West Loses In New Paltz

Mayor Jason West lost his reelection bid in New Paltz, New York yesterday. You may remember West from 2004, when he followed the lead of SF Mayor Gavin Newsom and presided over the weddings of 24 gay couples in his tiny village on the Hudson, ramping up debate on gay marriage in the New York area. West was charged with 19 misdemeanors for those weddings. Later the charges were dropped and the weddings were ruled invalid. West is considered a "rising star" of the Green Party and was endorsed last week by Ralph Nader, a kiss of death.