Tim Gill

Tim Gill is a name you most likely haven’t heard, yet his influence is far reaching in American politics. He is the wealthy founder of software giant Quark who was recently named the fifth most influential gay person in America by Out Magazine, has lurked in the shadows of political campaigns as the "stealth" activist behind many recent advances for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement in state and local elections across the nation. Gill's influential work, while no secret to gay activists, had apparently operated far below the Christian right's radar. And that’s just the way he wants it.

After funding and orchestrating a string of electoral victories that placed the Colorado Governor's mansion and both chambers of the General Assembly firmly in liberal hands, sources say Gill now seeks not only Democrats, but liberal Republicans to support, including those in Kansas.

In the Sunflower State
In 2005 – 2006 Gill contributed a total of $35,000 to the Kansas Democratic Party and the moderate Kansas Traditional Republican Majority. “Both groups share many of the same progressive agendas in Kansas,” said Earl Glynn – Editor of the Kansas Meadowlark.

While there is no evidence of Gill’s direct influence, former ACLU attorney in Baltimore, Raj Goyle (D), greatly benefited from out-of-state donations in his victory over three term incumbent Bonnie Huy (R) for the 87^th District Kansas House of Representatives seat. State records show Goyle raised $77,000 in the last election cycle – primarily from out-of-state contributors.

In the Kansas House’s 2008 winter session Goyle supported to send a bill to the Judiciary Committee that would have done away with the domestic partner registry in Lawrence. Lawrence implemented a domestic partner registry last year to allow same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples living in that city to register. It has no force of law.

SIDEBAR

Table 1.  Summary of Major Contributors 
Shared by KTRM PAC and KDP in the 2005-2006 Election Cycle

^* "Major" defined as a donor giving $10,000 or more

Colorado’s Overthrow
One of Gill's 2004 targets in Colorado was Ray Martinez of Fort Collins. As the three-time Republican mayor of this Republican dominant community, Martinez thought he had a great opportunity at winning a state senate seat. Martinez told CBN News "the odds looked very good. The polling we saw was very favorable." But in the last few weeks of the campaign, Martinez got hit with an avalanche of media attacking his personal character and pro-life stance.

"We didn't know who was funding it," Martinez said. "We heard rumors of their names, but we could never find their names and we couldn't expose those because they were buried in a barrage of paperwork." Martinez had raised over $300,000 - more than enough he thought to win Fort Collins. But several published reports show Gill and various associates had poured close to $1 million into the race through '527' political organizations.

By overcoming Martinez and other Republicans, Gill helped Democrats seize control of Colorado's statehouse for the first time in 30 years. A plethora of gay-friendly laws that redefine the family in Colorado was the end result.

In 2006 Gill also spent an unprecedented $1.5 million on Colorado television commercials aimed at promoting his domestic partnership referendum. “

Carrie Earll, Senior Director of Issues Analysis for the Colorado based Focus on the Family told The Chronicle Gill’s agenda is now in clear site. “He is using an under the radar attempt to change the landscape of American,” said Earll. “In a handful of states where funds were given in ’06 he saw the passage of pro-homosexual laws passed.”

The Payoff
Today, pro-family lawmakers in the Rocky Mountain state say the "Gill factor" is impossible to ignore. State representative and Minority Whip Cory Gardner says "it puts extreme pressure on people who are trying to make a living at work and trying to raise money for a campaign who don't have deep pockets."

In 2005, Gill started the Gill Action Fund. The fund's mission is "securing equal opportunity for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression." The next year, the fund's success rocked the political world. According to several published reports, it orchestrated donations worth $15 million to Gill's favored candidates and causes.

The payoff this time was wins in 50 of 70 targeted campaigns and power changes in the state chambers of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Iowa. Gill took out Iowa House Speaker Danny Carroll with one of his favorite stealth tactics: small checks from Gill and friends around the country. Carroll says he never knew what hit him until after the election when he checked campaign contributions for his opponent.

Pendra Lee Snyder, Editor and Publisher of the Christian Citizen USA Newspaper based in Dayton, Ohio agree that there should be concern for Gill and his tactics. “Gill’s motivation is to not hit homosexual issues directly,” said Snyder. “He finds wedge issues and targets those – thus succeeding at knocking out anti-homosexual candidates without drawing attention to his ultimate homosexual agenda.”

 
For more information see the Kansas Family Policy’s website kansasfpc.com and timgillfoundation.org.

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