The local gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans (glbt) democratic political club had sent questionnaires to all of the likely candidates in the electoral primary races that would be likely to be of interest to glbt voters.

The club met at their regular monthly meeting on July 28 and endorsed Michael "Mickey" Kearns for Mayor of Buffalo. Byron Brown, the incumbent Mayor of Buffalo did not return the questionnaire nor did he seek the Stonewall endorsement this year.

Mayor Brown was not eligible, under current Stonewall Democrats rule, for endorsement by the club. Late last year Stonewall had adopted an endorsement rule change that would prohibit the club from endorsing any candidate that financially supported groups, publications or websites that sought to prevent equality to glbt people.

Mayor Byron Brown's campaign finance disclosure reports show that on July 28, 2008 his campaign committee known as "MAYOR BROWN'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL" paid Joseph Illuzzi owner of politicswny.net $3,000.00.

Mr. Illuzzi is one of the leading anti gay activist in Western New York and often uses his web site to make false claims against candidates that do not pay him for ad placement on his site. In 2008 he used the site in an attempted blackmail scheme against an incumbent state legislator who had publicaly refused to pay Illuzzi and urged other elected officials to do the same.

Mickey Kearns,(http://kearnsformayor.com) currently a member of the City of Buffalo Common Council, represents the south district. Kearns indicated that he supports glbt people in their efforts to obtain equal rights under employment, family, housing and education laws. Kearns told the group that he is "Running for Mayor of Buffalo to restore leadership, accountability, accessibility and integrity to City Hall. The residents of Buffalo are entitled to an accessible city government that works for them."

The group also endorsed Cheektowaga police Captain John Glascott for Erie County Sheriff. http://johnglascott.com/

Erie County Legislator Lynn Marinelli for re-election in the11th District. http://ecldc.com

Lynn Dearmyer for 8th District Legislator. http://www.lynndearmyer.com/

Erie County Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams for re-election in the 3rd District Legislature. http://www.erie.gov/legislature/district03/index.asp (correction—Legislator Miller-Williams was endorsed pending further clarification of her answers on the questionnaire that she returned. Confirmation of her endorsement will be determined at the groups August meeting.)

Erie County Legislator Maria Whyte for re-election in the 6th District. http://www.erie.gov/legislature/district06/index.asp

The group at the previous months meeting also endorsed Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz for re-election http://www.markpoloncarz.com and local attorney Alice Kryzan for Amherst Town Supervisor. —Staff