Members of Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club officially threw their support behind Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tom Wolf this week.
The club voted in favor of endorsing Wolf at its State of the Races event Aug. 25 at William Way LGBT Community Center.
More than 30 members turned out for a preview of the November elections from Liberty Pennsylvania PAC executive director Rick Naughton, Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Campaign Committee communications director Anne Wakabayashi and Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee political director Matt Goldfine.
The panel updated Liberty City on the upcoming governor’s race, as well as legislative campaigns. Much of the discussion focused on securing Democratic wins in suburban districts.
“The goal is to increase the number of Democrats in the state legislature and in particular to flip control of the state Senate from Republican to Democratic for the first time in two decades,” said Liberty City co-chair Tony Campisi. “This would enable progressives to have more influence over the legislative agenda, including getting anti-discrimination legislation passed and onto the governor’s desk.”
During the discussion on the Wolf endorsement, members did note Gov. Tom Corbett’s decision to let Pennsylvania’s marriage-equality ruling stand.
But, Campisi noted, there was a consensus that, in most cases, Corbett is not good on LGBT issues. The vote to endorse Wolf was overwhelming.
Now, attention will be turned to helping Wolf, and Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Mike Stack, defeat Corbett and Republican lieutenant governor Jim Cawley.
“Voter education and turnout is critical to electing Tom Wolf, who will be a true friend to the LGBT community,” Campisi said. “Liberty City plans to work with the Wolf-Stack campaign to bring home a win on Nov. 4.”
Wolf is a native of York and the state’s former Secretary of Revenue. He supports marriage equality and said he would work for LGBT inclusion in the state’s nondiscrimination and hate-crimes laws. Before marriage equality became law in Pennsylvania, Wolf provided domestic-partner benefits to employees at his family-owned business, The Wolf Organization, Inc.
In accepting the Democratic nomination, Wolf referenced his support for equal-rights issues.
“It’s time to give Pennsylvania a fresh start so we can focus on jobs, on education and on restoring William Penn’s founding principles of fairness and equality for all,” he said.
Earlier this year, Liberty City did not endorse a Democratic candidate for governor in the primary election because members could not reach a consensus.
Liberty City will host its next meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. For more information, visit www.libertycity.org.