Date: Tue, 7 Mar 1995 16:43:56 -0600 (CST) From: Kevyn Jacobs To: "Kansas Queer News [KQN]" Subject: UDK - LAWRENCE'S DOUG COMPTON CAN'T BE TRUSTED FROM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, LAWRENCE TUESDAY MARCH 7 1995 REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR ======================================= COMPTON CAN'T BE TRUSTED AFTER MISTREATMENT OF SIMPLY EQUAL by Chris Hampton The University Daily Kansan He was a smooth talker. He knew how much I needed him, so I let him get away with looking me in the eye and saying, "I know how important this is to you, but I'm so unsure. I have so many questions. Right now, I just can't commit!" He had me right where he wanted me. And even though I knew he would dump me later, I held onto the tiny shred of hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd come through in the end. But Doug Compton not only didn't come through in the end for me and the rest of the supporters of Simply Equal - he screwed us over in the biggest way possible. I wasn't surprised to hear that Compton had sucker-punched us. I had received one of those smarmy Dear-friend-please-vote-for-me letters from his campaign. The stationery it was printed on listed the members of Compton's steering committee, and on that list I found the leader of Simply Equal's opposition: the Reverend Leo Barbee, Jr. I knew right then that when Compton said he was so painfully undecided about adding sexual orientation to the city human relations ordinance, he was only trying desperately to court the votes of supporters of both sides of the issue. What does surprise me is that Compton isn't the least bit ashamed about the fact that his only reason for now opposing Simply Equal is to get re-elected. And to add insult to injury, after promising the people of Lawrence that this issue would not be decided until the election was over Compton now says he's going to try to force it to a vote as quickly as possible. Or at least he was. Yesterday, Compton made yet another announcement in which he said he still did not support the Simply Equal amendment but would not call for a vote at tonight's commission meeting. If that's not enough reason to vote against this guy, perhaps another question should be raised. What on earth are we doing with a land developer like Compton on the city commission in the first place? Could there possibly be any bigger conflict of interest? Let's face it: Doug Compton is a craven, spineless, vote-hungry liar. He not only lied to the supporters of Simply Equal, but to its opponents as well. So what can supporters of Simply Equal do now? Go to the city commission meeting tonight at 6:35 p.m. at City Hall and demand that there be a public hearing before a decision is made on Simply Equal. Those of you who aren't registered to vote: do so! This includes people in the residence halls - you can register to vote in Lawrence too. Registration for the election will go on until March 20. Vote in the April 4 election for the two candidates who don't oppose Simply Equal: Allen Levine and John Nalbandian. I know, I know - a lot of students are disappointed that the guy from Slackjaw didn't make it through the primary - but now the student vote can really make a difference for once. Don't let Doug Compton get away with what he's done.