San Francisco mayoral election, 2007
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The San Francisco mayoral election of 2007 is an election that will occur on November 6, 2007 to elect a Mayor of San Francisco and several local officials. Mayor Gavin Newsom, the incumbent, is currently the only declared candidate.
This will be the first mayoral election in San Francisco history to use instant-runoff voting, also known as ranked-choice voting, so there will be no need for a run-off.
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[edit] Background
Municipal elections in California are officially non-partisan, though most candidates in San Francisco do receive funding and support from various political parties.
In 2003, then-Supervisor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, ran in a large field of challengers, including Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez, Supervisor Tom Ammiano, former Supervisor Angela Alioto, city Treasurer Susan Leal, and former Police Chief Tony Ribera. Newsom and Gonzalez took first and second place, respectively, but neither won a majority, so the two advanced to a runoff election.
Newsom ran as a moderate against leftist/progressive Gonzalez, a member of the Green Party. The election was close, and the local Republican Party claimed to have delivered the margin of victory for the mayor[1].
2003 MAYORAL ELECTION RESULTS [2]:
Candidate Popular Vote Percentage GAVIN NEWSOM 133,546 52.81% MATT GONZALEZ 119,329 47.19%
Newsom's approval ratings has remained high throughout his first term, despite controversies surrounding the mayor's support for same-sex marriage, labor unions, and highrise developments [3].
[edit] Possible Challengers
Despite Newsom's high approval ratings, there are many potential challengers.
Former Supervisor Tony Hall, a registered independent, considered a conservative by San Francisco standards,[4] is openly contemplating a run for mayor.[5] He resigned in 2004 to become "Mayor of Treasure Island" (Executive Director of the Treasure Island Development Authority), a position that oversees the island linking San Francisco with Oakland. Hall was fired from the job in 2005 at the behest of the mayor [6], and has been a vocal critic of Newsom ever since.
Other possible candidates include Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Supervisors Chris Daly and Ross Mirkarimi, former Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, former State Senate President John Burton, former Mayor Art Agnos, District Attorney Kamala Harris, and former San Francisco 49ers executive Carmen Policy.[7]
Incumbent State Senator Carole Migden, likely facing a primary against popular State Assemblymember Mark Leno, is another potential candidate.
[edit] Issues
Many ongoing and emerging issues might influence the election. These include:
- Keeping the San Francisco 49ers football team within city limits, as the team has threatened to move to a more spacious suburban stadium in Santa Clara County. The move would create a situation similar to that of the New York Jets and New York Giants, who both play at the New Jersey Meadowlands.
- The city's high homicide rate might also hurt Newsom during the campaign. A national survey gives San Francisco low marks for public safety [8]. Indeed, San Francisco ranked well below both Los Angeles and New York City.
- Homelessness and transportation issues from previous years remain relevant. Public perception of the mayor's "Care, Not Cash" program (which reduces welfare payments in favor of long-term subsidized housing) will likely inform the debate. The mayor's plans to improve Muni could also undergo scrutiny.
- On February 1, 2007, Newsom admitted to having an affair with his campaign manager's wife, who was working in City Hall. Newsom later apologized about the scandal[9]. The issue might see legal action under a city sexual harassment policy, and thus, might effect the outcome of the election in November.
