SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - The clock is ticking for Mayor Gavin Newsom to accept any of the hundreds of resignation letters he asked City Hall heads and commissioners to submit, dated Monday, Jan. 7.

The mayor made the request in September, saying that he wanted the opportunity to start his second term with a clean slate, and promising “a lot of changes.” In a Sept. 18 letter to department heads, commissioners and his senior staff, Newsom wrote that the offers to resign would only be effective if he accepts.

“If I do accept your offer, your resignation will be effective close of business January 7, 2008,” Newsom added.

So far, however, there has been little news to indicate the mass shakeup Newsom hinted at in the fall.

Gregg Fortner, the former director of the San Francisco Housing Authority, and Virginia Harmon, the former executive director of the City Human Rights Commission, both resigned in September after Newsom requested the offers.

Since then, there have been rumors and scattered reports in City Hall circles about whom Newsom would ask to leave, involving such officials as San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager Susan Leal, Port Executive Director Monique Moyer, Recreation and Parks chief Yomi Agunbiade and police Chief Heather Fong.

“The mayor will be making final decisions about the resignations in short order,” Newsom spokesperson Nathan Ballard said on Monday. “He has been reviewing each tendered resignation on a case-by-case basis and will be making final decisions next week.”

“Announcements will be occurring soon,” Ballard said.

Members of the Board of Supervisors said they were in the dark concerning whose resignation offer Newsom might accept, but they did believe he would take up some offers.

Where any changes would be made was difficult to know, said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. “But change is definitely needed in some sectors.”

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, who Newsom appointed to the District 2 seat in 2004 after he was elected, said while requests for offers of resignation are something “typically” done when a mayor comes into office, the blanket request for offers of resignation was likely not a route she would have taken.

“I am of the belief [that] when you know who you want to leave then you let them go,” she said.

dsmith@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

1:40 AM MST on Fri., Jan. 4, 2008 re: "With jobs on line, mayor waits"

Examiner Reader said:
As a San Franciscan, I find Newsom's CHILDISH politically motivated games a WASTE of Tax payers money. Obviously, he does not know anything about Leadership. As usuall, he is looking for soundbites, he is going to surrond himselfs with 30-40 year olds who may or may not be qualified to do the job. Newsom should focus on San Francisco as opposed to working on his political resume, to show that he is a tough guy (when he will run for the governer). Stop wasting our money, leave the people who work hard for the San Franciscans alone. I wonder how many non-whites or Gays and Lesbians, or people older than 40 are we going to see around him in top positions after the axe falls. Newsom has shown by his actions that likes to surrond himself by the members of a certain religious minority. Is it their fundraising capabilities?

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5:48 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 2, 2008 re: "With jobs on line, mayor waits"

Examiner Reader said:
The poster likely meant "We" as in "We the voters".

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5:42 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 2, 2008 re: "With jobs on line, mayor waits"

Examiner Reader said:
Previous Exam Reader, they can resign anytime, or do they need to pass a civics exam first? They already seem to have Socialism 101 covered.

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5:19 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 2, 2008 re: "With jobs on line, mayor waits"

Examiner Reader said:
District supervisors are elected and cannot be "dumped" by the mayor. Apparently a course in civics is in order for some.

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3:10 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 2, 2008 re: "With jobs on line, mayor waits"

Examiner Reader said:
We need to dump Peskin, Ammiano, Mirkarimi, and Daly for starters. How I wish we could dump some police commissioners too; those idiots Campos and DeJesus are enemies of the cops. Fong? Meh. She ain't that bad though I wish we had someone with cojones as chief to stand up to an out of touch police commission and to demand Kamala Harris' office prosecute felons the way they need to be and shrug off the expected accusations of racism. No one in this town has any guts anymore; everyone is too busy blaming others for their problems.

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1:59 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 2, 2008 re: "With jobs on line, mayor waits"

Examiner Reader said:
I say we start with Supervisors Alioto-Pier and Dufty, maybe Peskin, too.

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1:47 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 2, 2008 re: "With jobs on line, mayor waits"

Rejoh said:
Supe Mirkarimi is correct, change is needed, let's start with you and Daly.

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