The Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club scheduled its fall fundraiser to double as a debate-watching party. It’s slated for Oct. 19, the last of three face-offs between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican challenger Donald Trump.
Club members have not yet determined a venue, but expect it to take place in the Gayborhood. The money will support get-out-the-vote efforts for Clinton and Katie McGinty, a candidate to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate. Political analysts have pegged her race against incumbent Republican Pat Toomey as a crucial battleground for Democrats.
Liberty City has $3,400 in its coffers, said David Feldman, treasurer, at a public board meeting Aug. 31. He said that amount is unencumbered, meaning there are no debts. Earlier this year, the club spent $1,800 on a website redesign to make it easier to navigate. Feldman said Liberty City would like to have $5,000 for its fall work.
“We did a lot in the spring,” Feldman said, referring to voter-turnout initiatives leading up to the primary elections. “We have to be mindful this fall.”
The deadline for voter registration is 5 p.m. Oct. 11. The election is Nov. 8.
Liberty City has a voter registration-awareness event set for Sept. 9 at Tattooed Mom, 530 South St. It’s a community event that will run from 7 p.m. until close.
The club still has candidate endorsements to consider for two state representatives; Eugene DePasquale, who is running for state auditor general; and Mike Parrish, who is running to represent parts of Chester and Montgomery counties in Congress. Candidates must return their questionnaires to Liberty City by Sept. 19. The club will meet for endorsements sometime in the last week of September, depending upon space availability at William Way LGBT Community Center.
Two representatives from the Pennsylvania Coordinated Campaign also spoke at Liberty City’s board meeting to discuss volunteer opportunities. They said they were looking for people who would like to canvas across Philadelphia for all Democrats on the ticket. They need staging areas as well as leaders who can put together teams of volunteers. Liberty City said it would forward the information to members via email blasts.