Q-vote 2006

www.interstateq.com/qvote/
Click here to see Q-vote 2006 “endorsements”

Election Results Through LGBT Eyes:
Local and national results and commentary from Matt Hill Comer
NC House/Senate | W-S/Forsyth School Board
NC Congressional Races | Marriage & Domestic Partnerships
Arizona rejects anti-gay amendment | Man-on-dog Santorum out
Log Cabin slams social conservatives | LGBT Candidates
Q-vote 2006 “Endorsed” Candidates
or search the Q-vote 2006 Archives
Election Day Resources:
My choices for the ballot | Q-vote 2006
My Carolinian Column: Election Day Edition
Guilford Co. LGBT Voter Guide | EqualityNC PAC Endorsements
Navigation
The Voting & Elections Process - Information on how, when & where to vote.
Primary “Endorsements” & Results - Q-vote 2006 “endorsements” & May 2, 2006 primary results
Click here to see the Replacements, Ltd. PAC 2006 LGBT Voter Guide & endorsements
Click here to see EqualityNC PAC endorsements
Purpose & Mission
The purpose of Q-vote is to raise the public’s awareness of LGBT issues while also promoting and raising the awareness of LGBT inclusive, positive and supportive candidates and politicians running for offices in the Mid-term 2006 elections. Q-vote will accomplish this purpose and mission through online and community activism through the coordinated help of volunteers contributing their time toward research, blogging, distribution of voting information, “tabling,” community outreach, networking and coalition building.
Focus
Q-vote 2006 will focus on races in the Piedmont-Triad area inclusive of the following:

• 13th Congressional District
• 5th Congressional District
• 57th NC Senate District
• Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education
• And more!

Q-vote may, in the future, decide to focus on more races outside of the Piedmont/Triad area including the Charlotte/Mecklenburg area and Triangle area. This is dependent upon the availability of volunteers who would be needed for research on those areas’ races and candidates. To learn more about volunteering with Q-vote 2006 please see the “Volunteer” section below.
Primary - May 2, 2006
Q-vote 2006 weighed in on four primary races. To view the “endorsements” and the results see Primary Endorsements

Q-vote 2006 General Elections “Endorsements”

Mike Nelson, Orange County Commissioner. Nelson, an openly gay and community-minded individual, has served his community for years. Nelson, a Democrat, is a great choice to help lead Orange County. For more about Nelson see www.electmikenelson.com.

Congressman Brad Miller, 13th Congressional District. Congressman Miller, a Democrat, is the incumbent in the 13th Congressional District of North Carolina. The Congressman has a strong, positive record when it comes to LGBT issues and equality. On top of defending LGBT couples and protecting the Constitution by voting against the Federal Marriage Protection Amendment, Congressman Miller has co-sponsored the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) and the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (extends “marriage” visas to foreign partners of LGBT Americans), as well as other positive legislation affecting LGBT Americans. Congressman Miller strongly supports LGBT equality and LGBT Americans. Although Brad Miller does not personally support granting “marriage” to LGBT couples, he does support offering fully equal “civil unions.” The Congressman’s opponent is the virulently anti-gay Vernon Robinson, a non-resident of the 13th District who lives in Winston-Salem. For more information on Congressman Miller’s re-election campaign, visit www.bradmiller.org (see also Miller’s TV ad).

Roger Sharpe, 5th Congressional District. Roger Sharpe, a Democrat and former member of the NC State Senate, is challenging Republican incumbent Representative Virginia Foxx. Sharpe’s down-to-earth, practical approach to our nation’s problems makes him Q-vote 2006’s choice for the 5th Congressional District. Unlike Representative Foxx, Sharpe believes everything is not “fine” in Iraq and believes that our Congress needs a change in leadership. Sharpe will help to bring honesty, practability and integrity back to the US House of Representatives. Sharpe and his campaign have attended numerous meetings of LGBT groups in North Carolina. He has shown his support for LGBT North Carolinians. For more information on Roger Sharpe’s campaign, visit www.sharpeforcongress.com.

Representative Pricey Harrison, NC House District 57. Q-vote 2006 is extremely happy to “endorse” Representative Harrison, a Democrat, in the campaign for NC House District 57. Representative Harrison has shown a strong, overwhelming and continued commitment to equality for LGBT North Carolinians during her first term in the NC House of Representatives. She has sponsored and co-sponsored numerous pro-active pieces of legislation, including being the primary sponsor of a successful bill which increased funding for AIDS drug assistance programs in North Carolina. Representative Harrison has shown a deep interest in the concerns of LGBT North Carolinians and continues to reach out to LGBT citizens by attending the events and activities of various LGBT-oriented community organizations including the Guilford Green Foundation, Triad Business and Professional Guild and EqualityNC. For more information on Representative Harrison’s campaign visit www.priceyharrison.com.

Sandra Mikush¹, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education, At-Large. Sandra Mikush, running as an unaffiliated candidate (although personally registered as a Democrat), believes that issues relating to the education of our community’s future leaders should be held outside of the realm of partisan politics. Mikush, who had to gather more than 7,000 signatures to run as an unaffiliated candidate, is a well-known and well-respected community leader. She is the Assistant Director of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and has been active in the Community Alliance for Education. Mikush supports fair and equitable schools for all and an open and responsive school board. Sandra Mikush has been endorsed by The Winston-Salem Journal. For more information on Sandra Mikush’s campaign visit: www.mikushforschoolboard.com.

Elisabeth Motsinger, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education, At-Large. Elisabeth Motsinger, a Democrat, has strongly supported improving the safety and health of our schools for all students. In her campaign materials, Motsinger states: “We must have zero tolerance for bullying and harassment at school. Every child - regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status, religion, gender or sexual orientation deserves to attend school without fear.” Like Mikush, Motsinger supports an open and responsive school board. In September 2006, Motsinger attended the annual banquet of PFLAG Winston-Salem, showing her public support of LGBT students. For more information on Elisabeth Motsinger’s campaign, visit www.motsinger4schools.org.

Berkley Blanks, Guilford County Sheriff. Berkley Blanks, a Democrat, has shown a strong and overwhelming public commitment to LGBT citizens of Guilford County. Blanks has attended numerous events and activities of LGBT-oriented organizations, including the Triad Business and Professional Guild. Blanks was also a participant in a community forum for a recently released LGBT policy study conducted by the Community Foundation of Raleigh. For more information on Berkley Blanks campaign visit www.blanksforsheriff.com.

1 - In the interest of being absolutely honest and transparent, it is necessary for me to disclose that Sandra Mikush is the mother of very good friends of mine from RJ Reynolds High School. I knew Mrs. Mikush throughout high school through my participation in the choral program with her son and daughter, fellow RJR alums.