In a recent interview by gay San Diego Magazine editor, Tom Blair, City Council District 5 hopeful Carl DeMaio confirmed that, yes, he is gay, and he all but announced his intention to run for City Council. The admission, buried toward the end of the Q&A, with little follow-up on Blair’s part, has the community buzzing about a potential second gay councilmember in 2008 (albeit a Republican with few ties to the GLBT community that we are aware of). That is, assuming we hang on to District 3.

Blair posed tough questions of the day to DeMaio (the current state of the city’s finances, as well as the shin-kicking among our current elected officials), but the rest were lob balls, including his lead into “the gay issue,” which allowed DeMaio to tuck it in nice and neat – no muss, no fuss.

Where were the questions about his positions on such hot-button issues as the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and same-sex marriage? While these may not be city issues, DeMaio’s responses would tell us more about him as a candidate. Blair certainly could have asked DeMaio his positions on such issues as the Boy Scout’s preferential land lease in Balboa Park, clean-needle exchange and medicinal marijuana. Or doesn’t the gay editor find any of this newsworthy?

We called Blair’s office Wednesday afternoon, but he did not respond. Our next call will be to DeMaio. We want to ask him where he stands on issues important to the gay community. Will he be an ally on the Council, or will having a gay man heading District 5 do little to serve our community’s interests?

Why not make it three openly gay men on the council?

2006 Democratic nominee for the 52nd Congressional District, John Rinaldi, has also said he will run for City Council in District 7, currently occupied by Jim Madaffer who terms out ’08.

Rinaldi fought a losing battle last November against entrenched Republican congressmember Duncan Hunter, but was praised for his polished campaign and ability to appeal to moderate Republicans. Despite his valiant effort, Rinaldi lost by a wide margin and had to fight for every dollar – what many considered a waste of finite community resources.

As Rinaldi prepares for another tough battle, we have to wonder if this isn’t a case of déjà vu. Can he win in this district? And should dollars be funneled into this race while there are numerous other close calls that will need the nudge? District 3 is, after all, not in the bag, and getting allies in the other open council seats should also be a priority.

He’ll have to show strong in the polls and have a plan of attack before tapping the same sources of funding that get hit every election cycle. Knowing Rinaldi, he just might.

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