The campaign to elect San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos to the mayorlty held its campaign kickoff event Sunday at Victoria Manalo Draves Park. Photos by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
May 24, 2011
Awash in a sea of orange and black campaign signage and T-shirts, with enough food to feed a small army, the campaign to elect District 11 Supervisor John Avalos to the San Francisco mayoralty held its campaign kickoff event Sunday in SOMA.
It was the mother of all mayoral campaign kickoffs, attracting as many as 400 San Franciscans of all stripes and colors to Victoria Manalo Draves Park, named after the Filipina San Franciscan and Olympic gold medalist.
As many as 400 volunteers and supporters line up for hotdogs and lemonade.
“It’s amazing. My heart is so warmed by the diversity and turnout,” an exuberant Avalos told FCJ. “I am really excited. I think it’s about the power of my grassroots work in San Francisco. We can have a grassroots campaign. We can build from this. We can win this election.”
In addition to a large turnout, the kickoff attracted fellow mayoral candidate, State Senator Leland Yee, who attended the event to congratulate Avalos’ candidacy and, perhaps, to signal an unsaid interest in promoting a co-endorsement, ranked choice strategy with the Avalos campaign.
Candidate for mayor, Senator Leland Yee, congratulated Avalos' candidacy.
Asked about his attendance at Avalos’ campaign kickoff, Yee said, “I want to congratulate him. I think it’s important that he’s in the race and I wanted to come by and say hello to him. I welcome him to the race and I hope the very best for him.”
“We’re not considering any strategy of any sort,” Yee added. “The only strategy I want is that I think the more candidates that run, the better it is for the democratic process. Anybody and everybody who wants to run ought to run.”
Both Avalos and Yee were recently endorsed by the Sierra Club.
Though Yee is considered a frontrunner in the race, his considerable base is largely restricted to the conservative-leaning Westside of town. A ranked choice strategy with Avalos, who is popular in his District as well as in Districts 5, 6, and 9, could prove decisive in overthrowing the Willie Brown dynasty, which continues to exert influence over Room 200.
Attending the kickoff with his daughter and three granddaughters, Assemblymember and LGBT icon, Tom Ammiano, said Avalos is a name voters can trust.
“We have to let people know that Avalos is a name we can trust,” Ammiano said while paying tribute to Harvey Milk on the anniversary of the former Supervisor’s birthday. “He has the best hair of the candidates, so, Jesus, he’s got my vote.”
“Harvey Milk knew the secret,” Ammiano added. “The secret is grassroots. Not astroturf like some of our candidates, but real grassroots.”
Assemblymember Tom Ammiano.
Other electeds in attendance included Supervisors Eric Mar, Ross Mirkarimi and College Board Trustee John Rizzo, each of whom has endorsed Avalos. Supervisor David Campos, who was unable to attend the kickoff, has also endorsed Avalos.
DCCC Chair Aaron Peskin, Supervisors Ross Mirkarimi, John Avalos , Eric Mar and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano.
During a lively speech to his supporters, Avalos focused on a theme of open, collaborative government.
“San Francisco is at a cross roads,” Avalos said. “Will it be business as usual at City Hall or can we create a new era of open government, of community participation and public service that’s devoted to the common good?”
"San Francisco is at a crossroads."
“That’s what’s at stake in this election today,” he added. “Under my administration, I will expect to have the highest levels of integrity of service from all levels of government, especially our department heads and our managers. We cannot have the same business as usual that greases the wheels with lobbyists, but make sure we have open government and we make decisions in plain view where people have information about how we do our decision making at City Hall.
“As your mayor, I will not run away from tough decisions. I will stand up to special interests as I always have in my work at City Hall, and I will put interests of the collective above the interests of the few.”
More photos
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi gets his groove on to "Love Train" by the OJays.
The people have a candidate!
Supervisor Eric Mar and College Board Trustee John Rizzo.
Candidate for District Attorney David Onek and community activist Tony Kelly.
Weeeeeeeee!!!
Children raise the Avalos for Mayor flag.
Avalos hopes to garner the coveted San Franisco Bicycle Coalition endorsement.
Bicyclists for John Avalos.
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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The Hunger Site
May 24, 2011 at 9:48 am
Sorry to have missed it. Still up at Russian River.
AVANTE ALCALDE AVALOS.