Anti-Gay Slur Crossed Line, Says City Council Candidate

A mailer targeting one candidate running for the Rancho Mirage City Council alledges that if Scott Hines, who is openly gay, is elected to the council, he would “infect” the city government.

City officials say more than 9,500 registered Rancho Mirage voters received the ad including one candidate.

“I had one mailed here,” said Ira Laufer, who is running to City Council.

“When you sign up for public office you sign up for some of this,” said Hines. “But, this particular ad that’s been distributed is just offensive in so many ways.”

First, it slams Hines for having an alledged liberal record, and his connection to Palm Springs mayor Steve Pougnet.

“Having relations with other elected officials in other cities is a good thing,” he said.

The ad also shows that Hines contributed $1,700 to Senator Barbara Boxer last year. But, Hines said what the ad doesn’t show is that he’s voted for republicans as well.

“It’s also interesting to note that many republicans and democrats have given to my campaign,” he said.

But, the nail in the coffin, is the bottom of the ad, that reads “Don’t let Palm Springs politics ‘infect’ Rancho Mirage.’

“Most people understand the use of the word ‘infect’ to be a veiled reference to the spread of HIV and AIDS, which is essentially an anti-gay slur,” said Hines.

“I felt horrible, said Ira Laufer.

Laufer, the city Planning Commissioner, is competing against Hines for one of three vacant seats on the council, and he doesn’t believe anyone in the race was behind the ad.

“I couldn’t imagine anybody stooping that low,” he said.

Both Hines and Laufer say the ad was released by the Riverside County Taxpayers Association, which they claim is associated with the Riverside County Republican Party. They may have also been behind the thousands of robo calls to Rancho Mirage residents with the same message. But, neither organization returned our phone calls for this story. . “I’m sorry it happened,” said Laufer. “I think it may get sympathy votes for one of my competitors.”

“When this type of hate comes forward, it’s hard to know what the real motivation is,” said Hines, who mentioned that he does not intend to sue over the ad.

The election for City Council is Tuesday.