Them That Be and Them That Wannabe: Court Jester Reviews DCCC Prog Kick-Off

By h. Brown

May 1, 2010

Damn there’s some good looking Progressive candidates out there.  I’m talking Hollywood level.  Candidates young and old and tall and short from bucks to buxom, and their supporters packed CELLspace, that old SOMA industrial barn on Bryant street last evening and a very good time was had by all to be sure.

Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) Chair Aaron Peskin welcomed seekers of a wide array of City offices who schmoozed and boozed and cruised the night away in dim flattering light under an erector set of arching and thrusting steel girders. And thankfully, Fog City Journal’s Luke Thomas was there to catch them at their absolute peak because lets face it, they’re all a day older already.

The Thomas Photo Gallery

Former Board Prez and D-3 supe Peskin posed holding a copy of the current Bay Guardian Candidate Endorsement cover with current D-11 supe and Budget and Finance Chair John Avalos who was joined by cutest couple in the room, Erich Pearson and his main squeeze, David Owen, who in a former life before becoming an attorney was Aaron’s Chief of Staff under da dome.

DCCC Chair Aaron Peskin, Supervisor John Avalos, Erich Pearson and David Owen.

SFBG Guardian City Editor Steven T. Jones looking his rugged best wrapped a strong arm around musician/singer/songwriter Valerie Orth who provided live music for the event.

SFBG City Editor Steve Jones with singer/songwriter Valerie Orth.

My favorite shot of the night is the ubiquitous Peskin with one arm around DCCC hopeful Hope Johnson who is endorsed by SEIU and the Tenants Union and League of Young Voters and Potrero Hill Democratic Club and Central City Democrats and a bevy of other neighborhood Democrat clubs, and the other arm around Superior Court candidate Linda Colfax who holds a similar portfolio of nods and uh huh’s.

DCCC candidate Hope Johnson, Aaron Peskin and Superior Court Judge candidate Linda Colfax.

A happy quartet was Livable City/Bike Coalition veteran and Golden Gate Bridge Director Dave Snyder scrunched with Living Library founder, Bonnie Ora Sherk, da dawg, and multi-talented Superior Court challenger Michael Nava (he writes great mystery novels in his spare time).

GGTD Board Director Dave Snyder, Natural Creek Daylighter Champion Bonnie Ora Sherk, Da Dawg (h. Brown) and Superior Court Judge candidate Michael Nava.

Man of many hats, Gabriel Haaland, in the best shape of his life after 50 or more days of hot yoga (whatever that is), posed with D-9’s man of the hour, David Campos (he and City Attorney Dennis Herrera are leading the fight against Arizona’s cruel SB 1070 anti immigrant legislation). Campos, as you know, chairs the BOS Rules Committee and gets lots of extra points for living with a fabulous Bulldog named Winston who actually has his own calendar.

SEIU honcho Gabriel Haaland with Supervisor David “cool under fire” Campos.

Some guys have all the luck and last evening future mayor Julian Davis was one of those guys cause he was flanked by dancer Cat Rauschuber and devotee of local Farmers markets, Karen Babbitt.

Cat Rauschuber, Julian Davis and Karen Babbit.

The SF Green Party was represented by the City’s top political guru, Marc Salomon, and Fog City contributor Sue Vaughan.

Marc Salomon and Sue Vaughan.

Anti-Sit/Lie campaign leader/Pirate Cat Radio dj/League of Pissed-Off Voters mover and shaker, Andy Blue, had his picture taken with Prog wunderkid attorney David Waggoner who will defend him in the clutch as he did Carolyn Knee and Tony Hall in their darkest hour.

Activist Andy Blue and Attorney David Waggoner.

BART Board Director Tom Radulovich was happily sandwiched between former SFUSD Board Prez Kim Shree Maufus and writer/songstress judy b whose poetry is a Luke Thomas fave.

Former School Board President Kim Shree Maufus, BART Board Director Tom Radulovich and music/poetry impresario judy b.

Haikus for the DCCC
(By judy b., inspired by Andy Blue and originally performed with Eric Doc Smith’s Unidentified Flying Quintet.
Reproduced with permission)

The soul of the city
does not belong to any one
The soul of the city lives
in this piano, bass, saxophone and drums
it sings in my voice—and yours
What are you saying with it?
The soul of the city belongs to no one
We belong to it

Progressive is
Progressive is progress, positive action
moving forward, looking ahead
to a future built on the work of now
Progressive is
of the people
by the people and
for the people
We the people have the power
What are you doing with yours?

How can you sit on the sidelines
and take this lying down?
When you stand,
STAND FOR someone
STAND WITH the people
who put you in that seat
Let us know with your voice
that our voices matter
Stand firm Stand proud
STAND UP
Make your allegiance clear

A New Candidate’s Pledge
I pledge allegiance to the people
who put me in my place
and to the republic
they will help me build
working together
for liberty and justice for all.

Eric Doc Smith and judy b. demonstrate their opposition to Gavin Newsom’s penchant for police state laws.

Andy Blue and Hope Johnson stage a Sit/Lie law protest.

SFPD Officer John Fewer, with Andy Blue, opposes Sit/Lie. Says there are already laws on the books to deal with loitering, assaults etc.

D-10 supe contestant/D2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier staffer Bill Barnes looked young and strong and able to the table with Women’s Political Committee’s Alix Rosenthal and Heidi Sieck on either side.

Alix Rosenthal, Bill Barnes and Heidi Sieck.

Everyone wanted their picture taken with David Campos who obliged Community College prospect and DCCC candidate Michael Goldstein and David Waggoner, Esq.

Michael Goldstein, David Campos and David Waggoner.

I snuck up on long time Democrat power, Debra Walker, who is a very strong second choice (I like Jim Meko) in this coming November’s race to succeed D-6’s gnarled and medal bedecked Chris Daly who was there but I don’t think got into a photo. I bitch and moan (to put it mildly) at lots of these people but I truly love them all like afternoon soap opera stars and I think my neighborhood will be well served by whichever Prog steps into Chris’ big big shoes.

D6 DCCC candidate Debra Walker with Da Dawg.

Supervisor Chris Daly used humor Tuesday to undermine Newsom’s proposed Sit/Lie wedge issue threat with a “No Lying” ordinance proposal of his own.

For examples of the ‘Hollywood looks’ shots check out the pairs pics of John Avalos with Andy Blue and Hope Johnson with Erich Pearson.

Supervisor John Avalos and Andy Blue.

Hope Johnson and Erich Pearson.

And, you fans of D-8’s leading Prog supe candidate Rafael Mandelman, check out him on the right with David Waggoner and whirlwind Hope Johnson.

David Waggoner, Hope Johnson and D8 frontrunner, Rafael Mandelman.

City Attorney Communications Director Matt Dorsey, Da Dawg, Hope Johnson and SFStreetsBlog Editor Bryan Goebel.

Hope Johnson, Da Dawg, Supervisor Eric Mar, School Board Commissioner Sandra Fewer and hubby, John Fewer.

United Educators of San Francisco Political Director Ken Tray with former School Board President Kim Shree Maufus.

DCCC candidate Chris Gembinski, Sierra Club Communications Director Holli Bert, DCCC candidate Rick Hauptman, Hope Johnson and Obama organizer Matt Haney.

Matt Haney and perennial College Board candidate, Bruce Wolfe. Bruce also sits on the Sunshine Task Force.

Is this Scott Wiener? Apparently, unbeknownst to Scott, someone stuck a “Stand Against Sit/Lie” sticker on his back at a recent event.

It was a great party.

Thanks to Peskin and the Guardian and all for the invite.

Go Giants!

Harold Brown

h. brown is a 62 year-old keeper of sfbulldog.com, an eclectic site featuring a half dozen City Hall denizens. h is a former sailor, firefighter, teacher, nightclub owner, and a hard-living satirical muckraker. His other FCJ articles can be found here. here.

More Posts - Website