Fort Lauderdale mayoral race could split gay vote

From The Miami Herald's Naked Politics blog:

Leaders in the gay community have pledged their support to Fort Lauderdale mayoral candidate Cindi Hutchinson. But now the city's first and only openly gay commissioner is planning to throw his hat into the ring.

Dean Trantalis plans to run for mayor in 2009, said Michael Albetta,  vice  president of the Dolphin Democrats. Albetta said Trantalis told him his intentions last week.

Trantalis said he'll announce his political intentions at 5 p.m.  Monday at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale.

The Dolphin Democrats don't endorse candidates. But Albetta has personally pledged his support to Hutchinson -- a friend to the gay community -- after Trantalis insisted he had no plans to run.

"I said 'Dean you are doing something really not nice. It's going to put a wedge in the gay community because myself and various other people in the GLBT community are supporting Cindi Hutchinson,'' Albetta said.

Trantalis narrowly won a commission seat in 2003 and didn't run for re-election. At the time he said the commission was dysfunctional and a strain on his personal life.

Also running for mayor: State Rep. Jack Seiler.

Leaders in the gay community have pledged their support to Fort Lauderdale mayoral candidate Cindi Hutchinson. But now the city's first and only openly gay commissioner is planning to throw his hat into the ring.

Dean Trantalis plans to run for mayor in 2009, said Michael Albetta,  vice  president of the Dolphin Democrats. Albetta said Trantalis told him his intentions last week.

Trantalis said he'll announce his political intentions at 5 p.m.  Monday at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale.

The Dolphin Democrats don't endorse candidates. But Albetta has personally pledged his support to Hutchinson -- a friend to the gay community -- after Trantalis insisted he had no plans to run.

"I said 'Dean you are doing something really not nice. It's going to put a wedge in the gay community because myself and various other people in the GLBT community are supporting Cindi Hutchinson,'' Albetta said.

Trantalis narrowly won a commission seat in 2003 and didn't run for re-election. At the time he said the commission was dysfunctional and a strain on his personal life.

Also running for mayor: State Rep. Jack Seiler.