Once again, gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman is eyeing the board presidency position. With a moderate majority set to be seated on the 11-member governing body in 2025 and his having the most seniority on it, he is making the case that he has the experience to lead the board during what will surely be a rocky two years.
This is the third time Mandelman has put his name into contention for the powerful position at City Hall. He had sought it in 2022 and in 2019 but fell short of the six-vote threshold to be elected board president. Mandelman told the Bay Area Reporter Thursday (November 14) that he plans to talk to his board colleagues about earning their support for the powerful post.
"How many times have we been here before?" he quipped.
It has been decades since the board had an out president. Two gay former supervisors have served in the post: Tom Ammiano (1999-2003) and years before that, the late Harry Britt (1989-1991).
Due to his winning a special election in June 2018 for his supervisor seat centered in the city's LGBTQ Castro district, Mandelman will have the most seniority among the supervisors next year. And although he is term limited from running again in 2026, Mandelman noted the board presidency is a two-year term and several of the recent holders of the post served during their last years on the board.
"Serving one two-year term is pretty standard," noted Mandelman.
Also pursuing the board presidency is District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who was reelected to a second four-year term on the November 5 ballot. Two years ago, she had backed District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, who also won reelection last week, to be board president.
In that contest the progressive supervisors were split, with some initially backing District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton. The moderates all supported Mandelman, who ended up dropping out and throwing his support behind District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who clinched the board presidency after 17 rounds on a 7-4 vote. (Melgar and Chan were among those who voted for Peskin in the end.)
Melgar told the B.A.R. Thursday that she doesn't expect to see a similar situation when the newly configured board meets January 7 to swear in the winners of last week's odd-numbered supervisor races and vote on a new board president. Peskin is among the current members who are departing, as he is termed out and ran unsuccessfully to be elected mayor.
"I think it will be a completely different experience," Melgar predicted.
She plans to sit down with Mandelman, whom she called her "work husband," to discuss the presidency race. As he only recently returned from a trip to New York, the two haven't had a chance to meet other than seeing each other at a party this week.
"There are pros and cons to both of our leadership styles for the board, and for us individually in terms of what we are trying to do. I am hoping we can work it out and avoid a big thing," said Melgar, who said her pitch to her board colleagues is "I am going for boring."
Mandelman told the B.A.R. he welcomes having a sit down with Melgar along with the other nine supervisors as he works to line up support.
"Yes, within the bounds of the Brown Act. I am trying to talk to as many of my colleagues as possible," said Mandelman, referring to the law governing how elected leaders can meet to conduct their official business.
Serving as board president next year will have even greater importance with Daniel Lurie, a political novice who has never held elected office before, serving as the city's next mayor. Plus, there will be five new board members come January due to the incumbents they are replacing being termed out or leaving for higher office.
"I would like to do it at this time because we have a new mayor who is not experienced in the bureaucracy here and half of my colleagues are going to be new," noted Melgar. "So, I have a leadership style that is ... I worked with young people before I became a supervisor and I am used to mentoring and supporting others while they develop."
She added, "I like that, so I think my skills, and specific leadership style, is good for the moment right now."
Mandelman made similar points as for why he feels he is best suited to succeed Peskin as the next board president.
"I really think it is going to be important to have someone who can work with the new administration and work with everybody on the board to try to have San Francisco represent as united a front as possible. And also show that a very progressive city like San Francisco can also be effectively governed," he said.
Immense challenges
Whoever does take over the gavel at the supervisors' meetings will be faced with immense challenges due to the city facing financial headwinds and a likely hostile administration from Republican President-elect Donald Trump, noted Mandelman. Everything from San Francisco's stance as a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants and transgender individuals to standing up for reproductive rights and addressing climate change is likely to come under fire by Trump, his cabinet, and GOP congressional leaders whose party will be in control of both chambers in 2025.
Already, HIV service providers are warning about potential cuts in their federal funds. San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D., a gay Black man living with HIV who co-chairs the AIDS United Public Policy Council, sounded the alarm in a guest opinion piece he wrote for the B.A.R.'s November 14 issue.
"As we look toward the uncertain political landscape ahead, we are deeply concerned about the potential for federal cuts to HIV and AIDS services under a new administration," noted TerMeer.
Mandelman had one word to describe how he is feeling about the November 5 federal election results.
"Terrible," said Mandelman.
Electing at this moment in the country's history a gay man as board president will send a powerful message to the rest of the country, contended Mandelman. It would be both "important and historic," he added.
"I think we are all concerned about what is looking like it could be an unprecedented assault on queer families, what is already an unprecedented assault on queer families, queer people, the weaponization of anti-trans fears. That was one of the key elements of Trump's election and could well prove to be one priority for this federal administration moving forward," said Mandelman. "And then, on top of that generally, will be an assault on lots of priorities and values that San Franciscans care about. ... We are not going to know how bad it is going to be, but based on the cabinet appointments he is announcing, it could be pretty bad."
Melgar told the B.A.R. that Mandelman is making valid points regarding the elevation of an LGBTQ leader to the board presidency. She also noted that her being an immigrant and woman of color, as she was born in El Salvador and fled as a child in the 1980s, also would send a similarly powerful message with the rights of both immigrants and women also coming under attack at the federal level by Republican lawmakers.
"I think, whatever we do, will be consistent with our values," said Melgar, adding of Mandelman, "I just love the guy so much."
They are both policy geeks, she noted, who both strive to take the time and make the effort to "getting it right" when it comes to their work as supervisors. She intends not to make their bidding for the board presidency personal, said Melgar.
"I am not going to say anything negative about his leadership style," she said. "It is all good. We are also lucky to have in San Francisco this access to riches."
Whatever decision the supervisors make about who should lead them, Melgar said she will be able to abide by it.
"Obviously, I am not the only person able to do it, and other people bring assets to it as well. It is not my style to have a big public fight," she said. "If my colleagues decide I have the skills appropriate for the moment, that is what will happen. If they decide they want someone else to do it, that is fine, too."
Mandelman said his main focus as board president would be to ensure a well-run city government, something he believes will also be a priority for the Lurie administration. He hopes to see the supervisors and mayor move beyond the infighting of recent years.
"I am hoping we are moving into an era where we can actually come together, face our common enemies, and make more progress in areas where the city is struggling," he said.
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