Quote:
Nice to read that LGBT civil rights is of "low importance". As I see it, the local level is where these issues should be vetted. By the way, the venue for this was a LGBT event, exactly the place where a potential candidate's record on LGBT issues should be vetted. If Schundler has a horrible record on these issues, it's certainly something the voters need to know. Really, straight people need to understand that these issues are important and not just "wedge issues" Really, get clue!!

seriously... this is the type of backwards logic that gets guys like bush elected 'because he has good christian values / ideals". i really hope the voters in JC don't get swayed by issues that are smaller in relative importance than other issues like crime, taxes, etc.

Yes, Healy's incompetent bloated government may be for sale to the highest bidder and expert only at making tax dollars vanish, but let's focus the election on social wedge issues that a Mayor really has very little power about.

Let the games begin....

Healy ally rips into Schundler's gay rights record

http://politicker.com/healy-ally-rips-schundlers-gay-rights-record
By Matt Friedman

Prospective mayoral candidate Bret Schundler?s conservative record was raised last night in one of the first attacks of the developing Jersey City mayoral race.

At a rally touting the establishment of a task force to fight crime against Jersey City?s LGBT community last night, Walt Boraczek, founder of the Hudson Diversity Action Council and an ally of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, ripped into Schundler?s record on gay rights, both as mayor and as a gubernatorial candidate, calling him ?homophobic.?

Schundler, who was mayor from 1992 until 2001, is considering running for mayor again. The city holds non-partisan elections, and Schundler was initially narrowly elected in a crowded field of candidates. He went on to form alliances with key Democrats on the council to hold the seat. Last night?s rally was a clear indication that Schundler?s rivals will use his conservative record against him in this Democrat dominated city, should he choose to run again.

Prospective mayoral candidate Bret Schundler?s conservative record was raised last night in one of the first attacks of the developing Jersey City mayoral race.

At a rally touting the establishment of a task force to fight crime against Jersey City?s LGBT community last night, Walt Boraczek, founder of the Hudson Diversity Action Council and an ally of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, ripped into Schundler?s record on gay rights, both as mayor and as a gubernatorial candidate, calling him ?homophobic.?

Schundler, who was mayor from 1992 until 2001, is considering running for mayor again. The city holds non-partisan elections, and Schundler was initially narrowly elected in a crowded field of candidates. He went on to form alliances with key Democrats on the council to hold the seat. Last night?s rally was a clear indication that Schundler?s rivals will use his conservative record against him in this Democrat dominated city, should he choose to run again.
Before introducing Healy to speak at the rally, Boraczek stressed the importance of having an administration in City Hall that is friendly to gay causes. And although he didn?t live in Jersey City in 2001, Boraczek said that the gay community had to fight Schundler to hold its first Pride Festival.

?The first Jersey City Pride festival was actually a fight with City Hall,? Boraczek told the two dozen member crowd. ?There was a mayor in office named Bret Schundler who was actually one of the most homophobic mayors we?ve seen in recent history in Jersey City, who flat out denied the festival. Denied permits, denied everything.?

Schundler ran to the right of most other Republicans in his two gubernatorial bids in 2001 and 2005. During those races, he opposed adding sexual orientation to civil rights laws, adoption by gay couples and recognizing domestic partnerships for gay state employees. A questionnaire he filled out for the Christian Coalition in 2001 put him on record as opposing teaching in public schools that ?homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle.?

?This man then went on to run (for governor) opposing same sex marriage, and said to me personally that he believed same sex couples were unfit to raise children. This is the kind of homophobia we must guard against, and if you believe it or not this guy thinks he wants to run for mayor again,? said Boraczek, who then led attendees in a chant of ?Hell no!?

The rally was also attended by Jersey City Councilman Steve Lipski.

Other prospective mayoral candidates include State Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham, Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop, former Assemblyman Lou Manzo and current Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith.

Schundler could not immediately be reached for comment.
New Jersey