Iime key element in getting anti-gay initiative on Novemher ballot
By Gary E. Swan

Staff Writer

The voters may have the final say

on the county's controversial gay
rights ordinance but they may not
have it until after the November elec-

tion.
Leaders of a church-oriented group
opposed to the new sexual preference

ordinance say they probably already
have the necessary 37,092 signatures
needed to force a referendum.
-, Petit.ions will be circulated again

through neighborhoods and shopping
centers this weekend in hopes of collecting more than 100,000 riames in a
show of strength for a popular vote,
said Rick Harrington, leader of the
campaign.
Harrington said the group has collected 30,000 signatures and that
many incomplete petitions are still
being circulated.
But George Mann, county registrar
of voters, said he doubts whether
there is enough time to check the signatures and complete the paperwork
l" r

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necessary to get the referendum before the voters Nov. 6.
In that case, Mann said, the ordinance would be suspended until the
supervisors call a special election on
until the next scheduled countywide
vote ip June.
A special election would cost the
county about $250,000, Mann said.
"Iprmy opinion it would be verY
foolilHo-Call a special election for
that purposb," he said. "You couldn't
have it until December or JanuarY
and you'd only get a small turnout."

If. enough signatures are collected,
the board has two options: to rescind
the ordinance, or to put a referendumi
on the ballot.

Most supervisors are on vacation'
but spokesnren for three of the four:
members who voted for the ordinance
Aug. 6 said those members woulil not
oppose a referendum.

"The board should save us the trauma and expense of special election by
rescinding the ordinance," Harrington
said. "It's always expensive when you
don't have good people in office."

5.Tnecc,

The board voted Aug. 6 to enact the
ordinance which bans discrimination
based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, business, real estate
transactions and access to government services.

A'similar ordinance awaits a final
vote by the San Jose CitY Council.
Harrington and a group of fundamentalist Christian clergymen, claim
that such ordinances are contrary to
communitv moral standards.

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