Chatham installs openly gay, black Republican mayor - believed nation's first
Bruce Harris was sworn in as mayor of the borough on Tuesday, becoming what is believed to be the first openly gay, black Republican mayor in the country.
“I have felt it is my duty to serve the community,” Harris said. “I think that public service is interesting, and finding ways to meet the challenges facing a small community like Chatham Borough is personally rewarding.”
The Victory Fund, an organization that works to elect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, said Harris is the first mayor of his kind in the country. Yet Harris, an attorney and 30-year resident of the borough, says he did not enter politics to break barriers.
The oldest child of 12 growing up in a civil rights-era household in Iowa, Harris said his parents were great community leaders and role models.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012301040020
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