August 18, 2009 - Anthony Woods, a candidate for the House of Representative seat vacated by Rep. Ellen Tauscher, has what one can describe as one of those "only in California" stories. He is the African American son of a single mom who grew up on military bases; he graduated on the dean's list from West Point and served in command positions twice in Iraq; he earned a master's degree from Harvard before the Army discharged him under Don't Ask, Don't Tell after he belatedly realized his sexual orientation. It's a diversity of background that helped him earn the endorsements of the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and the Veterans Press and VoteVets.org.

The special election to fill the 10th District seat held by Tauscher, who resigned after being appointed Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and National Security, will be held Sept. 1. Fourteen candidates crowd the field. They include fellow Democrats Lt. Governor John Garamendi, who is simultaneously testing the waters for a gubernatorial run next year, state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan. Those three, according to the Contra Costa Times>, are simultaneously running for a collective seven political offices.

Garamendi is a career politician with endorsements from Al Gore and Bill Clinton. Garamendi was neither born in nor lives in the 10th Congressional District. By contrast, however, Woods hails from Fairfield-a town of 100,000 known to most Bay Area residents as a gas stop off the interstate on the way to Vacaville's outlet stores. He initially said he hadn't thought about running for office until Tasucher's resignation.

"I've been asking myself the same question for about four months now," Woods, 29, told EDGE when asked about his candidacy. "This is the district where I grew up. I looked at the race and I looked at the issues and decided this is a chance for people to elect a person who's experienced those issues."

Woods noted he never had health insurance until he enlisted at the age of 18. He attended public schools before entering West Point.

"I learned what it's like to fight a war you disagree with," he said. "And I'm really big on public service."

While Woods was at Harvard and on a temporary break from Army life, he finally began to deal with his sexuality.

"I came to terms when I was about 27," Woods said. "Graduate school was the first time to step away from military life. I was looking forward to serving in the Army and I was really looking forward to teaching at West Point. It was one of the most difficult decisions I ever made. It took me five or six months to make a decision. I knew if I told I would be giving up something I loved. But I don't believe in lying."

Woods said has a boyfriend in Washington named Zack.

"I can't tell you his last name because he's not out at work," he said with a laugh.

Although polls show Woods is trailing in the field, he said he remains upbeat about his chances. And hopes win or lose; his campaign will provide inspiration for other young LGBT political wannabes.

"I think we have a phenomenal shot at winning," he said. "But yeah, I'm a practical person and not everybody wins every single race. But at some point, it is no longer about you as a candidate but about a whole lot of other things."

Woods has received national exposure through appearances on Bill Maher's "Real Time," and other programs. He has raised money from well-wishers in Washington. And Woods has met with local residents at fundraising house parties.

"That's a technique I didn't know anything about until this campaign," he said. "It allows you to talk with voters about issues that are important to them. I am more shy of a person than people would realize."

Woods may lack political experience, but he makes no bones about his qualifications for office or the issues that matter to him. For him, DADT is a national security mistake.

"We're a country at war in two different countries," he said. "This is not the time to be firing experienced people who want to be serving their country. We spent $400 million to investigate 13,000 people to have kicked out. That's money that could be better spent on body armor or the latest humvee or medical care for when the vets come home."

Woods continued.

"I've seen buddies come home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and have to stand in line to beg for service," he said. "They're coming home to a broken VA system."

Woods further argued he feels inadequate medical services for veterans will only discourage future enrollment.

"People make their decision to serve based in part on how soldiers in the past have been treated," he said.

Edge