BOSTON’S ONLY LGBT NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP, ENDORSES BOSTON CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES AT FORUM OCT. 18
Group members vote on Councilor-At-Large and candidates in three Dorchester districts.
BOSTON, October 19, 2015 – DotOUT members and neighborhood activists heard from eight of the Boston City Council candidates Sunday night. Held at Savin Bar and Kitchen, the open dining space allowed candidates, campaign staffers and attendees to break bread with one another beforehand. David Whitley, the evening’s moderator, kept candidates on point, even as some slid humorous campaign solicitations between timed responses. DotOut Political Committee Lead Christopher Joseph said, “Boston’s heart is in its neighborhoods. Councilors answer to their constituents and can only act locally. But, they also focus on the ‘big picture’ impacting the city. Tonight’s candidates answered complex questions with a neighborhood lens.” By evening’s end, members endorsed seven candidates: four at-large and three district seats for Boston City Council.
In a repeat from DotOUT’s 2013 at-large endorsement, Dorchester resident, business owner and East Boston High School teacher Annissa Essabi George received the most votes for her second run at city councilor at-large. Moving from last place finisher in 2013 to second place was Michael Flaherty (at-large), followed by Councilors Ayanna Pressley (placing third) and Michelle Wu (fourth). Boston City Councilor and former Council President Stephen Murphy, also in attendance, placed fifth and outside the top four places required for the group’s endorsement.
DotOUT members also voted to endorse District 3–Dorchester incumbent Frank Baker over candidate Donnie Palmer. In a surprise shake-up, DotOUT members voted to endorse political newcomer Andrea Campbell over longtime LGBTQ supporter and the city council’s longest serving member Charles Yancey in District 4. District 7 saw incumbent Tito Jackson win the endorsement against Charles Clemson, who last ran in the 2013 Boston mayoral race.
“Tonight’s vote shows what happens when people get out and vote,” DotOUT President Chris McCoy said. “Each candidate forum and endorsement night is different. DotOUT members voted tonight with their vision for a more united Dorchester with careful consideration for new candidates with fresh ideas.”
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DotOUT (http://www.dotout.org) is a grassroots, member driven organization committed to the ideals of acceptance, inclusion, fairness and equality. We believe in the strength of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (“GLBTQ”) community in Dorchester and recognize that together through our activism and neighborliness we can positively influence local opinion on issues that are relevant to us and our community.
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