It's official. After all the drama that is the Arkansas Democratic Party, Patricia Todd was reinstated Saturday as the Democratic Party's nominee for a seat in the Alabama Legislature. The Alabama Democratic Party Executive Committee voted 95-87 to reject the ruling of a subcommittee two days ago that had voted to disqualify Todd.

From 365gay.com

Todd beat Gaynell Hendricks in the primary. But Hendricks' mother-in-law filed an appeal filed with the Democratic Party claiming that Todd timed the filing of her campaign finance report with the Secretary of State's office shortly before the deadline to keep voters from learning she was supported by the Victory Fund, a Washington DC-based organization that helps the campaigns LGBT candidates.

Todd received $25,000 contribution from the Victory Fund.

The complaint also alleged that Todd made payment of nearly $13,000 to two primary opponents who later endorsed her in the runoff against Hendricks.

On Thursday a party committee discounted the original complaint against Todd - instead ruling in a 5 - 0 decision that she had violated a party regulation that finance reports be filed five days before a primary with the party chair five days before the primary election.

The committee, however, also found that Hendricks also had failed to file with the chair in time and counted her out of the race too. In fact, no candidate in the state has followed the rule since 1988.

Observers said the dispute between the two Democrats had more to do with race than sexuality. Todd is lesbian and white. Hendricks is straight and black. Some key Democrats in Alabama were alleged to have wanted Todd out because of her color.

Party chairman Joe Turnham said that the key factor in Saturday's decision to overturn the committee ruling was that no candidate had followed the disclosure rule for nearly 20 years.

"I am relieved this is over so I can get to work helping the people of my district," Todd said after the meeting.

There is no Republican running for the seat which means Todd will become the first lesbian to sit in the Alabama legislature.

It's finally come to and end and Patricia Todd will be the first open lesbian to serve in the Alabama Legislature!

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 26, 2006 at 2:39 PM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.