Equality Florida Action PAC Announces Tampa City Council Endorsements

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, (February 3, 2011)

Contact:

Mallory Wells, Public Policy Director, (407) 617-6682

Brian Winfield, Communications Director, (727) 488-7799

Equality Florida Action PAC Announces Tampa City Council Endorsements

(TAMPA) Today, the Equality Florida Action PAC announced endorsements for the Tampa City Council races in the March 1st elections. The slate includes Carrie West for District 5; Seth Nelson for District 3 and Mary Mulhern for District 2..

“We are excited to endorse three champions for equality in Tampa,” said Stratton Pollitzer, chair of the Equality Florida Action PAC. “ All three are committed to ending discrimination and making Tampa an inclusive place to live, work and visit. ”

The Equality Florida Action PAC only endorses candidate who are committed ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In the District 5 race, the Equality Florida Action PAC endorses Carrie West.   West is running a strong campaign and would become Tampa’s first out gay councilmember. A longtime Tampa Bay activist and business owner, West helped found  the GAYbor District Coalition (GDC) in 2007 and currently serves as its President. The GDC is a thriving gay-owned and gay-friendly business coalition that has had great success in raising the profile of the LGBT community in the influential Ybor business district. He is an Air Force Veteran, a graduate of USF, and is a leader in numerous civic organizations, including being a board member of the Ybor City Development Corp.  West was named “Ctizen of the Year” in 2009 by the Tampa Bay Business Guild.

For Tampa City Council District 3, the Equality Florida Action PAC endorses Seth Nelson.Nelson has run an extremely strong campaign for well over a year drawing support from diverse areas of Tampa. He is a life-long resident of Tampa and a practicing attorney. Nelson is also involved in a variety of civic organizations, including serving as the President of the Board of AMIkids - Tampa, Inc. (formerly Tampa Marine Institute), a service for troubled youth.

In the District 2 race, the Equality Florida Action PAC endorses incumbent Mary Mulhern. Mulhern has been a reliable voice for equal rights on the Tampa City Council since she was first elected to Tampa City Council, District 2 in 2007. She represents Tampa citywide and serves on a number of key boards and committees including the Head Start Foundation, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and the Tampa Metropolitan Planning Organization. In 2009, Mulhern helped lead the successful effort to add gender identity to the city’s non-discrimination policy.

Equality Florida Action PAC is dedicated to supporting candidates and initiatives that will help to secure full equality for Florida's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

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