Yes, tomorrow is election day. And here are my endorsements, worth the paper you are reading them on.
A lot of people are ignoring this election, given that there aren't very many high profile contested races on the Democratic side - yes our very own Gavin Newsom is on the docket tomorrow but it's for Lt. Gov - and even he doesn't know what the Lt Governor does. However, there is another race - the DCCC (Democratic County Central Committee) - that is actually a lot more important than you might think, and several ballot propositions worth paying attention to.
I'll start with Lt. Governor, and dispense quickly with all formalities that I am not a big fan of Mayor Newsom. Without getting into policy specifics, for years it has felt like he was running for the next office rather than getting messy with the city. I hate that. I'll be voting for Janice Hahn, but I'm ambivalent. Look at it this way, if he wins, we get a new Mayor.
OK, on to the DCCC. This race is actually pretty important, as the DCCC controls a lot of endorsements and spending of money in other races later on, first on that list is this Fall's Supervisor races. I live in Noe Valley, which means I am in DCCC District 13, and Supervisor District 8. Two D8 Supervisor Candidates are running for DCCC - Scott Wiener and Rafael Mandelman. For a variety of reasons, I support Scott Wiener - the "moderate" in the race - which means he's only slightly to the left of Mao, as opposed to much further left than Mao (San Francisco humor - people). And Scott is probably to the right of me, generally speaking. After a lot of evaluation, and an initial leaning to Mandelman, I am siding with Wiener mostly because of how he interacts with the people he is trying to get to vote for him. He is pounding the streets, and when he talks to you, he listens until he is sure you are finished with everything you have to say. He is fanatically supportive of Public Transportation/MUNI - a critical issue in San Francisco that has been festering under the current Mayor. And he is willing to take a stance - something that has been an issue at times with our current Supervisor, Bevan Dufty.
I am working on a Livable Streets project in Noe Valley, the Noe Valley Plaza trial project, which would take a 60 foot deep section of street in our commercial district and make a Pedestrian gathering space. This project has engendered a bit of controversy. At a public meeting, Wiener stated that since the project is a reversible trial, he supports going foward with the trial because he feels the trial nature makes it a "compromise position". Mandelman got up there and said "We need to look at both sides, and think, and, and, and" (waffle and do nothing). In a time of budget crises, I believe deliberate action is critical, and that's why I support Scott - even if he had said "This project is BS, let's kill it", at least I would know where he stood and maybe I wouldn't be standing on the street working on a dead project.
Anywho. The rest of the list. I am supporting Keith Baraka and Leslie Katz primarily because they are recommended by Mr. Wiener for reasons beyond supporting his candidacy (and Baraka is doing the AIDS ride this week, props to the cyclists). I also support David Chiu based on his work as Supervisor in District 1. Chuck Hornbrook is a personal acquaintance whom I have great respect for.
I also will be not voting for the following. Aaron Peskin, Carole Migden, Kim Shree-Maufus, and Rafael Mandelman, Melissa Apuya. Peskin is a wonderful progressive, unless you happen to be pushing a project in his neighborhood, or unwilling to play ball with him to kill a project in his neighborhood, etc... Migden took a loaded weapon (herself in a motor vehicle) and fired away (on a freeway) and showed little need to take responsibility. Maufus has been very bad on the SFUSD Board of Education. And Mandelman I've already addressed. Apuya is only a plant for Leeland Yee's Mayoral aspirations and serves no use on the DCCC.
Playing elimination and looking at Smart Voter - here is my slate.
FOR
Scott Wiener
Keith Baraka
Leslie Katz
David Chiu
Tom Taylor (strong statement on climate change, single payer)
Chuck Hornbrook
NOT FOR
Aaron Peskin
Carole Migden
Kim Shree-Maufus
Rafael Mandelman
Melissa Apuya
You can vote for 12. I will probably leave the rest blank barring updates.
Propositions:
YES: 13, 15
NO: 17
HELL NO: 14
DOUBLE HELL NO:16
City Propositions
YES: A - renewing a parcel tax the schools are depending on
YES: B,D,G
NO: C,E - I think Gavin spends too much on security too, but I don't like reinforcing political theatre.
NO: F - Support for those who lose their jobs should be shouldered by everyone, not the particular landlord who rents to someone who lost their job. An initiative for some sort of rent support from the city would be more appropriate.
thanks for listening
/murph