In Michigan, a mayoral race is pitting two openly gay men against each other — one who served as the town of Ferndale’s first openly homosexual mayor in 2008 against the present mayor who is said to be the second openly gay leader in the community.
Some gays worry the race might cause divide, and suggest that former mayor Craig Covey’s run will actually turn back the clock on homosexual rights with his attacks on the current mayor, Dave Coulter.
“What can you do? They’re both great guys,” said Cass Varner, a Ferndale resident who also serves as communications director for the gay group, Affirmations, in the downtown area, the Detroit Free Press reported.
At a campaign event on Monday, Mr. Covey spoke of their similarities and differences.
“Some people have said, you two are pretty similar in a lot of ways,” he told the Free Press. “We’re both gay, we’ve both run AIDS organizations, we’re both liberal on social issues, we’re both white Anglo guys in our 50s. But on fiscal issues, I’m pretty conservative.”
Mr. Covey, too, is openly pushing to legalize marijuana, while Mr. Coulter is not. For his part, Mr. Coulter said he was stunned Mr. Covey was mounting a challenge for his seat, the Free Press reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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