GOP Endorses Rival Of Minn. Gay-Marriage Backer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Wright County Republicans endorsed Eric Lucero for the state House, bypassing David FitzSimmons after the first-term House member voted to legalize gay marriage, the Minnesota Family Council said Saturday.
Delegates to the Wright County convention chose Lucero because they knew the city councilman from the town of Dayton would work to promote the values of religious freedom, Council CEO John Helmberger said in a statement.
Lucero and the Council had accused FitzSimmons of betraying his constituents by running on a platform of defending traditional marriage and then voting to support same-sex marriage.
A message left at FitzSimmons' home Saturday was not immediately returned.
FitzSimmons is a first-term House member. He previously told The Associated Press he stands by his decision about same-sex marriage, even if it costs him his seat. He added that even if Lucero took his seat Lucero wouldn't be able to undo gay marriage.
District 30B covers parts of Wright and Sherburne counties.
Four House Republicans broke ranks to support gay marriage. So far FitzSimmons is facing the most obvious consequences. Andrea Kieffer, of Woodbury, decided not to run for re-election, and no endorsement challenges have arisen yet for Pat Garofalo, of Farmington, and Jenifer Loon, of Eden Prairie.
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