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On August 13, 2003, Ronald Jason Palmieri was certified to appear on the Special Election Ballot for October 7, 2003 for Governor of the State of California. By so doing, he made history by becoming the first openly gay man in California, and throughout the entire United States, to appear as a Democratic candidate on a statewide ballot for governor. He is also the only candidate who is both against the recall and advising potential voters NOT to vote for him in this critical election. His Statement of Candidacy and a brief biography follow. Please feel free to contact Mr. Palmieri through the email link below for further information or press photos.
STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA
I am living proof of the freedom and opportunity of the greatest country in the world. One that allows a second generation American, from Jewish and Italian heritage, who is also a member of the gay community, to seek equal rights against a barrage of fear, hatred and misconception. Notwithstanding these apparent barriers, I have been blessed with an incredible extended family, good health, and enormous professional success. I am also the first openly gay man in America certified to be on the ballot running for Governor of the great State of California. My reasons are very fundamental.
In my opinion, the recall effort against the Governor is misguided. He should stay in office as duly elected, and I urge all voters, regardless of party affiliation, to vote against the recall. As Bill Maher observed: "Once you elect an official, unless he runs off with public funds or gets caught with kiddie porn, you're stuck. He's the governor, not some dude you married in Las Vegas...There are still a lot of Democrats with sour grapes over the last presidential election and they're not collecting petitions to replace George Bush with Bernie Mac."
I concur.....let the governor finish his term!
If the recall succeeds, I lend my support to those Democratic candidates who openly declare they oppose a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage, champion equal rights for all, advocate a woman's right to choose, and advance hate crimes legislation. I am not looking for your vote. I am hoping to convince you to vote intelligently and not waste your vote on those, such as me, who will never be elected. I am here to urge you to vote for one who will foster the American dream that allowed me to be on this ballot.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ON THE ISSUES? SEE FULL PALMIERI POSITION PAPER BY CLICKING ON THE "PALMIERI POSITION PAPER" LINK LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS SITE!!
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BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF RONALD JASON PALMIERI
Born in New York City, New York on February 5, 1950, Mr. Palmieri is the only son of Paul Palmieri, a well known jazz guitarist and composer, and Lillian Mattis, an internationally acclaimed lyricist. Mr. Palmieri moved to Los Angeles, California in 1959 at age of nine when his parents separated. He went to grade school, junior high and high school in the San Fernando Valley. Mr. Palmieri went on to study at USC and graduated as Valedictorian in 1972 with perfect 4.0 (straight A) grade point average for 4 years with a dual major in Political Science and Speech Communications.
During college, Mr. Palmieri was National Debating Champion, National Extemporaneous Speaking Champion, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, as well as being elected President of his Senior Class. During the summer before his senior year, he studied in Europe at Kings College at Cambridge University in England.
After USC, Mr. Palmieri went back to Georgetown Law Center in Washington D.C.. He became an intern for the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Peter Rodino, in the House of Representatives just before the Nixon impeachment hearings. Mr. Palmieri was forced to leave law school for four years due to his mother's illness, but returned in 1976 and obtained his law degree. Mr. Palmieri began practicing law in the litigation department of a powerful family law firm in Century City, Trope and Trope. He left after one and a half years and was hired by one of the firm's largest clients as senior litigation counsel and personal counsel to William H.B. Chan. Mr. Chan was an entrepreneur and investor who had made millions in the seventies in the medical care business forming CHANCO, which merged with AMI. Mr. Palmieri traveled internationally for him and was lead counsel in all his litigation, making Chan millions of dollars, with a highly notable case involving the takeover of Good Samaritan Hospital in Orange County. In 1986, Mr. Palmieri formed his own law firm in Beverly Hills. That firm merged with Andelson and Andelson in 1989, after the death of its senior partner, gay activist Sheldon Andelson. While at that firm, Mr. Palmieri was lead counsel in the highly publicized Dick Claire (Emmy Award winner who died of AIDS and left his estate to ALCOR) case relating to a dispute of cryonic freezing. Since 1990, Mr. Palmieri has owned his own firm operating out of the West Side of Los Angeles and handled many multi-million dollar business litigation matters, as well as some rather high profile palimony disputes. In 2001, he won a Twenty Million Dollar ($20,000,000.00) unanimous jury verdict after a six day trial in less than an hour of deliberations, setting what is believed to be a record time for such a verdict in U.S. District Court. Known for his aggressive litigation tactics, Mr. Palmieri still believes that attorneys should treat each other with professional courtesy, so long as the client's rights are not jeopardized.
During his career, Mr. Palmieri has represented many entertainment legends and icons such as: Cary Grant, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hildegard Knef, Linda Hopkins (2 X Tony Award Winner) George Sidney ( 3 X Academy Award Winning Director from MGM), Heather Tom (7 X Emmy Nominee and 2X Emmy Award Winner from Young & Restless), Nicholle Tom (formerly appearing in the Nanny), David Tom (Emmy Winner from Young & Restless) Georgia Brown (Tony Award Winner), Rock Group X, Jim Bailey (Garland & Streisand illusionist), as well as many others.
In addition, Mr. Palmieri has been actively involved in multiple charities since the early 1980s. In 1986, he founded The Mother Cares Foundation with spokeswoman Zelda Rubinstein (Poltergeist fame and Pickett Fences) which was the first campaign of its kind in Los Angeles urging abstinence and safe sex in light of the then burgeoning AIDS crises. During the 1980s, Mr. Palmieri also raised substantial funds and contributed to many other AIDS organizations. In 1994 Mr. Palmieri was elected to the Board of Directors for The Foundation For AIDS Research. In 1997, he was elected President of the Foundation and headed an effort with over 300 volunteers to raise over $200,000.00 for local AIDS charities over Labor Day Weekend. For over five years, Mr. Palmieri was Chairman of the Board and President of Caring for Babies with AIDS. CBA's purpose is to provide the highest possible quality of life for HIV/AIDS infected, affected and at risk infants, children and families through transitional housing for HIV/AIDS infected children, as well as case management and psychological support services for their families. Mr. Palmieri's other charitable works are too numerous to mention and are far reaching.
In addition to all the foregoing, Mr. Palmieri is a surrogate parent to his two nephews and niece, who lost their father in 1999, and continues to be a great support to his entire family here and in New York. He is dedicated to encouraging excellence and compassion in all those that he meets and strives to give his best to so many worthy causes.
TO SEE RON PALMIERI'S FULL POSITION ON THE ISSUES, PLEASE CLICK THE "PALMIERI POSITION PAPER" LINK IMMEDIATELY BELOW.
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