Mike Rundle, who stepped down from his tenure as mayor last night at the Lawrence City Commission meeting announced that he was, perhaps, Lawrence's first gay mayor. Rundle will continue serving the city on the city commission. In Lawrence, the two highest vote getters from the city commission elections usually are appointed mayor in turn.
Mike made the announcment last night during the city commission meeting. Mike mentioned the whisper campaigns that have followed him since he entered public life. Although Mike didn't mention it these whisper campaigns probably cost him his turn at mayor in the late 80's.
I congratulate Mike Rundle and I am proud to call him my friend for more than 20 years.
http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/201788From the article:
Lawrence City Commissioner Mike Rundle stepped down as mayor Tuesday night and acknowledged for the first time that he might have been the city's first gay mayor.
"It is with dignity and pride that I acknowledge that I have been Lawrence mayor and in all likelihood, Lawrence's first gay mayor," Rundle said, his voice breaking momentarily with emotion.
Rundle said he decided to go public with his sexuality in part because state voters earlier this month approved a constitutional amendment for a gay marriage ban and because of "whispering campaigns," and rumors and smear tactics launched at him after he first entered politics in 1987.
Rundle said he did not acknowledge his sexuality earlier because he wanted to keep the political focus on his quest for good government and avoid triggering a barrier of prejudice that might detract from that quest.
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