GVIDCQ members with Fernando Ferrer

Freddy in ’05?
Former Bronx Beep still on the hustings
Gay City News
25 April 2003

Former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer traveled to the Queens Pride House in Woodside on April 17 to speak to the Guillermo Vasquez Independent Democratic Club of Queens. The Democrat who ran a strong race for Mayor in 2001, before being edged out for the Democratic nomination in runoff with former City Public Advocate Mark Green, talked about diversity and progressive politics, two themes at the core of GVIDCQ’s mission. Ferrer, who now runs the Drum Major Institute, a social policy think tank that runs a daily “Prog Blog––a predigestion for the busy progressive”––on its website at www.drummajorinstitute.org, told the group he has not yet found a Democratic presidential contender for 2004 to get behind. As for his own political plans, and speculation that he may reprise his mayoral run in 2005, Ferrer said he should have an announcement about the future by January 2004, according to Jimmy Van Bramer, vice president at GVIDCQ. Pictured here are Brad Usher, Charles J. Ober, Andres Duque, City Councilmember Hiram Monserrate, Pauline Park, a GVIDCQ vice president, Ferrer, Ray Penko, Van Bramer, Phil Velez, GVIDCQ’s president, and Democratic district leader Julissa Ferreras.

This article originally appeared in the 25 April 2003 issue of Gay City News.