National Stonewall Democrats

Stonewall Democrat Elected in Colorado

(Thursday, September 20, 2007)
Washington, DC - Washington, DC - Today, the National Stonewall Democrats released the following statement in praise of Stonewall Democrat Mark Ferrandino, who was elected on Wednesday night to the Colorado House of Representatives.

"We are thrilled that Mark Ferrandino was elected to serve the people of Colorado. As a local chapter leader and national board member, Mark embodies the work of Stonewall Democrats to create national change through our efforts on the state and local levels. He understands that Democrats can win by clearly conveying our values, and we know he will do just that as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives."

- Laurie McBride, Co-Chair, National Stonewall Democrats Board of Directors.

Mark Ferrandino was elected as the new Colorado House Representative for District 2 (Denver) last night by the Vacancy Committee for House District 2. The vote by the Vacancy Committee was 23-3 in favor of Ferrandino. Doug Williams, the other candidate considered, also happened to be gay. Ferrandino will serve until January of 2009. He is able to run for election to a full term in November 2008. Ferrandino joins the Colorado House of Representatives as the only openly-gay member. Democrat Jenniefer Viega, who is openly-gay, is a member of the State Senate.

Mark Ferrandino is the former Co-Chair of the Colorado Stonewall Democrats. He currently serves as a Board Member of the National Stonewall Democrats Board of Directors. Newly announced NSD Executive Director Jon Hoadley is in Colorado today to meet with members of the Colorado Stonewall Democrats as well as Representative Ferrandino.

Ferrandino replaces former Representative Mike Cerbo, a Democrat, who resigned on September 10, 2007 in order to take a position with the Colorado AFL-CIO. Under Colorado law, vacancies to the state House of Representatives are filled by a District Vacancy Committee of the party which previously controlled the seat.

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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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