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State’s first black, gay elected official surprised by attention to victory
39 new provisions bring city’s gay couples ‘close’ to marriage
Daniel Teitjen Schellhorn, 62
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CHRIS JOHNSON
Friday, May 09, 2008
Voters in Falls Church, Va., on Tuesday elected to city council the first openly gay black man to take public office in the state.
Lawrence Webb, assistant dean of admissions at the University of Mary Washington, won the seat with 1,217 votes in a race where three seats were open and voters could opt for up to three candidates. Webb came in third place after Nader Baroukh and incumbent Robin Gardner. Webb beat out the next candidate by 39 votes.
Webb said he was “grateful that the citizens of Falls Church” decided to entrust him with helping to guide the direction of the city.
“I also hope my election opens the door for others to get involved in public service,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re gay or black or both. What matters is your dedication to building a better community and your willingness to work hard at it.”
Webb is an active member of the Falls Church City Democratic Committee, the city of Falls Church Parks and Recreation Commission and Equality Fairfax. Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) appointed him to the board of the Department of Correctional Education.
Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said his organization launched an intense get-out-the-vote initiative on Webb’s behalf. Supporters “made calls until their cell phones went dead and, in the end, their work contributed directly to Lawrence’s close win,” Wolfe said.
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