District 1 race could tip balance away from progressives
By: Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer
September 30, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — Two teachers and a former planning commissioner are among the strongest of nine candidates vying to represent the Richmond district, a community that has seen a divisive feud about a public-transit project and ill will among a contingent of constituents over the current representative.
In the larger political picture, the outcome of the race for the District 1 seat on the Board of Supervisors could shift the board toward a more moderate stance by adding an ally of Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Former school board member and San Francisco State professor Eric Mar is running with progressive support — endorsed by termed-out District 1 Supervisor Jake McGoldrick — while Sue Lee, former planning commissioner, has picked up Newsom’s endorsement.
Both Lee and candidate Alicia Wang, a professor at City College, were supported by Plan C, an advocacy group backing moderate candidates, in a recent mailer that also opposed Mar.
Lee, Wang and Mar were the race’s top fundraisers as of the last filing period and are candidates with the most endorsements in the race. Lee is also endorsed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and supervisors Bevan Dufty, Michela Alioto-Pier and Sean Elsbernd. Mar has the endorsements of supervisors Aaron Peskin, Chris Daly, Ross Mirkarimi and Tom Ammiano. Wang was Plan C’s second choice.
Nicholas Belloni, Sherman D’Silva, George Flamik, Fidel Gakuba, Jason Jungreis and Brian Larkin are the other candidates for the seat. The District 1 race is among seven board seats up for grabs this November and four without an incumbent.
Wang recently expressed the most concern about one of the more divisive issues of the Richmond district: the idea of the Bus Rapid Transit Project, bus-only lanes along the busy Geary Boulevard corridor. While advocates say the project would enhance public transportation, opponents say the loss of car lanes would harm businesses.
McGoldrick’s support of the bus project stirred up criticism among merchants along Geary who said McGoldrick had stopped listening to constituents. Merchants even launched a recall campaign, though it proved unsuccessful.
This year is also seen as a showdown between progressive politicians, who have controlled the board for about eight years, and moderates, who are more aligned with Newsom.
More moderate candidates in the district races are not shy about putting down the record of the progressive-dominated board.
Wang said the “board is one of the most dysfunctional I have ever seen.”
Lee said the board “enacted policies that have very good intentions” but are too burdensome for businesses. Mar acknowledged that the board “at times diverts into petty divisiveness and petty politics,” but he would “try and rise above that.”
