David Glasgow, the lone gay candidate running for Metro Council’s District 18 seat, has lost his bid in his first quest for public office.
Glasgow narrowly missed being in a runoff by some 31 votes, and placed third in a field of four candidates.
“We ran a positive issue oriented campaign,” Glasgow told supporters who met at the Zeitgeist Gallery in Hillsboro Village. “We did everything we could to win this race but go negative.”
Glasgow said he wasn’t ready to endorse either of the two candidates that will face off in the run-off.
“We’re not ready to throw our support behind either,” he said.
When asked if he’ll run for public office again, he said that he had learned much from the campaign and that “we’ll see when the time comes.”
Glasgow thanked his many supporters along with his partner Van Pond.
“Van told me that if I was crazy enough to do this he’d support me 100 percent,” he told the group of more than 50 supporters with tears in his eyes. “Van has been amazing, as have all of you. I can’t say thank you enough.”
Along with Glasgow, other candidates John Ray Clemmons, Stephenie Dodson, and Kristine LaLonde all ran for the seat. LaLonde won more of the vote, with 39 percent. Dodson had 27 percent. The two will face off in a run-off election on April 30 because neither garnered more than 50 percent of the vote.
The District 18 Council seat was left open when Keith Durbin stepped down to take a position in the mayor's office. Durbin was the city's first openly gay elected offical and the only gay councilman. Glasgow's loss means the city will no longer have an openly gay elected official.
39.3% - Kristine LaLonde
483 votes
27.0% - Stephanie Dodson
332 votes
24.5% - David Glasgow
301 votes
8.7% - Jay Ray Clemmons
108 votes
Total Reporting: 100% of precincts reporting
Total Votes: 1229 votes