Monday, December 12, 2005

Lesbian Candidate Wins Post By a Few Hundred Votes

(Link) Despite being outspent by her opponent, Sue Lovell won her post on Houston's City Council by a mere 579 votes. "If you think that your vote doesn't count, this is an example that it does," Lovell said.
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LNewsEditor said...

JIC Post:
By Eric Ervin
Washington Blade

In a close race Saturday for Houston City Council At-Large Position 2, lesbian candidate Sue Lovell defeated Houston Community College trustee Jay Aiyer by only 579 votes.

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Lovell received 18,232 votes, or 50.81 percent, compared to Aiyer, who took in 17,653, or 49.19 percent.

"You're always nervous waiting on the results to come in and with this race being so close, … but we felt confident that we would win," Lovell said. "It's an incredible win."

Lovell, who was endorsed by the Houston GLBT Political Caucus and the Washington, D.C.-based Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said she had talked with Mayor Bill White about organizing a transition team and choosing which council committees she would join. She said her immediate plans are to hire staff.

In other races, two other candidates endorsed by the Houston GLBT Political Caucus defeated their opponents. They include District C council seat candidate Anne Clutterbuck and Houston Independent School District Board of Education District 1 candidate Natasha Kamrani.

Jarvis Johnson defeated caucus-endorsed council candidate Felicia Galloway-Hall. Daisy Maura, who was endorsed by the caucus, lost her bid for the District 9 seat on the HISD Board of Education.

In a special election to replace the late District 143 state Rep. Joe Moreno (D-Houston), caucus-endorsed candidate Laura Salinas was defeated by Anna Hernandez.

Lovell said her victory was an example of winning against the odds. She had spent less money than Aiyer on her campaign, and relied mostly on word of mouth.

"If you think that your vote doesn't count, this is an example that it does," Lovell said. "We were outspent by my opponent."

Aiyer said it was premature to decide on his future in politics. The lawyer and community college trustee said he was proud of his campaign and wanted to thank his supporters.

"I felt we ran a good race," Aiyer said. "The results are what they are, and I wish [Lovell] the best. I think she'll do a fine job."

Aiyer said he will continue working to preserve and improve public safety, repair aging infrastructure, and expand the city's park space. He said he wants everyone in the city to work together on achieving these goals, and hoped he could join Lovell in getting things done.

"We both share some of the same issues," Aiyer said.

Lovell said she is focused on community service and activism. The director of the program called Mills Corporation's Mills Access to Training & Career Help, or MATCH, wants to improve fire and police services, create more job opportunities, expand public transportation, improve quality of life and ensure open and honest government.

12/12/2005 9:51 AM

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