Local elections are important. That point was driven home during the ordinance battle between the assembly and the mayor last year. In Tuesday’s municipal election, we have several allies – and opponents – running for the assembly and school board, and it’s important to know who they are.

One opponent is Andy Clary, son of Anchorage Baptist Temple pastor Glenn Clary and current member of evangelical ChangePoint. Both churches promote pray-away-the-gay “therapy” and oppose gay civil rights. Clary supports Mayor Sullivan’s agenda, and will be Jerry Prevo’s voice on the assembly.

Dick Traini is running against Clary for the midtown assembly seat. Traini is an independent former assembly member who works on both sides of the political isle. Between the two, Traini is the better choice. Read Bent’s post on Clary and Mel’s post “Why I picked Dick Traini over Andy Clary, & you should too” on Henkimaa.

In other races, LGBT ally Sheila Selkregg is retiring and endorsed Paul Honeman for her East Anchorage seat. Honeman is a moderate and a supporter of our community. He’s running against ultra-conservative Adam Trombley, who opposed ordinance 64, has no ideas, and is a friend of our veto-happy mayor.

In West Anchorage, both progressive Matt Claman and moderate Ernie Hall are supportive of the LGBT community. Claman introduced the equal rights ordinance last year and is endorsed by progressives. Hall thinks the ordinance should have been handled differently. The nonpartisan Hall is endorsed in this race by conservatives, but once ran as a Democrat for lieutenant governor.

In South Anchorage, conservative Jennifer Johnston is being challenged by progressive Keli Booher. Johnston voted for the ordinance, but generally votes conservative. Booher is young, motivated and gay-friendly.

Remember former assembly chair Debbie Ossiander, who allowed Wasilla homophobes to testify against the Anchorage ordinance? How could we forget that. Independent Joelle Brown is challenging her for the Eagle River seat.

The Anchorage Press has a good overview of the assembly candidates, and the ADN has candidate profiles and race reviews for both assembly and school board.

Yes, we are also voting on school board seats, and there are two ultra-conservative candidates who promote ‘traditional’ education and no diversity. Creationist Don Smith made nasty racial comments about President Obama, according to Alaska Commons, and is the darling of the far right along with Bob Griffin. Both are running against people who are more supportive of diversity. Jeannie Mackie currently holds Seat B and is doing a good job. James LaBelle has the best chance of defeating the anti-gay Smith for Seat A. But there are two progressive candidates for Seat A, which might split the vote and allow Smith to win. So we need every vote we can get against him.

Your vote counts! Please learn about the assembly and school board candidates, and vote for the ones who support our community and the LGBT youth of Anchorage.

Vote on Tuesday, April 6 at your regular polling place, or vote at these general voting locations.