Endorsing for a better San Francisco
Examiner Editorial
October 8, 2008
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| For a list of candidates we've endorsed, click on "more photos," below. (Courtesy Photos) |
Is it really too much to expect San Francisco to have a Board of Supervisors that focuses rationally on The City’s essential needs instead of issuing irrelevant edicts to the world and universe, throwing money we don’t have at quixotic crusades and battling ferociously over the most arcane turf-war details? In recent history this seems to have been the case.
But The Examiner keeps trying to move the City Hall unreality show back towards taking care of the public’s business, and we will continue to do so. Early mail-in voting has now begun for the Nov. 4 election, more than three weeks away. This newspaper is endorsing the candidates most attuned to budgetary reality and genuinely inclusive public priorities.
Our support goes to San Francisco’s office-seekers of 2008 — supervisors, school trustees and directors of the community college and BART boards — who understand the importance of advancing the too-often-overlooked needs of working taxpayers and small businesses that keep our unique city functioning.
With seven of the 11 Board of Supervisors seats up for grabs and four powerful veterans termed out, this coming election has the potential to dramatically shift the tone and actions of city government. Our endorsements of incumbents Carmen Chu in District 4 and Sean Elsbernd in District 7 exemplify the kind of realistic, knowledgeable, community-oriented supervisors The City needs much more of.
We are also endorsing Ross Mirkarimi in District 5, even though the West of Twin Peaks incumbent too often votes along with the board’s most extreme-left bloc. However, his instincts are generally sound about nuts-and-bolts civic issues and he energetically moves forward sensible legislation, such as the small business center and regulation of medical marijuana dispensaries.
In the four districts where no incumbents are running, our endorsements are also directed at strengthening a civil, reasonable and neighborhood-supportive atmosphere on the Board of Supervisors. In District 1, we are backing Sue Lee. We endorse Eva Royale in District 9 and Ahsha Safai´ in District 11.
However, in District 3, which includes North Beach, we are splitting our recommendation between attorney Joe Alioto and Claudine Cheng, former president of the Treasure Island Development Authority. Either of these two candidates would be a beneficial addition to the Board of Supervisors.
And in the important Board of Education vote, where four of the seven seats are at stake, we endorse Jill Wynns, Rachel Norton, Emily Murase and Sandra Fewer as candidates who would put student interests foremost and not get sidetracked into political controversies irrelevant to a quality education.
