Georgia LGBT groups release endorsements for May primaries

The days are dwindling. After months and months of knocking on doors, making calls, attending events and raising money, the first major test of the local election year occurs on May 24 with the primaries.

All 56 seats in the state Senate and all 180 in the state House are up for grabs, along with a few judgeships and county commissioner posts. There are 11 openly LGBT candidates running, and local and national LGBT groups have released their official endorsements for those and other races.

“Georgia Stonewall continues to be committed to supporting fair-minded Democrats and increasing our equality-driven representation in offices across the state,” said Tim Cairl, chair for Georgia Stonewall Democrats, in a statement.

Georgia Equality executive director Jeff Graham told Georgia Voice of their picks, “Georgia Equality is proud to support a large number of candidates in legislative, judicial and other races around the state. As our organizational capacity increases, we hope that we can provide even more endorsements in the future. We are especially interested in getting more involved in municipal races in the cities where we are doing work with local advocates. The extreme levels of gerrymandering that take place in Georgia make primary endorsements especially important because the vast majority of legislative races are actually decided in the primaries rather than the general election in November.”

The state is late posting last month’s campaign finance reports so we do not have the latest fundraising totals, but here are the races to watch and the endorsements from Georgia Equality and the Georgia Stonewall Democrats.

Bob Gibeling (File photo)
Bob Gibeling (File photo)

House District 54
District includes: Buckhead and West Midtown
The Lowdown: Openly gay candidate Bob Gibeling, is unopposed in the primary election but faces a stiff challenge this November against incumbent Republican Rep. Beth Beskin.
Georgia Equality endorsement: Declined an endorsement
Georgia Stonewall Democrats endorsement: Declined an endorsement

dejesus
Marckeith DeJesus (File photo)

House District 56
District includes: Southwest Atlanta, Downtown, and Midtown
The Lowdown: Marckeith DeJesus, a 37-year-old openly gay certified financial counselor, has a tough primary as he faces off against Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas, who’s looking for a third straight term in District 56 after two previous stints in the House.
Georgia Equality endorsement: Declined an endorsement
Georgia Stonewall Democrats endorsement: Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas

State Rep. Park Cannon (D-Atlanta)
State Rep. Park Cannon (File photo)

House District 58
District includes: Southwest Atlanta, Downtown, and Midtown
The Lowdown: Openly queer state Rep. Park Cannon has no challengers in this year’s primary or general election and will get a chance to make a mark with her first full two-year term.
Georgia Equality endorsement: Rep. Park Cannon
Georgia Stonewall Democrats endorsement: Declined an endorsement
*Cannon also picked up an endorsement from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund

josh noblitt
Josh Noblitt (File photo)

House District 59
District includes: East Point, Inman Park, Grant Park, Lakewood Heights, Little Five Points, Poncey-Highland and Reynoldstown
The Lowdown: There are no Republicans who qualified for the race, so it’s all down to the Democratic primary to decide who takes the seat, and it could be a close one as openly gay pastor Josh Noblitt takes on attorney David Dreyer and Janine Brown.
Georgia Equality endorsement: Josh Noblitt
Georgia Stonewall Democrats endorsement: Josh Noblitt
*Noblitt also picked up an endorsement from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund

State Rep. Keisha Waites (Courtesy photo)
State Rep. Keisha Waites (Courtesy photo)

House District 60
District includes: Southeast Atlanta, Hapeville, parts of Clayton and DeKalb counties
The Lowdown: Lesbian state Rep. Keisha Waites is unopposed in the primary and is expected to land a third straight term in office when she faces off against Republican truck driver Ralph Nobles in November.
Georgia Equality endorsement: Keisha Waites
Georgia Stonewall Democrats endorsement: Declined an endorsement

House District 62

Rafer Johnson (Courtesy photo)
Rafer Johnson (Courtesy photo)

District includes: Portions of College Park, Douglasville, East Point, and portions of Fulton and DeKalb counties
The Lowdown: Two openly gay candidates and six overall duke it out to replace retiring state Rep. LaDawn Jones. And there is no Republican opposition in November so whoever wins in May takes the seat. Openly gay community activist and flight attendant Rafer Johnson goes up against lesbian family law attorney Valerie Vie, attorney William Boddie, Jr. public servant Aaron Johnson, entrepreneur Joshua Butler and businessman Larry Perkins, Jr.
Georgia Equality endorsement: Rafer Johnson
Georgia Stonewall Democrats endorsement: Declined an endorsement but may endorse if/when the race goes to a runoff
*Johnson also picked up an endorsement from the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund

State Rep. Karla Drenner (File photo)
State Rep. Karla Drenner (File photo)

House District 85
District includes: Avondale Estates, Clarkston, Decatur and parts of Belvedere Park and Candler-McAfee
The Lowdown: Lesbian state Rep. Karla Drenner faces no opposition in the primary or general elections and will be elected to her eighth term in office come November.
Georgia Equality endorsement: Karla Drenner
Georgia Stonewall Democrats endorsement: Declined an endorsement

Other Races

Jane Morrison (l) and Joan Garner (r) (File photo)
Jane Morrison (l) and Joan Garner (r) (File photo)

Fulton County State Court Judge Jane Morrison has no opposition and will serve another term, while her wife, Fulton County Commissioner Joan Garner, will do the same. Both picked up endorsements from Georgia Equality, while Georgia Stonewall Democrats only issued endorsements for the state legislature seats. Openly gay family law attorney and Fulton County magistrate Gary Alembik is one of three candidates seeking to replace retiring Fulton County Superior Court Judge Wendy Shoob. Alembik picked up an Georgia Equality’s endorsement.

Here are the full lists of endorsements issued by both groups:

Georgia Equality Endorsements

State Senate:

SD 24: Patricia “Pat” Goodwin (R)
SD 39: Vincent Fort (D)
SD 43: Dee Dawkins Haigler (D)

State House of Representatives:

HD 8: Joshua Littell (R)
HD 58: Park Cannon (D)
HD 59: Josh Noblitt (D)
HD 60: Keisha Waites (D)
HD 62: Rafer Johnson (D)
HD 63: Kelli Hooper (D)
HD 64: Derrick Jackson (D)
HD 76: Sandra Scott (D)
HD 82: Mary Margaret Oliver (D)
HD 85: Karla Drenner (D)
HD 99: Brenda Lopez (D)
HD 105: Donna Mcleod (D)
HD 113: Pam Dickerson (D)

Fulton County:

Commissioner, District 4: Joan Garner (D)
Superior Court Judge: Gary Alembik
Superior Court Judge: Sterling Eaves
State Court Judge: Jane Morrison
Solicitor General: Clinton “Clint” Rucker

DeKalb County:

Superior Court Judge: Clarence Seeliger
State Court Judge: Dax Lopez
District Attorney: Favorable Ratings to Robert James & Sherry Boston
Solicitor General: Nicole Marchand Golden

Griffin:

Superior Court Judge: Catherine Sanderson
District Attorney: Rudjard Hayes (R)

Gwinnett County:

State Court Judge: Carla Brown

Georgia Stonewall Democrats Endorsements

Georgia Senate:

Sen. Curt Thompson – District 5 (Incumbent)
Sen. Vincent Fort – District 39 (Incumbent)
Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler – District 43 (Open Seat)
Patrick Thompson – District 56 (Challenger)

Georgia House:

Rep. David Wilkerson – District 38 (Incumbent)
Rep. “Able” Mable Thomas – District 56 (Incumbent)
Josh Noblitt – District 59 (Open Seat)
Kelli Hooper – District 63 (Open Seat)
Derrick Jackson – District 64 (Open Seat)
Sylvia Wayfer – District 65 (Challenger)
Rep. Sandra Scott – District 76 (Incumbent)
Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver – District 82 (Incumbent)
Renitta Shannon – District 84 (Challenger)
Rep. Michelle Henson – District 86 (Incumbent)
Rhonda Taylor – District 91 (Open Seat)
Brenda Lopez – District 99 (Open Seat)
Rep. Pam Dickerson – District 113 (Incumbent)

2016 primary elections for the Georgia legislature
Early Voting Started: May 2, 2016
Primary Election Day: May 24, 2016
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