The Gay People's Chronicle has endorsed candidates which are boldfaced and marked with this star.
Ohio Senate, District 15
★ Ben Espy (D, incumbent) Also endorsed by Central Ohio Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, Equality Ohio, NARAL Ohio PAC.
Beverly Corner (R)
Ohio Senate, District 21
★ C.J. Prentiss (D) Also endorsed by NARAL Ohio PAC.
Richard Norris (R)
Ohio Senate, District 23
★ Dan Brady (D, unopposed) Also en-
dorsed by NARAL Ohio PAC.
Ohio Senate, District 25
★ Eric Fingerhut (D) Also endorsed by NARAL Ohio PAC.
Thomas Pekarek (R)
Ohio Senate, District 31
Eugene Branstool (D)
Jay Hottinger (R, incumbent) Not enough information for the Chronicle to make an endorsement in this race, but as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, Hottinger sponsored H.B. 160, a bill aimed at preventing same-sex marriage in Ohio should it become legal elsewhere.
Ohio House, District 11
★ Peter Lawson Jones (D, incumbent) Also endorsed by NARAL Ohio PAC. Kate Uhlir (R)
Ohio House, District 13
★ Barbara Pringle (D, incumbent) Also endorsed by NARAL Ohio PAC. Anthony Kirby (R)
Ohio House, District 15
★ James P. Trakas(R) Also endorsed by Log Cabin Republicans of Cleveland. George Klepacz (D)
OCTOBER 16, 1998 GAY PEOPLE's ChroNICLE
ECTION
DOREEN CUDNIK
State Rep. Peter Lawson Jones laughs with radio host Buck Harris at Stonewall Cleveland's candidate night.
Ohio House, District 16
Sally Conway Kilbane (R) Endorsed by Log Cabin Republicans of Cleveland. John Sweeney (D)
Not enough information for the Chronicle to endorse in this race. Conway Kilbane, however, did attend Stonewall Cleveland's candidates night, and has a gay family member, which she says has sensitized her to some issues facing our community.
Ohio House, District 22
★ Ray Miller (D) Also endorsed by Central Ohio Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, Equality Ohio, NARAL Ohio PAC. David Glenn (R)
Ohio House, District 23
★ Amy Salerno (D, incumbent) Also endorsed by Equality Ohio, NARAL Ohio PAC.
Keith Hatton (I)
Ohio House, District 25
★ Cynthia Ruccia (D) Also endorsed by the Central Ohio Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club.
David Goodman (R, incumbent)
Ohio House, District 27
★ Joseph Motil (D) Also endorsed by the Central Ohio Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, Equality Ohio.
E.J. Thomas (R, incumbent)
Ohio House, District 30
★ Samuel Britton (D, incumbent) Unopposed. Also endorsed by Stonewall Cincinnati PAC.
Ohio House, District 31
★ Catherine Barrett (D) Also endorsed by Stonewall Cincinnati PAC. Betty Warren (R)
Ohio House, District 32
★ Jean Kumler (D) Also endorsed by Stonewall Cincinnati PAC.
Dale Van Vyven (R, incumbent)
Ohio House, District 35
★ Jeanette Harrison (D) Also endorsed by Stonewall Cincinnati PAC. Patricia Clancy (R, incumbent)
15
'98
Ohio House, District 42
★ Joseph Lacey (D)
Robert Corbin (R, incumbent)
Lacey is running as an openly gay candidate. If elected, he will become the first openly gay state legislator in Ohio history.
Ohio House, District 49
★ Jack Ford (D, incumbent) Unopposed. Also endorsed by NARAL Ohio PAC.
As a current member of the Ohio House, Ford introduced a bill aimed at preventing suicide among GLBT youth, which is currently being considered.
Cuyahoga County Commission
★ Jimmy Dimora (D) James J. Sykora (R)
Cuyahoga County Recorder
★ Patrick J. O'Malley (D, incumbent) Elizabeth Schnitzspahn (R) Endorsed by Log Cabin Republicans of Cleveland.
Cuyahoga County Auditor ★ Frank Russo (D, incumbent) Mike Wise
Franklin County Commission
★ Jeffrey Furr (D) Also endorsed by Central Ohio Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club.
Dewey R. Stokes (R, incumbent) Franklin County Clerk of Courts ★Anthony Celebrezze (D) Also endorsed by Central Ohio Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club.
Virginia Barney (R)
Franklin County Auditor
★ Mark Pfeifer (D) Also endorsed by Central Ohio Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club.
Joe Testa (R, incumbent)
Many candidates attend Stonewall fundraiser
by Kaizaad Kotwal Columbus-Stonewall Columbus held its annual fundraiser “A Night Out" on Saturday, October 10 at the YWCA ballroom. This being an election year, the festivities were emphasized by the presence of many candidates as well as a general political spirit.
The evening began with a candidates' reception with statewide political hopefuls making appearances and pleas for their platforms. Among those present were judicial candidates Debra O'Neill, Sandra Anderson, Susan Brown, John Connor, Jim Mason, Guy Reece and Allen Travis.
Candidates for State Representative Beverly Corner, Ed Brown and Joe Motil also made appearances.
In addition to local politicians, candidates for statewide offices were also present. Charleta Tavares, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, was represented by Jo Anne St. Clair. Columbus-area activist Lynn Greer represented Attorney General candidate Richard Cordray.
During the main function after the reception, Michael Coleman, gubernatorial hopeful Lee Fisher's running mate, made an impassioned plea.
"Lee Fisher and I are not just friends of the gay and lesbian community, we are advocates on your behalf,” said Coleman. "With the upcoming election, candidates
now have to talk the talk and walk the walk."
Lee Fisher and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Taft II, have "been going at it on TV" Coleman joked, "but Taft's commercials have been very misleading and just today, a judge issued a temporary restraining order to keep Taft's lies off the air." Coleman added that this is the third time that Taft's commercials have been brought in to question their veracity and honesty.
"Well, Bob Taft, three strikes and you're out," Coleman exclaimed to an applauding crowd.
When Coleman was finished addressing the crowd, "A Night Out" moved on to the other attraction of the evening, the presentation of the 1998 Stoney Awards. Seven awards, voted on by the entire Stonewall Board of Directors, were presented to several area activists and organizations.
Colleen Marshall, news anchor for NBC Channel 4, emceed this portion of the event. She began her presentation by mentioning two particular events that are relevant in light of Stonewall's advocacy and educational mission.
"Brit Kirwan, Ohio State University's new President, made an appearance at the Coming Out Day Parade today,” she reported, "and that is definitely a positive thing in my opinion.”
On a much sadder note, Marshall
poignantly spoke of the "young man of twenty-two who was the victim of gay bashing in Wyoming and who is currently in a coma. [Matthew Shepard has since died.] It is scary that this would happen in 1998 and I don't know what we can do about Wyoming here in Ohio, except by how we vote in November . . ." she said.
The Stoney Award for Community Service, given to an organization "which had made a significant contribution to the quality of life for GLB people in central Ohio," went to BRAVO, the Buckeye Region AntiViolence Organization. In light of the Wyoming murder, BRAVO's acceptance of the award was all the more meaningful and touching. Stonewall executive director Jeff Redfield presented the award to Gloria McCauley and Ed Pffeifer.
The "Pink Triangle Award" in recognition of "noteworthy efforts in protecting individual civil rights thereby enhancing the struggle for GLB civil rights" went to the Columbus School Board. This year, the board voted three-to-four to protect children from all types of harassment including mistreatment based on sexual orientation and identity. School Board President Karen Schwartzwalder was given a standing ovation when she accepted the award.
Malcolm Riggle of Message Plex was given the Stoney Award for Business, given to an owner or company that has made significant contributions back to the com-
munity, and the the Stoney Award for Leadership went to Stampp Corbin who serves on the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington, D.C. gay and lesbian lobby.
The Rhonda R. Rivera Human Rights Award went to Carol Fey who has fought bravely on the behalf of gay and lesbian adoption and custody issues. The Stoney Award for Volunteer Service went to Megan Benadum and Dennis Steel.
Stoneys were also given to "Columbus Alive" for excellence in print media and exChannel 6 anchorwoman Deborah Countiss, for broadcast journalism.
The formal part of the evening concluded with a statement from Ann Santilli, current Stonewall board president. “We appreciate your support immensely, but we need you to continue to volunteer, share your skills and give us your money so that we can continue to give back to the community," she said. Finally, Santilli also unveiled the new logos for Stonewall Columbus.
Jeff Redfield said that there were approximately 300 guests present and that they hoped "to raise between ten and fifteen thousand dollars." This year's new addition of a silent auction added to the fund raising and Redfield believed "that this being a political year we hope we raise more as well."