Getting things done. Ron Roberts has been there for our community for generations. Having a friend on a five-person Republican Board of Supervisors is critically important. When we needed him, Ron has pulled through. When we needed him, Ron has built up political capital and can get an additional two votes to swing a decision his way. Ron has spent decades as an independent voice, building bridges within the African American community, the Latino community, the Asian American community and, yes, the GLBT community. Ron introduced Christine Kehoe into the big leagues of local politics. Ron did the same for Toni Atkins and Ron was an easy endorsement for Todd Gloria, lending all three of them instant street cred when they needed it. He didn’t need to do this; he did it because he wanted to and it was the right thing to do.

The desperate attempt of Carl Demaio and Johnathan Hale to endorse Stephen Whitburn shows political naivety at best and a calculated plan to try and win over the GLBT voters that Demaio is losing daily with his anti-Latino/a, anti-labor, anti-union and anti-GLBT votes. Stephen, I’d have more respect for you if you turned down their endorsement. Tell us what you have in common with DeMaio?

This community is too smart to be bamboozled.

We know and can see through political maneuvering when we see it. When a professional politician tries to influence the press by funneling money through them, we smell dirty politics. CityBeat’s expose - http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-7859-petition-puzzle.html - showing just how DeMaio was taking money he raised for outsourcing city jobs and placing it into his lover’s pocket - more than $18,000.00. Carl, you may want to take note: your supporters gave you money to do outsourcing of government work not to pay your boyfriends rent.

Trying to use the editorial of his boyfriend’s media outlet to win over favor with an entire community you’ve wronged is just not going to fly.

Stephen Whitburn is a nice guy. I like him. But his choice of key advisers shows me just how un-independent he is. He will simply be a shill for what I personally believe are the two single most destructive forces to ever foster within our own community. Stephen, you’re not even in an elected office and you have made the two worst choices I believe you could make.

Ron Roberts has consistently been a champion for our community’s rights, always the fifth council vote when Kehoe needed him, breaking ground on Stepping Stone’s new residential facility and giving money to Stepping Stone annually. Also being the only voice of reason on the medical Marijuana debate and always accessible to our community. Having the right stuff to always talk with our leadership and seeking input on important votes affecting our everyday lives. Isn’t that what we have been fighting for?

Along with raising three beautiful and successful daughters, not an easy task in today’s environment, Ron is a man of integrity, Ron is a man to be trusted and Ron is a man we can count on.

Last month, Whitburn came out as a gay candidate with a gay agenda. I want a candidate for social change. The county is a large and diverse community. We need someone that knows and understands the needs of all of us; someone that is a consensus builder, not a one pony act. After our disappointing defeat on gay marriage, now more then ever we need a bridge builder. Ron is that person. His ties into all the diverse communities show his independence. Partisan politics has become too ugly, divisive and halting to making change. Ron Roberts has proven he will cross party lines to do the right thing, Stephen Whitburn will bring more division, less compromise, less bringing of communities together and will, therefore, lead to less progress. Whitburn can’t even bring his own community together. He has become the Peter Navarro of the gay political scene. Whitburn is completely incapable of crossing party lines to accomplish something of value to the community. He is a shill, beholden to the big money interests that endorsed him. A vote for Whitburn is a wasted vote. He can’t get the other two votes necessary to get anything done. Whitburn equals gridlock. If it’s progress you want then Ron Roberts is the choice. An independent voice for our community!

Michael G. Portantino

Publisher

Gay & Lesbian Times