Patrick Guerriero leaves Republican Party

A former head of the National Log Cabin Republicans has left the Republican Party and now identifies as an Independent.

Patrick Guerriero, who headed Log Cabin during former President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign, said in an interview published Tuesday with Melose Patch, a Massachusetts-based paper, that he left the GOP.

Guerriero, who was mayor of Melrose from 1998 to 2001, made the comments while explaining his decision to endorse Democrat Katherine Clark in her bid for a State Senate seat in Massachusetts.

Melrose Patch: It was quite surprising to hear that you were endorsing a Democrat for State Senate. Have you changed political parties?

Guerriero: Yes, to Independent. Primarily I have always looked at myself as being a public servant and I have found that bipartisanship is more important than party affiliation. I feel it’s always been a better way to get the job done—to look at the real issues and not concentrate on any one party’s agenda. I think a lot of people are frustrated with the political system and I am interested in making good policy rather than protecting party identity.

Guerriero is now executive director of the Gill Action Fund, an organization known for working behind-the-scenes to advance LGBT issues.

Some consider Guerriero’s tenure at Log Cabin controversial because the Republican organization didn’t endorse Bush in his 2004 re-election bid.

(via gaypatriot.net)