Know thy mayor

 
Political notes
Laura Kiritsy
lkiritsy@baywindows.com  
  

We couldn’t help but notice that a few folks in the crowd that turned up to support marriage equality at a Quincy vigil back in May were wearing “Koch for mayor” stickers, since the name reminded us of that famed former New York City mayor who has long been the subject of gay rumors. But no, Ed Koch isn’t carpetbagging for the corner office in Quincy. Tom Koch, however, is challenging incumbent Mayor William Phelan. And as it turns out, Koch, the city’s parks commissioner, is a semi-closeted opponent of marriage equality. He signed his name to VoteOnMarriage.org’s petition for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage back in 2005, and we’re guessing those pro-equality activists/Koch supporters weren’t aware of that fact when they were agitating for the amendment’s defeat at Gilbert Memorial Park back in May. In response to inquiries from the group Quincy for Marriage Equality (QFME) about his signature, Koch issued a statement, which was posted on QFME’s website. The statement reads in part, “The teachings of my upbringing and faith frame my belief that marriage exists between a man and a woman, and I will not try to spin that belief for political purposes. But the fact is, it has nothing to do with being mayor, and I will fight any attempt at character assassination that stretches this position any further than what it is: My personal belief. I believe every person should be treated equally, and with respect and dignity. This is who I am, and I will challenge anyone who suggests otherwise.”

Phelan, by contrast, was among the signers of QFME’s statement in support of marriage equality, which was published in the local newspaper in the run-up to the last constitutional convention in June. He is not expected to backtrack from his signing of the statement. 

Also: When a Koch Becomes a Dick 
      From KnowThyNeighbor.org