CitiReport’s survey of city commissioners and board members released today shows that Republicans and “Decline to State” appointees are tied on city boards and commissions, while Donkey’s have ten times as many appointees.
The city’s fire chief, Joanna Hayes-White, registered as a member of the American Independent Party, the far-right groups associated with political extremism. One other city appointee also registered with the American Independent Party.
Elections officials guess that Hayes-White, who first registered as a city voter in May 2010, intended to indicate that she was an independent rather than a member of the American Independent Party. In either case, her registration would have prevented her from voting for Newsom or for Kamala Harris in the Democratic primary in June 2010. CitiReport calls to the Fire Chief were not returned.
In 2008, the Chronicle’s Matier and Ross reported that Jennifer Siebel, then engaged to Mayor Gavin Newsom, also has registered with the group they described as “anti-immigrant, anti-abortion, anti-NAFTA and anti-tax.” Newsom’s office explained she meant to register as an independent.
Meanwhile, the Green Party that a few years ago claimed influence that ranged from a strong mayoral candidate to elected members of the Board of Supervisors and School Board now numbers only one commissioner.
The only registered Green Party commissioner is Veronika Cauley, Veterans Affairs. That gives the Green Party a total of one-third of one percent
CitiReport used voter rolls to identify partisan affiliation, identifying 283 commissioners and board members.
The Republican Party claimed 22 city commissioners, tied with 22 who registered as Declined to State.
The Democratic Party claimed 236 commissioners and board members, more than ten times either the Republicans or Declined to State.
Republicans on 12 City Commissions
The overwhelmingly Democratic city has always found a way to accommodate and include some Republicans, often those who provided financial support to the mayor who appointed them.
CitiReport’s survey reveled that half of the Republican commissioners are numbered among donors to Newsom’s campaigns.
San Francisco, like all local California cities, deems local public offices to be nonpartisan. Among the list of GOP appointees are names that are well-known for their contributions to many aspects of civic life and improvement.
The registered Republicans identified from voter rolls are:
Michael J Antonini Planning Commission
Nancy Bechtle War Memorial Board of Trustees
Edwin L Berkowitz Asian Art Commission
Rosario L Carrion-Di Ricco Commission on Aging
Donald Casper Civil Service Commission
Julia Cheng Asian Art Commission
Edward A Chow Health Commission
Dixon Doll Asian Art Commission
Murat Eskicioglu Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority
Amy Hart, Dr. Medical Examiner’s Office
Scott Heldfond Health Service System Board
George K. Lau Fire Commission
Doris Shoong Lee Asian Art Commission
Charlotte Mailliard Shultz Mayor’s Office of Protocol
Thomas P. Mazzuco Police Commission
Ann M Moller Caen Public Utilities Commission
Mel Murphy Building Inspection Commission
Michael L O’Conner Small Business Commission
Stephen Revetria Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority
Charlotte Shultz War Memorial Board of Trustees
Diane Wilsey War Memorial Board of Trustees
Non Partisan Appointees
The number of city appointees who registered as Nonpartisan matches the Republican registration.
They are:
John Paul Arntz Dept. of Elections
Karen A Breslin Health Service System Board
John Buchanan Fine Arts Museum
Leo Chow Arts Commission
Alicia Gamez Commission on the Status of Women
Gerard Gleason Elections Commission
Deborah Henderson Rent Board
Jim W. Hurley Rent Board
Jeffrey Kaminsky Youth Commission
Angelo King Commission on the Environment
Richard P Matthews Elections Commission
Alan Mok Commission on the Environment
Michael Myatt War Memorial Board of Trustees
Teresa Nauer Youth Commission
Dennis Normandy Civil Service Commission
Luke O’Brien Small Business Commission
Anderson Pugash Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority
Amber Rose Veterans’ Affairs Commission
Doug Kurt Shoemaker Mayor’s Office of Housing
Peter Stern Airport Commission
Wendy Still Adult Probation
Jay Xu Asian Art Museum
