Openly gay candidate John Rinaldi got snubbed last week when the San Diego Democratic Club (SDDC) voted 24-20 not to endorse in the 52 Congressional primary, in which Democrats hope to unseat longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.

Three candidates, including Rinaldi, appeared before the SDDC last Thursday in hopes of securing the club’s endorsement. Naval veteran and businessperson Derek Casady, community association manger Karen Otter and businessperson, educator and minister Rinaldi all scored 100 percent on the SDDC’s candidate questionnaire, which asks a series of questions on specific issues important to the club, including same-sex marriage, medicinal marijuana, needle exchange and abortion.

Following a 30-minute Q&A, the candidates were asked to step outside while the club deliberated.

Members in opposition to the motion to endorse said they felt all three candidates were acceptable and endorsing any one candidate would be less effective in defeating Hunter. City Commissioner Bruce Abrams said club resources should be directed toward priority races, such as Congressmember Bob Filner’s run for re-election against his Democratic challenger, Assemblymember Juan Vargas, D-San Diego.

In support of the motion to endorse, Brian Polejes, senior field representative for San Diego’s Service Employees International Union (SEIU), said Democrats should take a few lessons from Republicans and get behind one candidate early in the race.

A close first vote was thrown out, and candidates Rinaldi and Casady – who are also SDDC members and therefore allowed to vote – were brought back inside to vote on the motion. Rinaldi voted for the motion; Casady opposed it. Otter was ineligible to vote because she is not a member of the SDDC.

Incorporating Rinaldi and Casady’s votes, the motion failed. All three candidates were then rated acceptable.

“There are several circumstances under which the club can issue an acceptable rating,” said SDDC president Stephen Whitburn. “In this case, it was because there was more than one good candidate, and the membership preferred to rate each of them as acceptable rather than endorse a single candidate. After the Democratic primary in June, the club will revisit this race, and presumably endorse and work to support whichever candidate emerges with the Democratic nomination.”

Candidates rated acceptable are listed as such in the SDDC voter guide, which is mailed to 12,000-24,000 GLBT and GLBT-friendly households depending on the election, Whitburn said. Endorsed candidates, on the other hand, become eligible for club fund-raisers, independent expenditures and mailings, as determined by the membership.

Immediately following the meeting, discussion continued about the club’s decision not to endorse, as well as its commitment to supporting viable GLBT candidates.

“Included in the club’s purpose is the mission to actively support the election of qualified LGBT candidates for public office,” said Whitburn in a follow-up interview, “and the club has a strong record of doing so. Increasingly, we see very strong heterosexual candidates on our issues as well, and, in this instance, all three candidates who appeared before the membership scored 100 percent on the club’s candidate questionnaire. Ultimately, the membership, in this instance, chose to rate all three candidates acceptable.”

Endorsements are a key part of the election process, Rinaldi said, especially in the primary season.

“For the good of the party, Democratic clubs have a moral obligation to inform voters on candidates who are viable, have integrity and share the voters’ views on major issues,” Rinaldi said. “I am a strong and viable Democrat who is going to beat Duncan Hunter, and I am 100-percent confident I will earn the trust and support of the San Diego Democratic Club in time for the June primary.”

Rinaldi has been endorsed by state Senator Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, and the California Labor Confederation. Casady and Otter currently have no endorsements.

In a unanimous vote, the SDDC endorsed former Chula Vista Councilmember Mary Salas for the 79th Assembly District primary. Salas also scored 100 percent on the SDDC’s candidate questionnaire, and has garnered support from Councilmember Toni Atkins, state Senator Kehoe, Congressmember Filner, Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla.

Earlier that evening, Congressmember Susan Davis, D-Calif., took a beating for her refusal to support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, HR 1059, which would repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and allow gay, lesbian and bisexual service members to serve openly. One club member suggested the club defer any endorsement of Davis until she backs HR 1059. The comment prompted resounding applause.

Davis runs for re-election in November.