Press Release: Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club Endorses Thompson For Mayor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                
Contact: Allen Roskoff, (917) 553-7180

Backs Candidate with “Bold and Strong Record” of Support For the LGBT Community

New York, NY - The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club announced today that it is endorsing Bill Thompson for Mayor of New York City.

Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, said, "We believe Mr. Thompson will provide the city with the progressive leadership that is sorely needed.  Thompson's bold and strong record of long-time commitment to the LGBT community is a laudable one.  We also believe he is the best candidate to stand up and secure the defeat of Christine Quinn and thus put a final end to the Bloomberg-Quinn Administration, an administration that delivers for the wealthy and privileged at the expense of the middle class and working poor."

The club deliberated at length as in addition to Bill Thompson, mayoral candidates Bill de Blasio, Anthony Weiner and John Liu all serve on its Board of Governors.  The club believes all four candidates are preferable to the more conservative Quinn, as they all have strong records fighting for the rights of the LGBT community.  Of all the candidates running, the club believes that Bill Thompson can best unite the city and bring about economic justice.  The city-wide club will aggressively campaign for Thompson, bringing significant resources to bear in terms of voter outreach and GOTV efforts.

”We are happy to join with progressive labor and elected officials in endorsing Bill Thompson,” Roskoff continued.  “As a former President of the NYC Board of Education and former NYC Comptroller, Bill has a unique and proven record fighting for quality education, fiscal responsibility, fairness and equality.  Thompson is a not one who divides, he unites and stays true to principle.  Given that Quinn and her backers have already unfairly and maliciously inferred that Thompson is racist, and another candidate of being homophobic shows the desperation and nastiness of the Quinn campaign.” 

The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club was named after legendary gay activist Jim Owles, who was a pioneer in the national gay rights movement.  With its 100-person Board of Governors, the club works to elect leaders – like Bill Thompson – who share the values which promote equality and economic justice.