Fresh face snags coveted top board post
By: Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer
January 8, 2009
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| Power grab: Newly elected Supervisor David Chiu, middle, said he hopes to foster a stronger relationship between the board and Mayor Gavin Newsom, right. (Cindy Chew/The Examiner) |
SAN FRANCISCO — Freshman Supervisor David Chiu was elected Thursday to the most powerful position on the Board of Supervisors, and he takes the reins during one the most challenging economic times in city history.
It took seven rounds of voting, but newcomer Chiu, elected in November 2008 to represent District 3, was elected president of the board in a 6-5 vote. The vote came after Chiu and three other new supervisors were sworn in to their seats, replacing those who were termed out of office.
Board presidency is one of the most influential posts in San Francisco politics. As board president, Chiu is responsible for assigning supervisors to committees and overseeing the decorum of meetings. He faces his first decision in short-order: Supervisor Chris Daly has requested Chiu appoint a Budget and Finance Committee chair in time to conduct a special meeting early next week.
The committee will play a crucial role in grappling with The City’s projected $500 million budget deficit next fiscal year. Officials are already examining ways to cut spending.
Chiu, 38, said he is qualified for the post, possessing business skills to help lead The City through tough economic times and collaboration skills exhibited by his ability to build a strong coalition of voters in the diverse District 3.
Chiu said he wants to improve the working relationship between the board and Mayor Gavin Newsom by creating “a new tone of civility, of unity and of cooperation.”
“We don’t have time for a politics of personality when we have the highest homicide rate in 10 years,” Chiu said. “We don’t have time to waste while our businesses are failing.”
Chiu, a former chair of the Small Business Commission, was the founder and chief operating officer of Grassroots Enterprise, an online political consulting firm. Chiu said he resigned from the post at the end of last year. He also serves on the board of the Chinatown Community Development Center, an affordable-housing nonprofit.
Chiu steps into the seat once held by Aaron Peskin, representing the North Beach and Chinatown neighborhoods. He also takes up the president’s gavel that Peskin had wielded the past four years. Peskin engaged in colorful political clashes with Newsom as he led the progressive bloc.
Chiu was among several others nominated for board president, including newly elected Supervisor John Avalos and incumbents Sophie Maxwell and Ross Mirkarimi.
Maxwell, in her second four-year term as supervisor, had gained five votes in the last round. Her backers, mostly moderates who are aligned with Newsom, said experience was most important during such challenging economic times.
“I thought Sophie Maxwell was the most qualified, most experienced and better candidate,” Supervisor Sean Elsbernd said after the meeting. “But I look forward to working with David Chiu.”
Daly said Chiu is up to the job.
“Obviously this is an individual who is accomplished, who is motivated and who knows what he is doing,” Daly said.
Leader of the pack
A look at the newest president of the Board of Supervisors:
Name: David Chiu
Represents: North Beach, Chinatown neighborhoods in District 3
Elected: Nov. 4
Began serving: Jan. 8
Job history: Grassroots Enterprise founder and former chief operating officer
Other: Chinatown Community Development Center board member
Milestone: First Chinese-American to serve as board president
Age: 38
Birth date: April 2, 1970
