Gay Republican Don Guardian Elected Mayor of Atlantic City

[onehandle]

There were lots of exciting election LGBT-centric results all across the country last night: ally and gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe eked by with a win in Virginia, Seattle elected an out mayor, Ed Murray and, a little closer to home, openly gay Republican Don Guardian won the race to become mayor of Atlantic City. Press of Atlantic City reports:

“It’s very humbling,” said Guardian, who admitted he worried down to the last few districts as the numbers came in for the tight race.

“Sometimes David beats Goliath,” the mayor-elect told supporters who crowded into the Tun Tavern to hear him claim victory. He joked about writing three speeches, including a concession speech and one if the race were “too close to call.”

Those who gathered cheered that he didn’t need to give either one of those. Before the speech, he admitted he was unsure victory would come.

http://www.phillymag.com/g-philly/2013/11/06/gay-republican-don-guardian-elected-mayor-atlantic-city

Lost me at 'Gay Republican.' Every Gay Republican (few, mostly lawyers and bankers) I've ever know was more interested in making money than progressing America.

[scheming daemons]

1. I can never understand why "gay republican" isn't an oxymoron

The republican party, as a whole, has been hostile to LGBT almost completely.

I can't understand how any LGBT could ever be a member of that party.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. I've known quite a few gay Republicans and generally speaking, they are rich

greedy bastards who hate taxes. I'm still friends with one gay guy who's active in the GOP and he will admit that the Republicans are mean and hateful, but he always says he has "a seat at the table." He's in the GOP for the business contacts, basically. We can't discuss politics too much or I get really mad at him. I can't be friends with most gay Republicans. I just don't have any respect for them.

[KamaAina]

3. Very quietly, the Crisco Kid has been turning AC into Detroit East

regardless of his sexual orientation, a repuke mayor isn't going to help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_City#Tourism_district

In July 2010, Governor Chris Christie announced that a state takeover of the city and local government "was imminent". Comparing regulations in Atlantic City to an "antique car", Atlantic City regulatory reform is a key piece of Gov. Chris Christie's plan, unveiled on July 22, to reinvigorate an industry mired in a four-year slump in revenue and hammered by fresh competition from casinos in the surrounding states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and more recently, Maryland. In January 2011, Chris Christie announced the Atlantic City Tourism District, a state-run district encompassing the boardwalk casinos, the marina casinos, the Atlantic City Outlets, and Bader Field. (the airport -Ed.)...

On April 29, 2011, the boundaries for the state-run tourism district were set. The district would include heavier police presence, as well as beautification and infrastructure improvements. The CRDA would oversee all functions of the district and will make changes to attract new businesses and attractions. New construction would be ambitious and may resort to eminent domain.

The tourism district would comprise several key areas in the city; the Marina District, Ducktown, Chelsea, South Inlet, Bader Field, and Gardner's Basin. Also included are 10 roadways that lead into the district, including several in the city's northern end, or North Beach. Gardner's Basin, which is home to the Atlantic City Aquarium, was initially left out of the tourism district, while a residential neighborhood in the Chelsea section was removed from the final boundaries, owing to complaints from the city. Also, the inclusion of Bader Field in the district was controversial and received much scrutiny from mayor Lorenzo Langford, who cast the lone "no" vote on the creation of the district citing its inclusion.