Openly Gay Mayor Of North Miami To Run For U.S. Senate In 2010

Kevin Burns, the openly gay mayor of North Miami, is set to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2010.

North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns will become the third Florida Democrat to join the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Mel Martinez, according to local television stations. Burns, North Miami's first openly gay mayor, is facing term limits in his current post. He will announce his candidacy today, WSVN is reporting. Martinez, of Orlando, has said he won't seek re-election for a second term in 2010. U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and Miami Beach State Rep. Dan Gelber, both Democrats, have already announced their candidacies for the seat. They may be joined by other Democrats, and several prominent Republicans, also considering potential runs to replace Martinez

Burns and his partner of 24 years have a seven year-old daughter. North Miami is a small suburb (population 55,000) near the northern Miami-Dade County border and is the home of Florida International University. Burns will be term-limited out of office in May. He made local news late last year when, with his own home in foreclosure, he asked the Miami-Dade courts to create a mortgage foreclosure diversion program to help folks in the early stages of foreclosure stay in their homes.