For more information contact:

Richard Meritzer – Chair

412-404-7609

rmeritzer@yahoo.com

For Immediate Release:

Following the Gertrude Stein Political Club of Greater Pittsburgh very success primary campaign, with 16 of its 22 candidates nominated, the members continued to support all of those candidates endorsed in the primary while adding some new candidates including a republican and an independent candidate.

At the Club’s endorsement meeting of September 11, 2007, the member considered questionnaires from 27 candidates. For Pennsylvania Supreme Court the members endorsed Debra Todd and Seamus McCaffery, both currently Superior Court Judges. The Club has supported Justice Todd before, but this is the first time we endorsed Justice McCaffery. For Superior Court we re-endorsed Christine Donohue and endorsed John Milton Younge for three seats. We are very excited to have two such qualified and supportive candidates who balance racially, sexually and geographically.

State Judges are crucial for defending our rights. It is the State Supreme Court which stuck down the sodomy laws in Pennsylvania giving us the rights we have. And this court also allowed for second parent adoption. It is important that we elect pro L/G/B/T state judges.

For County Council we endorsed two good friends of the G / L / B / T community, incumbents Rich Fitzgerald and Brenda Frazier. Brenda Frazier, a primary supported of the County needle exchange program, is opposed by a party endorsed candidate.

For County Court the club continued to support Cathleen Bubash, Mike McCarthy and Jack McVay for the four open seats. In addition we endorsed Kelly Bigley. We are impressed with he questionnaire and her vote getting ability.

In the City of Pittsburgh the Club endorsed Republican Mark Desantis for Mayor. With the exception of his opposition to AIDS prevention programs and access to insured medical can for transgender people his questionnaire was perfect. While we will continue to work with him and other candidates we endorsed on these issues, we are convinced that our rights will be protected with him as Mayor.

We also continue to support Michael Lamb for City Controller. He was our candidate for Mayor two years ago. For City Council, we re-endorsed Doug Shields, Patrick Dowd and Bruce Kraus. All three candidates were endorsed by the Club last time they ran, Mr. Shields and Mr. Kraus for City Council and Mr. Dowd for School Board. In addition we added Dave Schuilenburg to our slate. Running as an independent we were impressed with many of his positions. For School Board we continued to endorse Sherry Hazuda and Heather Arnet.

In Wilkinsburg, we re-endorsed Paige Trice and Vanessa McCarthy-Johnson for Borough Council.

Everyone was very pleased not only with the number of responses the club received, but also to the extent the candidates understand our issues. We urge you to vote on November 6th.