District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly. Photo by Luke Thomas
By Luke Thomas
May 3, 2010
District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly has not given up on his quest to hold an open progressive primary election to decide which progressive candidate will win his endorsement and, more importantly, his campaign support.
“An open progressive primary election will determine an early show of campaign viability and operational strength,” Daly told FCJ, adding that he is targeting one Saturday in July to hold the open primary.
Daly said he will raise the necessary funds – as much as $20,000 – to mail announcements to an estimated 28,000 registered District 6 voters about the open primary, as well an estimated 10,000 ballots to registered absentee voters.
The venue where District 6 voters can cast their ballots in person on the day of the primary election has yet to be determined, but Daly said he is making inquiries and will announce more details “within a week.”
Only registered District 6 voters can participate in the open primary, Daly said, and only “serious progressive candidates” will be on the rank choice ballot. Daly defined “serious progressive candidates” as those who have qualified for public campaign financing (raised more than $5,000 in qualifying contributions) and who support a litmus test of Progressive values, including opposition to a proposed Sit/Lie ordinance, support for affordable housing and public power.
School Board President Jane Kim, Entertainment Commissioner Jim Meko, and Building Inspections Commissioner Debra Walker are considered the front-runner Progressive candidates in the race.
Daly announced his intention in March to hold a primary election. Since then, the Progressive candidates we have spoken to have been less than enthusiastic about running a mid-campaign election, citing limited resources needed for the run-up to the general election in November. But they did agree Daly’s tried and tested campaign prowess could prove invaluable in holding the District 6 seat firmly in the hands of Progressives.
Should Daly successfully hold a primary election, he may still find himself in the unenviable position of supporting a candidate not supported by his allies. Daly said he hopes those candidates who do not win the open primary consider withdrawing their candidacies to maximize the probability of a Progressive victory.
“It has to be done,” Daly said.
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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May 8, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Thank you, mwbsf, for your post above. Some responses follow –
You say:
“In the end, it is my belief a progressive candidate will win even under IRV.”
But will the winner be a compliant gear in the Peskin-Daly machine? That’s the big question that worries the incumbent in district six.
You say:
“The rub is how you define progressive or more to the point who would best represent the folks he has always cared about most …”
The rub is who will kowtow to Chris Daly. That has always been the rub.
You say:
“I would prefer that Chris just come out and give his endorsements 1, 2, 3. Of course, then he would be accused of ‘bossism.’”
Why do you think people regard him as a boss? Could it have anything to do with his long-standing behavior?
When Chris Daly first ran for supe, one of his opponents was the late Hank Wilson, a fine progressive.
Nobody would ever have thought of applying the word “boss” to Hank Wilson. But the word comes readily to mind to anyone thinks of Chris Daly.
How do you explain this remarkable difference?
May 7, 2010 at 6:47 pm
I understand why Chris is doing this bless his heart. In the end, it is my belief a progressive candidate will win even under IRV. The rub is how you define progressive or more to the point who would best represent the folks he has always cared about most – those who are most at risk and in need in this district – the disabled, the addicted, the poor, those with mental health issues, the elderly, the new immigrants, the SRO residents and the working poor. I would prefer that Chris just come out and give his endorsements 1, 2, 3. Of course, then he would be accused of “bossism.”
May 6, 2010 at 10:38 am
In a post above, Ann Garrison says:
“I can’t even tell what’s being proposed here. Could we get a little who what why when where?”
Boss Daly, in the best tradition of testosterone politics, is trying to hand-pick his successor as supe in district six. He doesn’t trust the voters to make the right choice. So he wants to do it for them.
The Boss won’t succeed. True, he has been able for several years to swell up big, strut around, yell obscenities at everyone, and bully dissidents into submission.
However, he has overlooked the warning given by the “Book of Changes” to overbearing males everywhere:
No erection lasts forever.
May 6, 2010 at 8:26 am
I can’t even tell what’s being proposed here. Could we get a little who what why when where?
May 6, 2010 at 4:51 am
I thought IRV was supposed to be a great boost to Progressive politics. That with more than one progressive candidate in a race we had a greater chance of actually electing a Progressive in that race. That was a very strong argument for IRV in 2002 and 2003. When did that get switched around? Please explain the change.
May 5, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Not to worry Greg and el Greco,
There will be no Daly Primary. I challenge him to give us the name of a single candidate who has signed on.
We’re gonna win with Meko, Walker or Kim and it won’t be because of anything Chris did. Time for him to start hanging with Springsteen in late night bars and singing ‘Glory Days’.
h.
May 5, 2010 at 4:49 pm
It’s an interesting idea. On the other side, things aren’t nearly so democratic. People are told who the establishment candidate will be, and the rest are just told to step aside by the PTB who control the money and media. Those who don’t are largely marginalized.
But both h and el Greco actually bring up good points. How do we know that this primary will really reflect the will of progressives? Open primaries don’t work. Conservatives will just make mischief and vote for the weakest or least progressive candidate. Heck, that’s what I would do if I had a chance to vote in a Republican primary. That’s one reason prop 14 (the jungle primary) would be such a disaster if it wins.
And I’m a little uncomfortable about the whole private funding of elections thing as well. Isn’t that one of the major objections against Alex Tourk’s Why Tuesday initiative? And besides, if Chris can raise that kind of money, wouldn’t it be better spent on the campaigns themselves?
May 5, 2010 at 9:01 am
And what’s to keep Boss Daly from stuffing the ballot box? And who counts said ballots? And who selects the polling place? And doesn’t an unofficial ballot mailed out to voters create a lot of confusion as to what this sham “primary” is?
And privately raised funds for a “primary”? It’s really a paid political theatrical event so Boss Daly can keep himself in the driver’s seat in D6.
And, Chris, you had the temerity to introduce a resolution yesterday to condemn the fake elections in Myanmar (Burma).
May 4, 2010 at 8:09 am
Matt,
Or, who can vote? What’s to keep the Zamora/Lobos/Sparks crowd from stuffing the ballot box? The whole thing stinks to high heaven of elitism and sadly that’s what Daly has become.
Meko for D-6!
Walker second!
Kim third.
Daly for Hastings College of Law.
Lincecum at 4:05pm.
Go Giants!
h.
May 3, 2010 at 5:38 pm
From this article, it seems pretty clear that the primary is happening in Chris’ mind, but as for the commitments from the potential candidates themselves? I do hope it materializes but I can’t help but think of Chris’ good-intentioned but failed effort to nominate a candidate for mayor.
May 3, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Chris,
So, you evaded the only question that mattered. Is there a Progressive Machine and do they have a plan in place to ask/force all but one of the present leading Prog contenders to drop when you order it?
Also, just a housekeeping question between you and I. Do you consider me a Progressive? If so, would you put me on your ballot if I showed up with $5k and answered your litmus questions ‘correctly’? I have a bet with Eric Jaye on your answer.
h.
May 3, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Will politicians who live in Fairfield be allowed to vote in the progressive primary?