Equality California Endorses Betsy Butler
Butler, who is running for the new 50th Assembly District seat, has a 100 percent pro-LGBT voting record, the nonprofit says.
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Nonprofit civil rights organization Equality California is endorsing Assemblywoman Betsy Butler in her run for the state's new 50th Assembly District, Butler's campaign announced Wednesday morning.
Butler, D-Marina del Rey, is now entering her sixth year on the board of Equality California. She has been a key advocate for equality and civil rights for over 20 years and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for multiple causes, events and LGBT candidates, reports the nonprofit in a statement.
“Equality California is proud to give our endorsement to Assemblymember Butler,” Suzy Jones, chair of the Equality California Candidate Political Action Committee, said in a statement. “Her 100 percent pro-LGBT voting record clearly demonstrates that she has been, and continues to be, a key ally and partner in our efforts to secure full and lasting equality for LGBT people in California."
Butler has also been endorsed by Assembly Speaker John Pérez, California Democratic Party Vice Chairman Alex Rooker and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. Organizations backing Butler include the Legislative LGBT Caucus and the Legislative Women’s Caucus.
“I am proud to have the support of Equality California,” said Butler. “For over 20 years, I have had the privilege of working with leaders of the LGBT community throughout the country and in California on issues of fairness and equality. I look forward to continuing to work in the Legislature to ensure equal rights in California."
Butler's primary opponent appears to be Torie Osborn, who is running for office for the first time. The liberal activist has earned endorsements from Sheila Kuehl (who was the 41st District representative from 1994 to 2000); Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Congresswoman Karen Bass; Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl; the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund; and the California Nurses Association.
Don't miss Patch's recent interviews with Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, Torie Osborn and Richard Bloom.
Dante Atkins
2:30 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
EQCA early-endorsed without even interviewing other candidates because only incumbents are eligible. To EQCA, Butler qualifies, despite the fact that she currently represents less than 1% of the open seat in CA-50, and will have to move into the district. The fact that EQCA would early-endorse without even interviewing someone with Torie Osborn's decades-long track record of activism for the LGBT community is rather appalling and doesn't speak well for the organization. Maybe that's part of why they've had so much turmoil at the top?
Debra Evans
2:39 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
I have to agree with Dante.. It is as if EQCA ignored the redistricting situation and decided to do "business as usual". I believe that due to the new districts, that circumstances would call for new rules. Torie has been living and working in the district for many years and she announced her candidacy a year ago. I am happy that there is a petition to change EQCA's endorsement.
Ari Ruiz
3:09 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
And both of them are Osborn supporters who always complain about any endorsement that Assm. Butler gets. I feel sorry for you both if this is all you got!
Betsy deserves this endorsement for being an amazing straight ally! Thanks EQCA
Dante Atkins
3:22 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
It's a funny thing, Ari, how you never actually defend the process in question any more than you could defend the switch by the Painters and Allied Trades when they claimed it arose from an "expanded field" even though Butler had been declared long before.
And no, I don't complain about every endorsement Butler gets. She's a good vote and will get a lot of endorsements from her caucus up in Sacramento. Torie will continue to get the endorsements and support from grassroots activists and labor unions who are inspired by her decades-long body of work on poverty, AIDS, LGBT equality and social justice.
Helmi Hisserich
11:31 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sadly ECQA passed over an eminently qualified lesbian candidate - Torie Osborn - to endorse a a straight candidate who does not live in the district. Machine politics bites.
Robert StGenis
6:55 pm on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Betsy has been along side the LGBT community on many issues. Torie Osborn has been on the forefront for decades. There is a vast difference.