Will West Hollywood’s 2019 Election Become a Drag Race?

Will the citizens of West Hollywood elect their first drag queen city council member?

Jackie O My Goodness (aka Jack Cline) hopes so, and expressed that hope at last night’s West Hollywood City Council meeting.

Jackie/Jack had previously declared as a candidate in the March 2019 election. But he/she reiterated that declaration in very public forum with a brief speech before the City Council. Cline also noted that, if he elected, he will be the first registered nurse with a seat on the council.

Jon Eric Schmidt, also a Council candidate and Cline’s room-mate, publicist and long-time partner in a relationship whose definition shifts often, issued a statement about Cline’s candidacy.

“He got up, proudly in full drag, as Jackie O My Goodness.’ He complimented Lauren Meister for being the only one who had the courage to ask serious questions, delay decisions to do additional research, stand up to staff, and make rational decisions without fear or favor. He then announced his credentials as a RN and a nurse practitioner and union contract negotiator. He announced that he will not take any campaign contributions and will work hard to end the ‘pay for play’ in West Hollywood.

“Not one word uttered from the Council,” Schmidt said. “No ‘good luck,’ no ‘thank you.’ Just looks of resentment on the faces of the Council members and management. Lauren Meister was the only one who smiled at Jack. Jack told Ms. Meister that she has his vote.

Cline, like Schmidt, has declared that he will not accept donations from anyone to support his campaign.

He and Schmidt will be up against incumbents Lauren Meister and John D’Amico (Councilmember Lindsey Horvath has yet to declare whether she is running for re-election). Other challengers are James Duke Mason, Tom DeMille and Timothy Williams. Williams will be the first African-American City Council candidate since the incorporation of West Hollywood in 1984. Mason was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2015 election and currently serves on the city’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board. Tom DeMille, who has run unsuccessfully several times in the past, has said he will be a candidate but has not requested or filed the necessary paperwork.