By Bob Roehr
WASHINGTON – Patrick Guerriero will step down as president of Log Cabin Republicans and in September become the first executive director of the Gill Action Fund. The announcement came on May 23.
"It has been a humbling experience leading Log Cabin Republicans during the past four years," said Guerriero in a statement. "I'm proud of what thousands of courageous Log Cabin members across America have accomplished as we work to build an inclusive Republican Party and a better America."
"The entire Log Cabin Republican family is profoundly grateful for Patrick Guerriero's inspired leadership," said Log Cabin Chairman Tim Schoeffler in a statement. "Patrick led the organization through unprecedented growth, including dozens of new chapters, thousands of new members, and a 400 percent increase in our annual budget. We will miss him greatly, but we wish him the best of luck and we look forward to working with him as Executive Director of Gill Action."
The Gill Action Fund was formally created last August to channel the political giving of Denver gay millionaire Tim Gill, coordinate activities with like-mined individuals and organizations, and carry out activities that the tax code prohibits the nonprofit Gill Foundation from performing. Gill has written checks to LGBT causes that total more than $100 million, either directly or through the Foundation.
"Patrick Guerriero has proven himself a skilled candidate who has never lost an election, as well as a coalition builder who has worked effectively with Democrats and other gay and lesbian organizations," Gill said in a written statement. "We believe that his leadership will help us develop successful bipartisan strategies to will full equality for all Americans."
Guerriero had been elected to the Massachusetts legislature and as Mayor of his hometown of Melrose prior to serving as deputy chief of staff to Governor Jane Swift. His four years at the helm of Log Cabin have been difficult ones in terms of relations with a Bush White House dominated by social conservatives, but the organization has grown steadily at the grassroots level.
Guerriero had indicated in a private conversation earlier in the year that he did not intend to seek a renewal of his contract with Log Cabin when it expired. He said that both he and the organization would benefit from a change in leadership after four years.
In an extended interview with Gill Foundation executive director Rodger McFarlane and Action Fund political consultant Ted Trimpa in February, both expressed admiration for Guerriero, whose work they financially supported at Log Cabin and in lobbying the Massachusetts legislature on gay marriage.
"Tim has said, passing money through the Democratic Party and letting someone speak for us has not worked. We always end up as the piece that is negotiable, we always fall off the end. Bill Clinton would make speeches that would inspire you to walk across the desert, and then every time we came to getting something out of committee or actually voting on something, we were the ones that were cut," said McFarlane.
Trimpa added, "Part of Tim's giving strategy on the Republican side has been, let's help Republicans take their party back, rather than change them into Democrats. There are reasons they are Republican, and we have to respect that."
The Gill organizations seek to amplify the pro-gay political voice on issues such as nondiscrimination, domestic partners benefits and, ultimately, marriage through consultation and coordinated activity with gay and gay-friendly organizations and individuals. The model is that of social conservatives, who have been so successful in pushing their agenda forward.
The Gill groups already have built strong ties with those who generally are considered to be "progressive." With Guerriero added to the mix, they hope to build both credibility and access to moderate to conservative gay and gay-friendly Republican sources of political giving.
