From the Jan 13 – Jan 19, 2000 issue

News

The Van Cleve Challenge

Race-Baiting Microsoft Nut Plans Run

by Dan Savage

WILL SEATTLE'S LOOPIEST perennial candidate -- former Microsoft exec and male-to-female transsexual lesbian Janice Van Cleve -- challenge Washington state's only openly gay state representative, Ed Murray, in the 43rd District Democratic primary this fall? According to Seattle Gay News, Van Cleve is planning to do just that.

Murray, who faced little opposition in his last election, claims he's looking forward to a real contest this time. "If Janice runs, this will be a great debate about the difference between a progressive who can get things done," says Murray, "and an ideologue who takes easy stands to be p.c. It's a debate the gay community needs to have." (Murray, who has cut his teeth on labor, housing, transportation, and gay rights issues, distances himself from Van Cleve, who appears to be a one-issue candidate.) Van Cleve did not respond to calls from The Stranger.

Javier Valdez, president of the 43rd District Democrats -- which covers Capitol Hill, the U-District, and Wallingford, says Van Cleve would face an uphill battle if she wanted the endorsement of his organization -- of which Van Cleve is a member. "Ed has done a good job in the legislature and he's earned and deserves our endorsement," says Valdez. While Valdez thinks Van Cleve would be able to launch a serious challenge ("on account of her personal wealth"), he points to a race-baiting ad Van Cleve used during her race for school board against Michael Preston as evidence that Van Cleve isn't a great candidate. "[That ad] isn't easily forgotten."

The ad ran in both daily papers. In it, Preston (who is black) was shown playing basketball; Van Cleve was holding a computer. Making matters worse, Van Cleve was running for school board on a platform of "respect for all students," particularly gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students. "She gets into this race with Michael and does this basketball ad," says Delores Brewer, an African American woman and a member of the 43rd District Board. "She just can't seem to do right. After that I don't feel she's a good candidate for anything." Brewer, in fact, has had run-ins with Van Cleve in the past. Brewer says Van Cleve misused her name on a political flyer. "Everyone in our organization thinks [43rd District representatives] Pat Thibaudeau, Frank Chop, and Ed Murray are doing good jobs," Brewer says. "But we joke that we need to get someone to oppose these guys in the primary, if only to get our membership up. But Janice? She's not the one."