Stonewall Democrats Endorse Three LGBT Champions
in St Petersburg City Council General Elections

Much has changed in the City of St Petersburg since Stonewall Democrat Steve Kornell was first elected to City Council in 2009.  With Democrats leading the way, three openly LGBT members serving on Council, and long term LGBT-ally Rick Kriseman serving as Mayor, the City’s municipal equality index rating by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has shot up from 66 to 100!

Stonewall Democrats members, supporters, and allies have long been actively involved in pushing for the many changes and improvements that impact the LGBT community.  In the upcoming general election for the City Council, the Stonewall Democrats have endorsed three candidates who are committed to and vocal about their support for LGBT rights.  Voting in the next municipal election on November 3, 2015, is Citywide for all seats. This means that if you are a registered voter in St. Petersburg, you will have the opportunity to vote in ALL THREE of these races, not just the district in which you reside.  (Vote-by-mail ballots are already on their way to voters.)

In District 1, we have endorsed Charlie Gerdes.  Charlie is the current Chair of the City Council, and was also previously endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats in his last election.  He is committed to equality and fair treatment, and has been a solid supporter of equality.  You can contribute to or volunteer for his campaign at http://charliegerdes.com

In District 5, we have endorsed Steve Kornell.  Steve is a long-time member of the Stonewall Democrats and an active participant in our advocacy work before he was first elected to office in 2009.  Like all Stonewall Democrats endorsed candidates, he has proven to be a hardworking and productive elected official and has maintained his unwavering support and leadership on LGBT issues.  As a social worker for the Pinellas County schools, Steve is particularly concerned about issues facing our community’s youth.  Follow Steve on FaceBook to learn more about his campaign.  https://www.facebook.com/steve.kornell?fref=ts

In District 7, we have endorsed Lisa Wheeler-Brown.  A first time candidate, Lisa overwhelmingly won the support of her district in the August primary election to move into the general election.  She has been Chair of the City’s Council of Neighborhood Associations and a committed community activist for many years. Those who know her were not surprised to see her qualify for her run early and to “hit the bricks” reaching out to her constituency throughout her campaign.  Lisa is endorsed by the Tampa Bay Times as well as labor and environmental organizations. The Stonewall Democrats are confident that Lisa will be a champion for equality on the City Council..  Her website is http://ourcitymyhome.com/  or you can visit her FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Wheeler-Brown-1510719359208834/timeline/

Seminole City Council

The membership of the Stonewall Democrats has also voted to recommend David Outlaw in his run for Seminole City Council.  Dave is the sole Democrat in that race, and he completed our questionnaire and the Elections Committee interviewed him.  Dave has made a substantial effort to understand LGBT issues and how they can apply on the city level.  Dave’s website is http://daveoutlaw.com/

Please support our endorsed & recommended candidates with your time and dollars, and be certain to vote for them when your mail ballot arrives or on Election Day, November 3, 2015.