District 3 race bringing in campaign dollars
By: Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer
October 7, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — With the future direction of San Francisco politics on the line, money is rapidly filling up war chests for supervisorial candidates vying for District 3 — which includes North Beach and Chinatown — while less furious fundraising is happening in other districts where candidates appear to be relying on cash provided by The City's public-financing program.
This November, seven seats on the Board of Supervisors are up for grabs with more moderate interests — those often aligned with Mayor Gavin Newsom — seeking to upset the progressive majority that has ruled the board for the last eight years.
In four of seven races — districts 1, 3 and 11 — no incumbent is running and moderates hope to fill these seats with more development- and business-friendly legislators.
The District 3 race, the seat being vacated by Board President Aaron Peskin, has several strong candidates who have raised more than $100,000, vying for a district that saw approximately 25,000 voters go to the polls in 2004.
Among the top fundraisers is Joe Alioto Jr., an attorney endorsed by Newsom and brother of District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier. Alioto has raised $181,199 since January. Claudine Cheng, who serves as president and chair of the Treasure Island Development Authority and is also endorsed by Newsom, has raised $138,598, including $15,000 she loaned her campaign.
Denise McCarthy, who once served as president of the Ports Commission, has raised $145,412. McCarthy has gained endorsements from Sheriff Michael Hennessey and former Mayor Art Agnos.
Peskin-endorsed candidate David Chiu has raised a total of $132,394; Chiu is also receiving matching public-financing dollars.
Candidates who can raise $52,500 are able to receive $87,500 in matching taxpayer money for their campaigns, if they agree to a spending cap of $140,000. The cap can be raised, however, depending on the amount raised by other candidates who did not accept public funding, as well as the amount of independent expenditures within an election.
A sizeable war chest may matter most in District 3, according to San Francisco-based political analyst David Latterman, who added the caveat “more money is better than less money, but it’s not the end all be all.”
Money pays for campaigns that boost a candidate’s visibility, he said.
“In a race where you have five viable candidates you need to bust through the noise,” Latterman said.
By the numbers
Top fundraisers through September, according to campaign finance statements submitted Monday, in Board of Supervisors’ races:
District 1: Richmond Supervisor Jake McGoldrick termed out
Sue Lee $76,780
Eric Mar $29,208
District 3: North Beach/Chinatown Supervisor Aaron Peskin termed out
Joseph Alioto Jr. $181,199
Claudine Cheng $138,598
District 4: Sunset incumbent Supervisor Carmen Chu
Chu $168,709
Ron Dudum $48,979
District 5: Western Addition/Fillmore incumbent Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi
Mirkarimi $79,329
Owen O’Donnell $61,914
District 7: Lake Merced/Inner Sunset incumbent Supervisor Sean Elsbernd
Elsbernd $95,906
District 9: Mission Supervisor Tom Ammiano termed out
David Campos $28,330
Eric Quezada $25,054
District 11: Excelsior Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval termed out
John Avalos $45,438
Randall Knox $27,134
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission — Form 460
