ON CITY COUNCIL, lgbt CAUCUS DOWN TO TWO

ON CITY COUNCIL, lgbt CAUCUS DOWN TO TWO

Rosie Mendez, an out lesbian who formerly served as chief of staff to Lower East Side City Councilwoman Margarita Lopez, as expected easily won her race to succeed her former boss for the District Two seat. Mendez, a Democrat with significant experience as a housing advocate, defeated her leading opponent, Republican John Carlino, by a margin of roughly 78 to 19 percent, affording to unofficial returns compiled by the Associated Press. Mendez had won a convincing Democratic Primary race on September 13 against a large field of contenders.

In the East Side District 4 race to succeed Democratic Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz, who gave up her seat for an unsuccessful run for borough president, Republican Patrick Murphy, an activist with the gay Log Cabin club and a former marketing executive, was was defeated by 63 to 35 percent margin by Democrat Daniel Garodnick, an attorney who also won a convincing primary victory over stiff competition. Murphy had attracted the support of the Empire State Pride Agenda as well as the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, the Washington-based group that supports out candidates it views as viable.

Democrat Christine Quinn, a lesbian who has served as District 3 councilwoman on the West Side since early 1999, when she succeeded State Senator Tom Duane, was unopposed in her re-election bid. Quinn, a strong ally of outgoing Council Speaker Gifford Miller, is considered a leading candidate to succeed him as speaker.

Lopez and Philip Reed, the gay Democratic councilman who has represented District 8 in Upper Manhattan since 1998, were both barred by term limits from seeking re-election. Lopez made an unsuccessful primary bid for Manhattan borough president in September.

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