Leal's contract terminated, cause unknown

Leal releases statement

Public Utilities Commission (PUC) manager Susan Leal's contract was terminated today without cause during a closed session of the mayoral appointed commission. Though no official reason has been provided to explain her termination, insiders point to Leal's record of supporting publicly owned power as one possible reason that may have led
to Mayor Gavin Newsom's push to terminate her contract.
Photo by Luke Thomas

By Maya Strausberg

February 20, 2008

During a special meeting in City Hall this morning, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted to terminate the contract of General Manager Susan Leal.

The four-member governing board voted during a closed session at 9 a.m. and the results were announced immediately following the session.

Leal today released a statement expressing her pride in the accomplishments of the commission while she managed and said she was given no cause for the termination.

"I believe that by almost any measure, San Francisco ratepayers today are served by a more accountable and responsive utility," she said in the statement.

Leal listed the Water System Improvement Program, bringing green power to the Bayview Hunters Point community and reducing flooding risk as some of the commission's feats in her time with the commission.

"Let me say clearly and without reservation that I am very proud of what we've accomplished at the SFPUC in the three and a half years I've been general manager," she said in the statement.

Mayor Gavin Newsom recommended Leal for the position and the members of the commission voted to approve her in August 2004.

Newsom's office today confirmed Leal will receive $400,000 as part of her severance package in accordance with her contract, which would have run through 2009. City Controller Ed Harrington will approve the exact amount.

Leal will remain in her position for 30 days before Harrington is brought in as interim general manager.

More info

Susan Leal released the following statement today:

This morning, the members of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted in closed session to terminate my contract with the SFPUC without cause. Let me say clearly and without reservation that I am very proud of what we’ve accomplished at the SFPUC in the three and a half years that I’ve been General Manager.

The SFPUC today is of the greenest and most sustainable utilities in the nation. I believe that by almost any measure, San Francisco ratepayers today are served by a more accountable and responsive utility.

Our water system is more secure, more seismically reliable and more environmentally responsible. Our multi-billion dollar Water System Improvement Program is on schedule and on budget. We are funding new recycled water and groundwater programs for the first time. As a City we finally lead, not lag, when it comes to water conservation.

In wastewater, we have made neighborhoods safer from the risk of flooding during major storms and we have finally initiated plans to replace our crumbling sewers and aging digesters at the Southeast Treatment Plant. And we are one of the first cities in the nation to turn waste grease and oil into clean biofuel.

In power, we have tripled our production of solar energy on City facilities. We are bringing green power to the Bayview Hunters Point community as we work to shutter dirty power plants once and for all.

Overall, as an organization, our improved outlook among bond rating agencies will save ratepayers millions in financing costs. And we are a recognized leader in the country among utilities leading the effort to combat and prepare for climate change.

I proudly stand by each of these accomplishments and more. For the next thirty days that I am General Manager, I will continue the work we have started until my last day and I will work with Mr. Harrington to ensure a smooth transition. I would like to thank the people of San Francisco for the opportunity to serve them and I’d like to thank the hardworking SFPUC staff for their ongoing commitment to our ratepayers.

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