.

You can make a campaign contribution here.

And here's an article about her receiving the endorsement of two of her former opponents.

Thank you!

[bluestateguy]

1. Can you tell us more about the demographics of the district?

Does it include the University of Alabama?

[Syrinx]

2. it does not include the University Of Alabama

UA is in Tuscaloosa, and district 54 is part of Birmingham.

It may include UAB (University Of Alabama, Birmingham), but I'm not sure.

The district is largely African-American, and has the highest percentage of gay people in the state. (I'm not sure how that is determined, but I read it in a newspaper article.)

[RoyGBiv]

3. I love that area ...

This is sorta off the subject, but a friend of mine taught at UAB for many years. I visited him when he was there and just fell in love with the location and the people ... lots of liberal types in the area. The humidity sucked, but oh well. :-)

Sorry for the diversion. Just wanted to mention it.

[Syrinx]

4. I'm glad you mentioned it

I've never stood foot on the UAB campus. Not really sure how it's laid out.

But I've fond memories from UA and Birmingham.

And I hate the humidity too. Some people say they like it. But I think they lie. :)

What did your friend teach?

[nealmhughes]

5. It is all on University Avenue in a row.

Starts around the med centers and goes down to where I-65 picks up. Not much to see for a campus.
UA is much prettier. And UNA in Florence. Great green spaces and traditional architecture at both.

[Syrinx]

6. I take that back

I visited my grandpa at the UAB hospital when I was a little boy. Though my grandpa died there, it really is a world-class hospital, from everything I hear about it.

Yeah, I think the UA campus is very beautiful. It would be even more beautiful if the yanks hadn't burned it down during the Civil War. :P

[Syrinx]

7. Thanks to whoever R'd this post

We need to remember "small" races in "red" states. Revolutions generally happen bottom-up.

[Syrinx]

8. cautious optimism

Patricia Todd led community activist Gaynell Hendricks by a scant 59 votes in the House District 54 runoff race in Birmingham Tuesday as Todd attempted to become the first openly gay or lesbian legislator in Alabama.

With 100 percent of boxes reporting Tuesday, the unofficial count showed Todd had 1,173 votes, or 51 percent, to Hendricks' 1,114, or 49 percent. Hendricks had held a large lead earlier in the evening and appeared to be heading to victory, but Todd moved narrowly into the lead as late votes were counted.

The final outcome of the race may not be certain until election officials count provisional ballots on Wednesday.

The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund sent out a news release late Tuesday claiming victory for Todd, but Hendricks was not conceding the race. Her husband, Elias Hendricks, said the final vote totals conflicted with other vote totals and that they are not ready to give up the race.

There is no Republican candidate in the race, which means Todd, if her lead holds up, will likely be elected to the House seat, replacing veteran Rep. George Perdue, D-Birmingham, who is retiring.

http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060719/APN/607190513&cachetime=5