No one - including us - was paying much attention to yesterday’s election. Instead, we’ve all fast-forwarded to 2008.

But the Victory Fund reminds us that “dozens of openly gay and lesbian candidates running in municipal and state legislative races across the country won thir elections.”

These small elections are less glamorous, but they are very, very important. The Religious Right got the power they did by slowly taking over school boards, town councils, and mayoral races while also going after national elections. People live in communities, and the more those communities reflect OUR values, the better off all GLBTs will be.

The highlights named by the Victory Fund after the jump.

Joel Burns, a candidate for the Fort Worth, Tex., City Council advanced to a December runoff election as the top vote-getter after being subject to anti-gay smears from an opponent.

Craig Covey won his race for mayor of Ferndale, Mich., becoming the first openly gay mayor elected in the state of Michigan.

Michelle Bruce, an openly transgender incumbent on the Riverdale, Ga., City Council was the top vote-getter in her race and advances to a runoff election.

New Jersey State Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, who became the state’s first openly LGBT state legislator when he came out publicly during his current term, won re-election to his seat.

Jeffrey Anderson was elected to the Duluth City Council, becoming the first openly gay elected official in northern Minnesota.

Tim Eustace won his race for mayor of Maywood, N.J.

Brian Bates, won a seat on the Doraville, Ga., City Council, becoming the first openly gay Republican ever to win office in the state.

Lydia Lavelle won a seat on the Carrboro, N.C., Board of Aldermen, becoming the seventh openly LGBT candidate ever elected in the state.