Elections indeed have consequences. Last November, through deft grassroots campaigning self-proclaimed progressives won the four open seats on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In so doing, they joined progressive veterans Chris Daly and Ross Mirkarimi meaning progressives will continue to hold a solid majority on the Board.
Shortly after the election, a leadership battle between Daly and Mirkarimi ensued holding the choice for new Board President in the balance until mid-afternoon this past Thursday. With no fewer than six rounds of voting for the Presidency, we watched as progressives rightly maintained control of the Board’s helm until 2011.
It was a good thing I showed up at City Hall early Thursday to take-in first hand what many knew would be intriguing political theater. By arriving at 10:30 for a noon Swearing-in Ceremony I was first in line, but shortly thereafter the line lengthened and swelled rapidly. With most seats taken by those with invites, only 20 or 30 of us made it into the chamber, the rest watched in overflow rooms.
Soon after the swearing in came the presidency votes. It was widely reported before the vote that the moderate-conservative faction of five would throw their weight behind either moderate, Bevan Dufty or Sophie Maxwell—and they went for Maxwell. On the progressive side four were nominated. The first round results tallied: Maxwell 5, Mirkarmi 4, and John Avalos 2.
After subsequent rounds proved neither Mirkarimi nor Avalos could get the majority, new progressive David Chiu, 38, emerged as the consensus candidate. Mirkarimi, previously seen as the swing vote, on the sixth round finally swung the vote to Chiu leaving Maxwell stuck with the same five votes she garnered throughout the preceding rounds.
A somewhat surprised Chiu strode to the podium, his stature strikingly similar to his District 3 (North Beach/Russian Hill) Napoleonically sized predecessor Aaron Peskin. As he did, progressives breathed a sigh of relief that Mirkarimi voted for Chiu and in the process began healing his rift with Daly.
For his part, Chiu has shown his interest in diplomacy indicating after ascending to the Board gavel that he wants to work with the Mayor to tackle the $1/2 billion budget deficit the City faces. Collaborative efforts are at a premium these days and I fully support the Board working closely with the Mayor to bridge the enormous budget divide.
That said, as we sit immersed in historic budget deficit times, I am grateful that the progressive majority on the Board, through the Board Presidency, will look out for the most needy among us. With Chiu’s stewardship we will see the Board take the Mayor on when necessary to protect social services and jobs when the budget scalpel kicks into high gear.
Potential 2011 mayoral candidates Dufty and Mirkarimi not rising to Board President gives them the time necessary to do the people’s business through crafty legislation and prepare for future runs. For now, all eyes are on the relative youngster Chiu who just assumed the City’s second most powerful position. If his dedicated past as a civil rights attorney and strident legislative aide are any indication, after settling in and getting used to the reins, Chiu will prove the progressive consensus choice was in fact a good one.