Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC
P.O. Box 75265, Washington, DC 20013
For Immediate Release
March 11, 2015
Revised March 26, 2015
Contact: Rick Rosendall
202-328-6278
Sheila Bunn Tops GLAA Ratings in Special Election
Ward 8 D.C. Council candidate Sheila Bunn, who has served as Deputy Chief of Staff to former mayor Vincent C. Gray and Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, dominated the field in the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) candidate ratings for the April 28 special election, earning a score of +9. She has the highest rating of any candidate in this election cycle. The top-rated candidate in the Ward 4 race is Dwayne M. Toliver, who earned a +7. No candidate earned GLAA's hard-to-get championship point in this election.One response common among many candidates was their hedging on the "Death with Dignity Act of 2015," introduced by Councilmember Mary Cheh and endorsed by GLAA. There were virtually no other issues of controversy in the questionnaire, judging by the responses.
The following are explanations of individual ratings. Note: Ratings marked with an asterisk (*) indicate a candidate who did not return a questionnaire and provided no information regarding his or her record on LGBT issues.
Ward 4 Councilmember
Democratic candidate Dwayne M. Toliver (+7) has a strong questionnaire and a good record on LGBT issues as an attorney for the Department of Human Resources. In his answer to GLAA's first question, Toliver showed a strong grasp of the issues surrounding the District's repeal of the congressionally-imposed Armstrong Amendment, which repeal GLAA had urged.
Democratic candidate Edwin W. Powell (+6.5) turned in a strong questionnaire, including a good discussion on healthcare, and documented a pro-LGBT record.
Democratic candidate Brandon Todd (+5.5) turned in a solid questionnaire but showed little by way of a record on LGBT issues.
Democratic candidate Acqunetta Anderson (+3) agrees with GLAA on most of the issues but offered little substance and no record on LGBT issues.
Democratic candidate Renee L. Bowser (+2.5) agrees with GLAA on the issues but offered little substance and showed no LGBT-specific record.
Democratic candidate Leon T. Andrews, Jr. (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on his record.
Democratic candidate Ron Austin (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on his record.
Democratic candidate Gwenellen Corley-Bowman (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on her record.
Democratic candidate Judi Jones (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on her record.
Socialist Workers Party candidate Glova Scott (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on her record.
Democratic candidate Douglass Sloan (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on his record.
Democratic candidate Bobvala Tengen (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on his record.
Ward 8 Councilmember
Democratic candidate Sheila Bunn (+9) has a strong questionnaire and a solid record on LGBT issues as a senior staffer to both Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and former mayor Vincent C. Gray.
Democratic candidate Marion C. Barry (+4.5) agrees with GLAA on all the issues and provided some substance, but has a limited record on LGBT issues.
Democratic candidate "S.S." Sandra Seegars (+4.5) agrees with GLAA on most issues but provided limited substance. She has a record of supporting LGBT issues.
Democratic candidate LaRuby May (+4) agrees with GLAA on all the issues but provided limited substance. She documented no LGBT-specific record.
Democratic candidate Eugene D. Kinlow (+3.5) agrees with GLAA on the issues but offered almost no substance. He has been an ally on LGBT issues.
Independent candidate Keita Vanterpool (+3.5) agrees with GLAA on the issues but provided little substance or LGBT-related record.
Democratic candidate Stuart Anderson (+3) agrees with GLAA on the issues but provided little substance or LGBT-related record.
Democratic candidate Greta Fuller (+2.5) returned a late questionnaire in which she agreed with GLAA on the issues but offered little substance; she provided no information on her record.
Democratic candidate Jauhar Abraham (+2) agrees with GLAA on the issues but offered no substance or LGBT-related record.
Democratic candidate Anthony Muhammad (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on his record.
Democratic candidate Leonard Watson, Sr. (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on his record.
Democratic candidate Trayon "WardEight" White (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on his record.
Democratic candidate Natalie Williams (0*) did not return a questionnaire and provided no information on her record.
GLAA rates candidates on a scale of -10 to +10, based on their answers to our questionnaire and their record on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The questionnaire addresses a variety of issues on families, public health, public safety, human rights, youth and seniors, and protection for LGBT consumers and businesses. GLAA's policy brief, questionnaire, and complete candidate responses are available online at www.glaa.org.
All candidates were advised to read Building on Victory, GLAA's policy brief on LGBT issues in Washington, D.C.
Ratings should not be interpreted as endorsements. GLAA does not endorse candidates in partisan elections.
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C., founded in 1971, is a local, all-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit political organization devoted to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights in Washington, DC. We are the nation's oldest continuously active LGBT civil rights organization. We have rated candidates for office in every D.C. primary and general election since 1971.
GLAA Ratings for April 28, 2015 Special Election
To see the full text of a candidate's questionnaire responses, click on his or her name below.
Ward 4 Councilmember
Ward 8 Councilmember
Guide to available ratings points
| Questionnaire: yes/no | +/- 2 points |
| Questionnaire: substantive grasp of issues | +/- 4 points |
| Record: | +/- 3 points |
| Championship: taking the lead on an issue of concern to LGBT people | +/- 1 point |
| Total available: | +/- 10 points |
Note: Ratings marked with an asterisk (*) indicate a candidate who did not return a questionnaire and was therefore rated solely on his or her known record on LGBT issues.
Click here to view a detailed breakdown of all candidates' ratings points.
The Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC is a local, all-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit political organization, founded in 1971 to advance the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Washington, DC. We are the nation's oldest continuously active gay and lesbian civil rights organization.
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