Jennifer Gale
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Lauren Gale was an American perennial political candidate in Texas
. Gale was a native of Wisconsin
and a Democrat
. Jennifer claimed to be a veteran of the United States Marine Corps
. Gale gained fame in her adopted hometown of Austin, Texas
for repeatedly running, or attempting to run, for multiple offices including congress, governor, mayor, city council, and the school board. Gale often attended municipal hearings, forums, and meetings in Austin where she was known for presenting arguments in song. Gale planned to run for Mayor of Austin in May 2009.
Gale, a transgender woman and resident of Austin precinct 147, was one of a number of well known Austin eccentrics which include urban outdoorsman cross-dresser Leslie Cochran
, who also has run for municipal office in Austin, Texas.
Gale appeared before the Austin City Council on November 20, 2008 and warned about the number of urban outdoorsmen that had died on the city's streets. She also sang "I'll be homo for Christmas" and declared that 2009 would be "Hug A Homo" year; "a perfect chance for all heterosexuals to hug a homosexual."
On December 17, 2008, according to the Austin Fire Department, Jennifer Gale was found dead outside a University of Texas area church where she regularly slept.
Gale received her first public endorsement from Bicycle Austin in November 2001 in her run for Austin Mayor, and Bicycle Austin also endorsed her in May 2005 and May 2006.
In 2004, Gale shocked the Austin political establishment by earning 38.7% of the vote against incumbent school board president Doyle Valdez for the At-Large Position 8 seat of the Austin Independent School District
, garnering the highest percent share in her electoral bids.
In recent elections, Gale received 9.3% of the vote in 2005 for Austin City Council Place 4, 6.7% of the vote in 2006 for Austin Mayor, and 0.7% of the vote in 2007 for Dallas Mayor. In her most recent election, Gale placed fourth among six candidates for the 2008 Austin City Council Place 4 election, earning 1,951 votes or 5.8% of the total cast.
Gale filed her intent but ultimately did not gain ballot access to run as an independent candidate against Republican
congressman Lamar S. Smith
in the 2008 November general election for Texas congressional district 21.
Gale filed her intention in late 2008 to run for Mayor of Austin
in May 2009.
1998 Austin I.S.D. School Board Vice President
1999 Austin City Council Place 4
2000 Mayor of Austin
2001 Mayor of Austin (special)
2002 Austin City Council Place 1
2003 Mayor of Austin
2004 Austin I.S.D. School Board Vice President
2005 Austin City Council Place 4
2006 Mayor of Austin
2007 Mayor of Dallas
2008 Austin City Council Place 4
" campaign. Gale embraced that slogan and ran for office with the slogan of "Keep Austin, Austin," which she modified for her 2007 run for mayor of Dallas using the slogan "Keep Dallas, Dallas."
In 2004, Gale was challenged by fellow mayoral candidate and popular local vagrant crossdresser Leslie Cochran
to a debate at the University of Texas
student union on the topic of who would best represent the urban outdoorshumans. Gale declined to participate unless given $50 worth of food from the Wendy's
restaurant inside the union. "Dunlavy", the event organizer, declined.
Gale claimed in 2008 that if elected to the Austin City Council she would get a National Football League
team to move to Austin.
An unstated number of Austin politicians and politicos have expressed sorrow at her passing. The Burnt Orange Report blog posted a reflective essay on her life along with photos and a plea to support urban outdoorshumans
.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Gale was a native of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Jennifer claimed to be a veteran of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Gale gained fame in her adopted hometown of Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
for repeatedly running, or attempting to run, for multiple offices including congress, governor, mayor, city council, and the school board. Gale often attended municipal hearings, forums, and meetings in Austin where she was known for presenting arguments in song. Gale planned to run for Mayor of Austin in May 2009.
Gale, a transgender woman and resident of Austin precinct 147, was one of a number of well known Austin eccentrics which include urban outdoorsman cross-dresser Leslie Cochran
Leslie Cochran
Leslie Cochran is an American peace activist, cross-dresser, street person and local celebrity in Austin, Texas. He is a critic of police treatment of the homeless.-Early life:...
, who also has run for municipal office in Austin, Texas.
Gale appeared before the Austin City Council on November 20, 2008 and warned about the number of urban outdoorsmen that had died on the city's streets. She also sang "I'll be homo for Christmas" and declared that 2009 would be "Hug A Homo" year; "a perfect chance for all heterosexuals to hug a homosexual."
On December 17, 2008, according to the Austin Fire Department, Jennifer Gale was found dead outside a University of Texas area church where she regularly slept.
Political history
Gale's first run for elective office came during her bid for Austin mayor in 1997. She earned only 420 votes (0.67%), but over time grew increasingly well known and improved her percentages with each race until she was consistently garnering a percentage in the range of 5% to 9%.Gale received her first public endorsement from Bicycle Austin in November 2001 in her run for Austin Mayor, and Bicycle Austin also endorsed her in May 2005 and May 2006.
In 2004, Gale shocked the Austin political establishment by earning 38.7% of the vote against incumbent school board president Doyle Valdez for the At-Large Position 8 seat of the Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District is a school district that is based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. It was established in 1881. Its current superintendent is...
, garnering the highest percent share in her electoral bids.
In recent elections, Gale received 9.3% of the vote in 2005 for Austin City Council Place 4, 6.7% of the vote in 2006 for Austin Mayor, and 0.7% of the vote in 2007 for Dallas Mayor. In her most recent election, Gale placed fourth among six candidates for the 2008 Austin City Council Place 4 election, earning 1,951 votes or 5.8% of the total cast.
Gale filed her intent but ultimately did not gain ballot access to run as an independent candidate against Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
congressman Lamar S. Smith
Lamar S. Smith
Lamar Seeligson Smith is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. The district includes most of the wealthier sections of San Antonio and Austin, as well as nearly all of the Texas Hill Country...
in the 2008 November general election for Texas congressional district 21.
Gale filed her intention in late 2008 to run for Mayor of Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
in May 2009.
Electoral history
1997 Mayor of Austin- 4th of 8 candidates. 420 votes (0.67%)
1998 Austin I.S.D. School Board Vice President
- 2nd of 2 candidates. (34%)
1999 Austin City Council Place 4
- 9th of 10 candidates. 691 votes (2.07%)
2000 Mayor of Austin
- 4th of 4 candidates. 1,244 votes (3.51%)
2001 Mayor of Austin (special)
- 5th of 8 candidates. 1,538 votes (2.57%)
2002 Austin City Council Place 1
- 5th of 5 candidates. 2,111 (5.41%)
2003 Mayor of Austin
- 6th of 9 candidates. 1,077 (1.83%)
2004 Austin I.S.D. School Board Vice President
- 2nd of 2 candidates. 11,735 (38.7%)
2005 Austin City Council Place 4
- 3rd of 5 candidates. 5,315 (9.29%)
2006 Mayor of Austin
- 3rd of 3 candidates. 3,560 (6.7%)
2007 Mayor of Dallas
- 9th of 11 candidates. 554 votes (0.78%)
2008 Austin City Council Place 4
- 4th of 6 candidates. 1,953 (5.84%)
Political platform and views
Some Austinites viewed Gale as the personification of the famous "Keep Austin WeirdKeep Austin Weird
Keep Austin Weird is the slogan adopted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance to promote small businesses in Austin, Texas. The phrase has long been believed to have been coined in 2000 by Red Wassenich, who says he made the comment after giving a pledge to an Austin radio station...
" campaign. Gale embraced that slogan and ran for office with the slogan of "Keep Austin, Austin," which she modified for her 2007 run for mayor of Dallas using the slogan "Keep Dallas, Dallas."
In 2004, Gale was challenged by fellow mayoral candidate and popular local vagrant crossdresser Leslie Cochran
Leslie Cochran
Leslie Cochran is an American peace activist, cross-dresser, street person and local celebrity in Austin, Texas. He is a critic of police treatment of the homeless.-Early life:...
to a debate at the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
student union on the topic of who would best represent the urban outdoorshumans. Gale declined to participate unless given $50 worth of food from the Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
restaurant inside the union. "Dunlavy", the event organizer, declined.
Gale claimed in 2008 that if elected to the Austin City Council she would get a National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
team to move to Austin.
Death
Jennifer Gale was found in an unresponsive state near the rear entrance of the First English Leutheran Church on Whitis Ave in Austin Texas by a staff member shortly after 7:00 am on December 17, 2008. According to an eye witness who was doing manitenance at the church, she did not respond to attempts to wake her up from where she had slept that night on a concrete ramp with little more than a sheet and some news papers. 911 was immediatley called and first responders arrived in less than a minute from Fire Station #3 across 30th street from the church. After extended Attempts to recussitate Gale, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:26 AM. An autopsy later revealed that she had died from heart disease probably exacerbated by sleeping outside in near-freezing temperatures.An unstated number of Austin politicians and politicos have expressed sorrow at her passing. The Burnt Orange Report blog posted a reflective essay on her life along with photos and a plea to support urban outdoorshumans
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
.
External links
- Election History in City of Austin
- Official Campaign Website
- Official MySpace page
- Austin American-Statesman: "Gale not allowed to speak at candidate forum."
- Austin Chronicle: 2008 City Council Candidate Preview
- Austin Chronicle: "(Jennifer) Gale Force"
- Burnt Orange Report: "Gale Gets No Satisfaction"
- Daily Texan: "Plenty of Free Time? Run for Governor."