Well, the third time's the charm, as the old saying goes. We've editorialized twice before about how gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman should be elected by his colleagues to be president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Both times, in 2018 and 2022, he came up short. Now, with a more moderate-leaning board about to take over in early January, we believe that Mandelman is the right leader for the moment. He has the experience, temperament, and smarts not only to forge a productive working relationship with Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie, a political novice, but to also stand up to President-elect Donald Trump and all the Trumpy things that his administration likely will throw at San Francisco, the city that MAGA loves to hate. Additionally, the city shouldn't expect much help from Congress with both the House and Senate coming under Republican control starting January 3.
The board president assigns supervisors to the various committees and presides over the weekly board meetings. In short, the board president serves as the leader of the city's legislative branch.
San Francisco will face numerous challenges next year, including a budget deficit that outgoing Mayor London Breed recently projected will be an $876 million shortfall in the next two years, growing the deficit to over $1 billion annually thereafter. This year Breed signed the city's $15.9 billion spending plan that included some service cuts, but not as much as many feared, particularly around youth services, including those to queer young people. That likely won't be the case next year.
In terms of hostilities from the Trump administration, Mandelman recently pointed out in an interview with us that everything from San Francisco's status as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants and transgender people to standing up for reproductive rights and addressing climate change are likely to come under fire from Trump, his cabinet, and GOP congressional leaders. In fact, he told us, LGBTQs are concerned about what's looking to be "an unprecedented assault on queer families ... and the weaponization of anti-trans fears. This was one of the key elements of Trump's election and could well prove to be one priority for this federal administration moving forward."
It is in this environment that Mandelman would excel, in our opinion. He has not shied away from standing up for the community — and San Francisco. He has maintained a strong focus on small businesses, not only in District 8, which includes the LGBTQ Castro neighborhood, but also in the city as a whole, which is key to economic recovery. He currently sits on the board's budget and finance, and the budget and appropriations committees, so he has a keen understanding of the city's fiscal picture. Speaking of that, Mandelman also works effectively with the city's state legislative delegation. Gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has been a strong partner with Mandelman, helping secure state funds for things like the planned LGBTQ history museum in the Castro. New Assemblymember Catherine Stefani (D-San Francisco) and returning Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) have been incredible allies and both previously served on the Board of Supervisors. Governor Gavin Newsom, of course, used to be mayor of San Francisco.
San Francisco can send an important message to the rest of the country — indeed, the world — by having a gay man as board president. The city is a beacon for LGBTQ people the world over, whether they come to visit or come to live here. And, it's been too long since our last gay board president, former supervisor and later state assemblymember Tom Ammiano (1999-2003). Before that, the late supervisor Harry Britt held the gavel from 1989-1991. In Mandelman, his fellow supervisors will not only get a dedicated public servant, but a leader who can help steer San Francisco out of the COVID pandemic-induced economic doldrums. The 10 other members of the board should vote for Mandelman to lead them.
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