Saying she wants to utilize “love and empathy to unite the people,” Rohnert Park Councilmember Jackie Elward sounds like a polished politician angling for votes.
The Sacramento region said goodbye to three longtime gay elected officials this month, as the trio all lost their reelection bids in November. With the departure of a gay Stockton school board member, who also failed to secure a second term last month, California s northern Central Valley will have no out male local political leaders for the first time since 1987.
In 2005 gay West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon came out during his State of the City address. The Filipino politician had won reelection until this year, bringing to an end his tenure as the country s longest continuously serving out politician.
Also falling short in the November election was gay Roseville school board member Gary Miller, who had served on the oversight body since 2008. His defeat ends a remarkable political run, as Miller had served on various school boards for 30 years and was the first out LGBTQ elected official in both Sacramento and Placer counties.