West Hollywood City Councilmember John Heilman has endorsed James Duke Mason in his run for one of three seats on the City Council.
The endorsement, announced today, means Heilman is not endorsing Councilmember Lauren Meister for re-election on March 5. He already has endorsed incumbents John D’Amico and Lindsey Horvath.
“I have watched Duke Mason work hard over the last few years as an advocate for affordable housing, one of the most important issues in our city,” Heilman said in an announcement of his endorsement. “Through his service as a city official and his leadership in the non-profit sector, Duke has an understanding of and commitment to all of the issues which impact our community. Duke will help move our city forward as part of the next generation of leadership. I’m proud to endorse his campaign.”
Mason is a member and recent co-chair of the city’s Lesbian & Gay Advisory Board, as well as a former board member of the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation. Mason is focusing his campaign on addressing local issues such as solving homelessness, expanding affordable housing, supporting small businesses and ensuring seniors can age in place safely and securely.
“I am humbled and honored to have Councilmember Heilman’s support,” Mason said. “As someone who has been a champion for our community on everything from rent control to affordable housing to the creation of our city’s beautiful new library and park, John is someone who I greatly admire and look forward to working alongside on the City Council.”
Mason is one of 11 candidates in the race. If elected he would be, at age 26, the youngest member of the Council. More information about Mason’s campaign can be found at www.jamesdukemason.com.
Duke Mason is the personification of unqualified for council. He’s done little but run a shadow campaign for years, taking on public assignments and then underperforming. At this critical time in the city’s history, WeHo can not afford to indulge this dilettante’s delusions. Shame on Heilman.
Heilman doesn’t support Lauren Meister for one simple reason: she can’t get him a backstage pass to a Gogo’s 80’s Revival concert at the Greek Theatre. James Duke Mason can clearly deliver on that. Many may disagree with Heilman, but there’s no denying that he knows what he’s doing. JDM’s mommie threw Heilman a fundraiser. all Lauren Meister has to offer is 20 years of virtually all volunteer service to her community. Lauren isn’t perfect, as I have seen her speaking to someone on the street, and she will quickly dump talking to them when a new and more important… Read more »
Transparent and self serving are the words that come to mind when I read this. If Heilman truly wanted what is best for our city, he would have endorsed ALL of the incumbents and not someone who will be his puppet and not challenge him.
Not endorsing Lauren Meister says it all.
Shame shame shame
Best thing that could have happened to bolster Lauren Meister’s credibility.
Ugh!
Dukes a nice boy living a privledged life. He never had a job. Sometimes he freelances as a writer for a gay magazine. His claim to fame is carrying a sign across the Beverly Hills hotel when he spent years dining there. If he was effective he wouldn’t need a sign just gather celebrities together then boycott the hotel. But then after he carried the sign he went in for a drink at the bar. All pomp and show. I’m suprised at Heilman and it shows me that it’s time for him to move on. He lost focus on what’s… Read more »
Lauren is the only member of the city council who has, in 20 years of many contacts made to council members, ever returned a contact. Message her and there is instance response.
I can’t wait for rich boy, square beyond his years, to finally be the one to address the issues facing young queer people in weho. Homelessness, street-based economies, addiction.. never dipped his toes in any of that mess .. but hey he sure comes off classy right? The kid is just perfect for politics.
Lauren Meister is an eloquent humble yet truly intuitive and insightful leader of this city who is not LGBT or a Male or a millenial yet I would hope our city would recognize HER HARD WORK to include Moretoreums to stop overdevelopment of hotels and her deep caring for all communities especially Trans and Seniors always being there for so many conflicts and always the one voice of reason and seeking a common ground. She is grassroots and an educated experienced public official who seems more like a community neighbor. I hope AGEISM will not harm one of the most… Read more »
Duke serves on the gay and lesbian board and announced he was running over a year ago. He could not even get a majority of the board to support him. Two other memebwrs who serve with him thought him so unworthy they decided to run also. When we put on the Bi Pride event which Duke says he created he didn’t even show up to the event.
Perfect, Heilman! Absolutely perfect! You leave a legacy of overstaying your welcome and now you snub Meister! You were once the mark of a good man and now you and Duran rank as the two most small minded, ego driven, and “if they don’t agree with me, I’ll show them,” members that have darkened the doors of city council. I once trusted your insight, much like I did Duran, but that was before I figured out you both hate women! You sit high and mighty that you absolutely love and adore women and even do what glad-handing that needs to… Read more »
self servant not a public servant. we don’t need another puppet on the city council.