Meko, Keys Close to Qualifying for Public Financing

By Luke Thomas

June 17, 2010

Jim Meko and James Keys are close to qualifying for the first tier of public financing in the race for District 6 Supervisor, Fog City Journal has learned.

Meko’s campaign submitted the necessary forms to the San Francisco Ethics Commission yesterday, according Meko campaign manager Jamie Whitaker. Keys, who is finalizing the necessary paperwork, should be in a position to submit within the next two days, he said.

Both Keys and Meko are supportive of the Progressive Primary sponsored by Supervisor Chris Daly though Meko has expressed concerns with the Progressive Pledge.

Candidate for District 6 Supervisor James Keys.

Candidate for District Supervisor Jim Meko.

“Make no mistake, I would be honored to receive your endorsement. Obviously it would be a huge help to me as a political newcomer,” wrote Meko to Daly, June 15. “And I would like to participate in the Progressive Primary, but I am reluctant to sign the 30 point pledge. I believe that I have already proven that I am a Progressive over and over again. I am hesitant to sign this thing because the criteria are not based upon input from a broad section of District 6 residents. At the end of the day, I am running to represent them.”

“I think the pledge is the most divisive aspect of the whole idea. Why wouldn’t a simple declaration of Progressive beliefs suffice? We are by our nature a self-defining group of people,” Meko added.

Daly said he believes the pledge represents Progressive interests in the District. “I think the pledge represents bread and butter issues for District 6 residents,” he said.

Daly said he needs at least one candidate who has qualified for public financing and who agrees to the pledge to undertake the Primary. However, with today’s 12:00 pm deadline fast approaching, it looks increasingly likely that the Primary will be abandoned.

It was the intent of the Primary to determine which Progressive candidate would win Daly’s endorsement and, more importantly, his campaign support. It was also designed to be yardstick to determine early campaign strength.

Responding with a metaphor to the impending collapse of the Primary, Daly told Fog City Journal: “As a parent, my job is to put healthy food on the table. It’s up to my kids to eat it.”

Update, 12:46 pm: Supervisor Daly reports James Keys submitted to Ethics today a required form noticing his intent to file for campaign financing.  Keys is expected to submit the remaining documentation later today or tomorrow.

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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