SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - A city commissioner chosen by Mayor Gavin Newsom who was recently turned down by the Board of Supervisors for reappointment to the board that oversees The City’s water and electricity utilities is now facing another possible rejection by the board, after the mayor put him on another city commission.

Newsom appointed Ryan Brooks, an executive with CBS Outdoor Inc., an advertising firm, to the Planning Commission after his reappointment to the Public Utilities Commission was shot down last month by the Board of Supervisors in an 8-3 vote.

That vote was caught up in disputes about Newsom’s decision to force the ouster of the PUC general manager Susan Leal, who has several friends on the board.

Newsom’s second attempt at appointing Brooks to a commission again requires confirmation by the Board of Supervisors, although in this case the board could shoot down the appointment with six votes, not the eight required to reject a PUC appointee.

On Thursday, members of the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee expressed concern that Brooks would remain employed by CBS Outdoor while sitting on the Planning Commission, which oversees billboard advertising.

Brooks responded by saying that he would recuse himself “if there is any small chance whatsoever there could be a conflict.”

Supervisors Tom Ammiano and Chris Daly said they weren’t convinced that would solve any potential conflicts of interest.

Ammiano said while he supported sending the decision to the full board, he didn’t know “if this is the best fit.”

Supervisor Bevan Dufty said he supported Ryan. “I think he will be honorable,” said Dufty. “Ultimately, his service on the commission is going to be a good thing if he is approved.”

The full board will vote on whether to confirm Brooks’ appointment March 18.

jsabatini@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

5:41 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 20, 2008 re: "Chain store ban faces ire of commissioners"

Gretchen said:
Chain stores are fine. They create jobs and generally have a broad enough financial base that they can afford the costs of being in business. Why should the Mission have to give up the convienience and variety of chain stores. And why, pray tell me, should the board of supervisors have the final say? The Planning Commission is in charge of...planning! The BofS is in charge of... being a group of communist nazis who want to keep poor neighborhoods downtrodden and prevent them from improving. Tell the BofS to keep their commie hands off my neighborhood! San Franciscans: Fight to limit the power of the Board of Supervisors -they do not represent the wishes of the taxpayers!

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9:50 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 19, 2008 re: "Chain store ban faces ire of commissioners"

Examiner Reader said:
Better a strip mall in the Mission than empty storefronts, gang warfare by jobless kids, and graffiti as it stands. But then, what does Tom Ammiano know about economics anyways given his tax-happy ways?

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