Hens-Greco, Ward, Watson, Wecht Lead Stein Club’s Slate Card For Primary Elections In Allegheny County 

Pittsburgh, PA (April 11, 2003)-- The Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh (GSPCGP) announced today that it has endorsed David Wecht on the Republican ticket, Wrenna Watson on the Democratic ticket, and Kathryn Hens-Greco and Christine Ward who cross-listed for both party nominations for the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County for the Primary Election. The endorsed candidates have track records in support of lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender (lgbt) issues. Another strong candidate for the bench, Louis Coleman Coles (Dem), received an honorable mention.

All of the other candidates endorsed by the Stein Club support key issues such as an anti-discrimination ordinance to support gay rights, AIDS prevention programs, and access to insured medical care for people who are HIV positive.  Stein Club members have noted that  issues that used to be difficult for local politicians to grasp such as civil unions and adoptive/custody rights are now easily supported.

“Once candidates were able to make a distinction between ‘religious’ marriage and same-sex civil unions, they were ready to be our advocates,” said GSPCGP board member, Richard Meritzer. 

The endorsed candidates must be pro-choice, and school board candidates must support information resources for lgbt students and recognition of non-traditional families. Perhaps most critical for the school district is the candidates’ commitment to make the district a “safe place” for lgbt students, as well as for lgbt faculty and staff. 

GSPCGP chair Barb Albinini said, “The only issue the candidates still seem to have trouble with is understanding some specific needs of the transgendered community, such as health coverage for hormone therapy and reassignment surgery. However, all of the candidates we endorsed who fell short in this area asked to be further educated.”

Endorsed candidates for other offices include:

Allegheny County Row Offices—James Q. Simms (Dem) for County Controller and Valerie McDonald Roberts (Dem) for Recorder of Deeds. 

Allegheny County Council—Marlene Russell (Dem) for district 10, Rich Fitzgerald (Dem) for district 11, and Brenda Frazier (Dem) for district 13. 

Pittsburgh City Council—Barbara Burns (Dem) for district 1; Thomas Sciulli (Dem) for district 5, with an honorable mention going to Doug Shield (Dem); and Mitch Kates (Dem) for district 7. 

Pittsburgh Public School Board—Patrick Dowd (Dem/Rep) for district 2.

Wilkinsburg Borough Council—Sandra L. Roberts (Dem) in Ward 1 and Patricia Baker (Dem) in Ward 3. 

In the statewide elections, the Stein Club endorsed Max Baer (Dem) for Pennsylvania Supreme Court. An honorable mention went to John Herron (Dem). For the State Superior Court, the Club did not receive endorsement requests from acceptable candidates. However, the members voted in favor of honorable mention for Mark Bernstein (Dem) based on his excellent reputation regarding lgbt issues.

The Stein Club based its endorsements on candidates’ track record and their responses to the Club’s questionnaire. The Club did not make endorsements in offices for which it did not receive questionnaires from viable candidates. For more information, contact the Stein Club by e-mail gspcgp@gertrudesteinclub.org, or access the GSPCGP Web site at www.gertrudesteinclub.org.