Homosexual Community Elected Hanks?

I just received an interesting email through the Dakota Voice press release email account. It was from timdrew@veryspeedy.net (is this the same Tim Drew that took issue with me and other Right "wingnuts" in a recent letter to the editor of the Rapid City Journal?)

For Immediate Release
June 27, 2007
HANKS OWES MAYORAL WIN TO POWER OF GAY COMMUNITY

Shortly after election results came in, we received a call this evening from Stan Adelstein thanking the Rapid City GLBT community for the help and support everyone gave to Alan Hanks and the Moderate Coalition in this election. Adelstein confirms we were key to the victory. He was ecstatic about this victory and his praise for all the work everyone did.

I personally want to thank all those who helped to make phone calls, put up signs, helped with the poll watching and making get out the vote phone calls. I especially want to thank everyone who got out and voted.
It was the difference.

We have people in positions of power who now know the power of our community and are showing their appreciation for it. There are good things to come. The GLBT community was among the big winners today.

Once again, on behalf of myself, Senator Adelstein, Senator Katus and Mayor Elect Hanks, thank you all.

Contact: Mike Coats, Director
The Center West
3601 Canyon Lake Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
605-348-3244
The Center - http://lgbtcommunitycenter.org

I started to post this hastily this evening almost on my way out the door to an appointment, but then thought better of it and pulled it. It came through an avenue from which I normally receive trusted information, and I was in a hurry and got sloppy, for which I apologize. I know better than that, and normally DO better than that, but I let myself be seduced by haste.

After I finished my appointments tonight I contacted Michael Coats and he confirmed my suspicions: this is a fake PR and someone is likely trying to cause problems for everyone concerned.

Though this "Tim Drew" in the Journal took issue with both Coats and I, he seemed to have more disagreement with me, so I didn't consider it beyond the pale that he might be aligned with Coats and thus have access to such a PR. I also know that Coats had previously expressed a particular interest in the mayoral race.

Coats told me tonight he has a pretty good idea who sent out this PR; apparently it went out to various media outlets today. He said that none of it is true and he disavows all the sentiments expressed in it. He said he'll let me know what he finds out, and I'll be doing some digging on my end too, so will follow up when I have more.

Things just keep getting curiouser and curiouser...