Dallas

[ls317]

"Is a US city closely associated with cowboys, family values and social conservatism ready to make history by electing a man who is openly gay as mayor?

Dallas voters will answer that question today as they choose between Democratic party-endorsed gay candidate Ed Oakley and nonpartisan Tom Leppert in a run-off race to replace outgoing mayor Laura Miller.

If Mr Oakley wins, he would become the first openly gay man to be elected mayor of a major US city, according to the Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a Washington-based gay rights group.

“This race shows that being openly gay is becoming less and less of an issue to the electorate,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the group.

A poll this week by the Dallas Morning News showed Mr Leppert had a narrow lead - 47 per cent of those polled versus 45 per cent for Oakley.

But the margin of error was 5.8 per cent, meaning the race is too close to call."

Full report:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21914947-1702,00.html