Update: Harris to Announce April 11

Bruce Harris, a Republican council member in Chatham Borough, has been officially endorsed in the race for mayor by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, according to a press item that appeard on the Victory Fund's website this week.

Harris confirmed in a telephone interview Friday afternoon that he was collecting signatures for the mayoral primary. "I love Chatham and I and I am very concerned about Chatham's present and future," Harris said. "I want to make sure that Chatham remains the great place that it is."

He said he hoped to make a formal announcement on April 11, the filing deadline for the primary election. "The Victory Fund had a fundraising brunch in D.C. last weekend, so they were trying to line up endorsements to announce for that event," Harris said.

Denis Dison, the vice president of Communications for the Victory Fund, said that candidates go through a rigorous review of their campaign plan, fundraising strategy and voter outreach plan.

"We also talk to people on the ground who know the political landscape and what's going on," Dison said. "It could be local party officials or other local officials who know the race and the various people who are going to be in it."

From this and other information, including a candidate application and questionnaire, the Board of Directors votes on whether or not to endorse a candidate. According to Dison, the board voted to endorse Harris last Saturday.

Harris has served on the council for eight years and is currently its most senior member. He currently serves on the Planning Board and the Land & Historic Conservancy Committee.

The Victory Fund also endorsed Harris for his council race in 2008. Their mission is to support openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered candidates throughout the country.

Leanna Brown, a former state senator and a resident of Chatham Borough, said she looks forward to the primary elections on June 7. "There are lot of important things going on downtown," she said, citing revitalizing downtown as a particular issue that she hopes the candidates address.

Douglas Herbert, a Chatham resident and former Congressional candidate, said of the news, "It's disappointing that [Harris] would announce to a community other than Chatham, where he's going to be running."

Chatham Borough Democrat Mayor Nelson Vaughan declined to comment on the announcement. Chatham Patch was unable to reach Council Member Jim Collander, who is currently serving his third term on the council and recently stepped down as Council President, for comment.

The primary election will be held on June 7 and the general election will be on Nov. 8.