Assembly Candidate Torie Osborn Enlists Gay Activists In Fight Against Gay Speaker John Pérez

By Gene Maddaus Wed., Aug. 10 2011 at 11:02 AM

Torie Osborn

Torie Osborn, a veteran gay activist, is campaigning for a new Assembly district that stretches from West Hollywood to Malibu. She's been lining up big endorsements, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

But Osborn is facing powerful opposition from an unexpected source: Assembly Speaker John Pérez. The speaker is backing Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, who plans to move from Marina del Rey into the new 50th district.

If neither side backs down, the contest could cost millions and drive a wedge through the L.A. Democratic Party.

"This is gonna be the most exciting Assembly race in Southern California," said party chair Eric Bauman.

Osborn's supporters hope it doesn't come to that. They argue that a seat that includes West Hollywood should be represented by a gay person. (Butler is straight.)

"The way this district has come out -- this area is really our area," said Alisa Sommers, a gay activist in West Hollywood who is supporting Osborn. "The fact that Torie is a lesbian is important to me."

Assemblywoman Betsy Butler

The irony of the situation is that Pérez is also gay. But evidently he sees his first job as speaker as protecting incumbents, no matter their sexual orientation.

"The Speaker has chosen to declare his allegiance to his current members," said former Sen. Sheila Kuehl, who is backing Osborn. "He has been, I think, very proud that the LGBT caucus is as big as it is. I would wish he would think about that in his allegiances."

Much of Butler's current district has been drawn into the new 66th district, which is split almost evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Butler apparently feels she stands a better chance in the 50th, which leans heavily Democratic.

Bauman, who is an adviser to Pérez, pushed back against the claim that the 50th ought to be represented by a gay person.

"It's not a gay seat," he said. "There are many gay people in the Legislature now. That's a bogus argument."

Bauman said that Osborn would make an "outstanding" legislator. But, he said, "I think it's logical for any leader of any Legislative house to protect their members first."

There are other Democrats in the race, including Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom. West Hollywood Councilman Jeffrey Prang dropped out earlier this month, because he did not want to challenge Butler.

Tags:

Assembly District 50, Betsy Butler, Sheila Kuehl, Speaker John Perez, Torie Osborn

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Marta Evry

Betsy Butler is my assemblywoman in the current 53d AD. She has yet to make any formal announcement to her constituents about her plans for 2012, even though those plans have been made public in the media. I know the Daily Breeze has tried to contact her, and I've emailed her staffers. No one will return our calls and emails.

This state is so screwed up, and we desperately need to get a 2/3rds majority to break Republican gridlock in Sacramento. It's just nuts for her to move into a district where a Democrat is guaranteed to win instead of moving to the new 66th AD, a district she already partly represents. Sure, it will be a more conservative district than the 53d, but without her in the race, the seat is sure to flip to a Republican.

Butler certainly has a right to move and run for any seat she wants to, but if you're going to run as a public servant, don't you also have the responsibility to help make things better in this state and serve those people who elected you?

I hope she'll reconsider.

Mario (WeHo)

"Butler certainly has a right to move and run for any seat she wants to, but if you're going to run as a public servant, don't you also have the responsibility to help make things better in this state and serve those people who elected you?"

This is hardly a good argument. EVERY elected official has been cut-off of the people who elected them - thanks to the redistricting process. So as far as I am concern, we should support Betsy Butler.

Angie Maguire

@LGBT: The argument that Betsy Butler has been cut off from her district and deserves the 50th's support does not "hold water' either. Torie Osborn has not only lived and worked in the district she is running in, but also her platform is more reflective of the grassroots movements she's looking to represent. Equally important are the stakes regarding the balance of power in the leg. If Rep. Butler runs in a close district where she has already built a great deal of support, it gives the party a chance to gain BOTH seats. To go for the safer bet by undermining another progressive, female Dem. shows me that the self-serving, political culture in Sacramento has taken hold of another one of "ours' in just one term.

Marta Evry

With all due respect, if you don't think being a public servant means you have a responsibility to the people who elected you, then I don't think we're even on the same planet when it comes to ethics in politics.

I'm fairly confident if you attempt to make that argument to the voters in AD50, most of them won't agree with you.

Guest

Really, I thought the job of the Speaker is to ensure Californians are being served well. Unfortunately, politics as usual continue to plague the Legislature. Democrat leaders from Perez to Bauman should have more bold vision to further the Democratic party with diverse candidates...from sexual orientation to gender to ethnicity. But that has not happened, and it's a travesty the LA Democratic Party pushes for the status quo. Further, why should Torie step aside for Betsy Butler? Torie is a much more experienced leader and policy maker...and has raised more money, and probably more committed to not only serving this district but California. Butler didn't want to face a tough Republican and fight it out, and went the easy route. Is that leadership? Don't think so.

LGBT Activist

The thing that makes this race even more difficult for the Gay Community is that Betsy Butler is not just a regular straight ally. She has over 20 years of being in the frontlines with the Gay Community (Equality California Board Member and has earned the respect from gay groups like Stonewall Democrats and Stonewall Young Democrats).

Betsy would be just as good if not, even better than Osborn.

Guest

For the last 17 years, West Hollywood has had quality representation by progressive leaders in the Assembly and none of them were gay. You can't really call the seat a "gay seat" simply because the district includes West Hollywood. No one can say that Betsy Butler would not be a great advocate and champion for the LGBT community in the Assembly when you look at her work of the last 20 years.