Patrick Guerriero

Patrick Guerriero is an American politician.

A gay Republican, Guerriero was the executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) from January 1, 2003Georgia Log Cabin Republicans. [http://www.lcrga.com/news/200211251803.shtml "Patrick Guerriero to lead Log Cabin Republicans"] , 2002-11-25, accessed 2008-7-2] to September 1, 2006Georgia Log Cabin Republicans. [http://www.lcrga.com/news/200605231330.shtml "Patrick Guerriero Leaving Log Cabin after Four Years of Record Growth"] , 2006-05-23, accessed 2008-7-2] . Prior to being the LCR Executive Director, he served three terms as a Massachusetts state representative and two as mayor of the city of Melrose, Massachusetts. He now heads the newly founded political organization, the Gill Action Fund.

Early life

Guerriero was born to an Italian immigrant and mason father and a social worker mother. He worked his way through college, spending summers mixing cement and hauling bricks for his family's masonry business. Guerriero attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he played soccer and was graduated summa cum laude in 1990. The next year, Guerriero attended Boston College's Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Fellowship in American Government Program. Guerriero came out to his family shortly after college.

tate Representative

In 1993, Guerriero was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives (35th Middlesex District). He supported initiatives related to lower taxes, limited government expenditure, improved public schools, public safety, and welfare reform. Guerriero was a staunch supporter of the landmark 1993 Education Reform Act that required students pass standardized graduation tests (MCAS). He was also an advocate for gay and lesbian issues, effecting strict anti-hate crimes legislation and increased AIDS awareness funding.

Guerriero was awarded the John F. Kennedy Library's Fenn Award for politicians 35 years of age and younger on November 10, 1998. He was chosen in part for the leadership he demonstrated in pursuing legislation that gave cities and towns control over which stores can provide Keno. In 1994, Guerriero first introduced legislation supported by local town and city board of selectmen asking for its regulation. The bill was voted down by a margin of three to one in the House of Representatives and opposed by owners and operators of convenience stores, the Massachusetts Convenience Store Association, the New England Convenience Store Association, and the lottery commission. Guerriero, however, was able to persuade the legislature to support the measure, and on April 11, 1996, Governor William Weld signed a bill into law requiring the lottery to submit an application for Keno licensing by certified mail to the mayor or board of selectmen of a municipality which must be publicized in the local newspaper.

Mayor

In 1998, Guerriero was elected mayor of the city of Melrose, Massachusetts with 85 percent of the vote. His term focused on conservative fiscal policy, quality of public schools, and community relations. As mayor, Guerriero visited local public and private schools to give speeches during his campaign and later helped collect trash and plow snow. This won him the support of the residents, who elected him to a second term with over 80 percent of the vote. During his tenure as mayor, Guerriero created a "civility initiative" which encouraged residents to show each other respect and courtesy. This project earned him the City Livability Award at the U.S. Mayor's Association 2000 City Livability Awards. He also led the way for the city building its first new public schools in over 30 years.

In May 2001, Guerriero stepped down as mayor to join the administration of Jane Swift, the first female governor of Massachusetts, who took over when then Governor Paul Cellucci became U.S. ambassador to Canada. He served as deputy chief of staff, advising Swift on such issues as domestic partnership benefits and working with religious leaders to stop the anti-Muslim backlash after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He later served as her running mate in the 2002 Gubernatorial electionsGeorgia Log Cabin Republicans. [http://www.lcrga.com/news/200201031239.shtml "GOP Gov. Selects Gay Running Mate"] , 2002-01-03, accessed 2008-7-2] . Faced with steep competition from Salt Lake City Winter Olympic CEO and Bain Capital founder Mitt Romney, Swift withdrew from the race. Guerriero then asked Romney to support his run for Lieutenant Governor, but Romney did not comply. Without that key vote of support, Guerriero withdrew his candidacy for the position. Though he did not have Romney's support, Guerriero still campaigned for Romney, spoke to him about issues related to the gay community, and served on the governor-elect's transition team.

Log Cabin

On January 1, 2003, Guerriero succeeded Rich Tafel as the leader of the Log Cabin Republicans. Since accepting the position, Guerriero has faced sharp criticism from both the left and the right.

Guerriero often writes op-ed pieces for Massachusetts newspapers. He praised the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's 2003 decision in the case of "Goodridge v. Department of Public Health" as a conservative ruling supporting stable families, relationships, and society, limited government, individual liberty, and religious freedom.

The Gill Action Fund

Effective September 1, 2006, Guerriero became the first ever executive director of the Gill Action Fund, a new organization advocating gay and lesbian equality. It will be involved in American politics, supporting key political organizations.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.logcabin.org/logcabin/guerriero.html Log Cabin Republicans biography]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20060217165845/http://www.jfklibrary.org/fenn_award_1998.html Fenn Award press release]
* [http://www.advocate.com/currentstory1_w_ektid21807.asp The New Face of Gay Conservatives]