It is amazing what a single vote can do.

Once not even worthy of a second- or third-choice endorsement by progressive leaders, Supervisor Christina Olague is now lapping up her reward for voting to reinstate Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi.

Since the vote this month, Mirkarimi supporters supervisors John Avalos, David Campos and Jane Kim, along with Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and former Mayor Art Agnos, have suddenly come to believe that Olague is completely, totally and imminently fit to be the progressive supervisor in District 5. A rally of her brand-new fans Monday reminded me of the last time I saw such contrived enthusiasm: the Run Ed Run campaign.

Of course, Olague was part of that campaign, too, and reaped the benefits when Lee was elected and appointed her to be the temporary supervisor representing District 5.  

But running for election to keep that seat meant distancing herself from Lee and trying to make voters forget that she has voted with him on real estate issues such as keeping conservative Michael Antonini on the Planning Commission and approving the 8 Washington St. development.

With her vote for Mirkarimi, Olague appeared to be defying the mayor. The theatrics even included the mayor’s top communications professional sending Olague an angry text that somehow got leaked. And by “somehow” I mean: Olague couldn’t wait to show the media “proof” of her “independence.”

And just like that, Olague was the darling of District 5. The disturbing allegations against Julian Davis provided the perfect opportunity for certain progressives to ditch Davis, ignore all the other candidates and throw their support to Olague. All it took was one vote for Mirkarimi to make those progressives forget that they are standing in line behind Olague’s early and consistent supporter, Rose Pak.

Run Christina Run.