Our recent election had one of the lowest voter turnouts in our state’s history. In Chile you get fined if you don’t vote and in Canada they give you four hours off work to vote. We need to change our voting day to Saturday or Sunday, period.

In the 1970s, I remember working for the election of Dr. Al Best, who was the first openly gay male candidate for City Council. Dr. Best’s life was threatened and he was fired from his job for being gay. In the 1980s, I remember working on Neil Good’s City Council campaign.

Now our community’s – and many of us old-timers’ – dreams and hopes have become a reality. An openly gay man, David Rubin, was elected to office by the voters of not only the city of San Diego but the entire county. Our new Superior Court Judge David Rubin is very well qualified and was even endorsed by the San Diego Union-Tribune. He was an outstanding deputy district attorney and will be a great judge… and he has a bright future ahead of him. Who knows? Maybe some day he’ll be a district attorney or a state senator, etc.

David, your city, the county, your community is proud of you.

Congratulations to David and his partner, attorney Todd Stevens, who stood by him through thick and thin.

While GLBT publications and other GLBT political organizations also endorsed in this election, almost all of the GLBT Vote San Diego Committee’s endorsed candidates won their races, and thus GLBT Vote walked away with the most-winning slate.

GLBT Vote chair Bob Lehman stated that his nonpartisan political committee “will be more visible and bigger in the upcoming November general election.” Word is that GLBT Vote billboards and radio ads are a strong possibility.

I supported and still support Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla, but he lost his re-election badly because of scandals that he himself called “bonehead mistakes.” Also, the Latin vote was split, and Padilla and Steve Castaneda ran negative campaigns while Mrs. Cox stayed above the fray.

While I’m sure there was anti-gay sentiment among some voters, I’ve talked to many Chula Vista officials and residents who’ve said they were disappointed and upset by many of Mayor Padilla’s decisions. I like Mayor Padilla, and I believe he can rebound in the future, as he is a bright young man who may have risen too fast and too high, making some bad judgment calls in the process.

La Cañada Mayor Anthony Portantino easily won the nomination for the 44th Assembly District seat, and this is a staunch Democratic district so he is on his way to Sacramento in November.

His brother, Gay & Lesbian Times publisher Michael Portantino, spent the last few days in Los Angeles walking precincts and making calls… honing his skills for his upcoming San Diego City Council race, which his brother will come down and help him win.

As many of you know, the Ben F. Dillingham Grant assists in the burial of GLBT community members and those in need. For example, a lesbian had terminal cancer and she received a donation from the Ben F. Dillingham Grant to help her while she was alive. Funds from the grant also assisted another lesbian, who got attacked by a dog and had no medical coverage whatsoever. And, of course, the fund helped bury the transgender individual who died of silicone poisoning.

Throughout the years, the Ben F. Dillingham Grant has helped in the burial of countless people with AIDS who were either abandoned by their families or whose lovers also had HIV/AIDS and could not afford the burial. Recently, there has been a great need for AIDS burial assistance and the Dillingham Grant is running low.

Last week, I received another plea for help from a man who died of AIDS. The Rob Benzon Foundation stepped in with a $700 donation to cover the cost. I want to sincerely thank Big Mike, Nigel Mayer, Robert Gleason and all the board members of the Benzon Foundation for their help, which was badly needed. I knew Rob Benzon and he was a wonderful man with a great smile. I am sure he is smiling down on all of you. God bless you.

Please send a donation to the Ben F. Dillingham Grant, at P.O. Box 33915, San Diego, CA 92163… thank you.

As I’ve said, I never mind constructive criticism, and Paul Furth’s recent letter to the editor had a good point, as I’ve personally known homophobic or anti-gay public officials who have changed. But as for Larry Stirling, he has never apologized for having his courtroom cleaned after a person with AIDS testified.

And in all due respect, Mr. Furth, I’ve known of Mr. Stirling since he first ran for City Council in the 1970s and defeated Evonne Schulze with materials that stated she had “homosexual support.” Also, as past state chair of Equality California, I know that Larry Stirling, while in the state Assembly and state Senate, always voted against AIDS and GLBT civil rights legislation. I must say that he was a gentleman when he ran against state Senator Chris Kehoe, but then we all knew he would lose.

Thank you for your letter, Mr. Furth, but now please show me any proof that Mr. Stirling is pro-GLBT rights and not homophobic. In all due respect, Mr. Furth, Stirling’s actions and voting record prove otherwise.

First of all, I want to make it very clear that I respect and admire much of the good work the San Diego Democratic Club has done to advance our community these last few decades. But, yes, I disagree with them on many issues.

When election time comes around, most members of the GLBT community look for the San Diego Democratic Club, Log Cabin Republicans and/or Gay & Lesbian Times endorsement ads, cards, mailings, etc. This year, countless GLBT and straight friends expressed to me and others how useless and unhelpful the SDDC’s 2006 primary endorsements were. Instead of leadership from the SDDC, they got this: three candidates endorsed for the 52nd Congressional District and two candidates endorsed for governor and lieutenant governor, all in the Democratic primary. The club even refused to endorse openly gay John Rinaldi alone, instead endorsing him along with two other candidates. For state attorney general, the club did not endorse Jerry Brown, who opened the door to the GLBT community when he served as governor of California.

But what takes the cake is the City Council District 2 race, where they urged people to still vote for Kennan Kaeder even though he had withdrawn from the race! City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer should have been endorsed. I urge this club to change its endorsement rules so that a candidate who gets a majority gets the endorsement.

For the club to take no position on county propositions was also bad. The SDDC failed to take some important stands and show leadership in this week’s Democratic primary. From all the feedback I’ve gotten, the club really didn’t give anyone any reason to “take their endorsement ads” to the polls with them, because of the club’s indecisiveness.

This past weekend, my good pal Sherman Mendoza of The Caliph and I had brunch at L.E.I. restaurant, and all I have to say is, “Wow!” It was delicious, with a brunch menu like I’ve never seen anywhere.

You must try their ahi tuna benedict – it was out of this world. I could eat it for breakfast every day. Their panini smoked salmon sandwich was also outstanding, and I loved their duck confit and spinach salad. Hell, their whole menu is great – you can’t lose with whatever you pick.

Recently, the San Diego Union-Tribune reviewed L.E.I. and compared it to The Abbey, that West Hollywood in-spot. The Union-Tribune restaurant critic stated that his party was treated like “rock stars,” and also said that L.E.I.’s pomegranate martini was the best in all of San Diego.

While the Union-Tribune and all other restaurant critics are giving L.E.I. top reviews, all you have to do is follow the crowds to a restaurant that will give your taste buds an exciting adventure like they’ve never experienced.

L.E.I.’s brunches take place Saturday and Sundays until 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.leilounge.com.

One of Southern California’s most popular singers, yes, Leviticus, has just released his new CD and it’s great – a keeper. This talented and popular singer (he should be the next American Idol) can be found at The Caliph on Saturday nights. I’ve seen his act there and gotten his CD, and now I’m one of his legions of

fans.