San Diego’s independent non-partisan civil rights/political GLBT committee, the GLBT Vote campaign, has officially endorsed former police chief Jerry Sanders for mayor of San Diego in the upcoming July 26 special election.

“Jerry Sanders has the integrity, honesty and plan to turn our city around and keep City Hall open to all,” said Jess San Roque, GLBT Vote 2005 chair. “His decades of service to our city in leadership positions within the police department, United Way and Red Cross have produced a record of being inclusive and standing up for the equality of all citizens of San Diego.”

GLBT Vote was formed in Washington, D.C. with committees from across the nation. Local San Diego city commissioner Nicole M. Ramirez is a past National Chair of GLBT Vote. Past San Diego GLBT Vote Chairs include the late John McCusker, “Big” Mike Phillips and Dr. Pat Washington.

GLBT Vote 2005 endorses both Republican and Democratic primaries and also pushes a solid GLBT voter registration drive, mailings, posters and ads in GLBT publications.