New Balance CEO Seems Unhappy With Chairman's Romney Donation

Says $500,000 donation to Romney PAC "not reflective" of company's gay rights stance

The Boston Globe is reporting that Rob DeMartini, president and CEO of New Balance, has issued a statement distancing the shoe company from a $500,000 donation board chairman Jim Davis made to the pro-Romney political action committee Restore Our Future, citing the former Massachusetts governor's support for a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.

In the statement, DeMartini emphasizes that while the company "encourage[s] civic engagement at all levels and will always respect the right of any of our associates to engage in the political process" and "typically [does] not comment on private political donations," Romney's support for the National Organization for Family's proposal to add federal marriage amendment to the Constitution is "not reflective of Jim Davis’, my, or New Balance’s position and support of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community."

“As a company," said DeMartini, "New Balance embraces the differences in all people and we work tirelessly to create and sustain an environment where everyone – our associates, consumers, customers and guests – are treated with dignity and respect."

Romney signed the National Organization for Family pledge last week after refusing to sign the 'Marriage Vow' offered by conservative value group The Family Leader last month, because of a passage claiming black children were "more likely to be raised by [a] mother and father in a two-parent household" in 1860 than today.