Potential supes tap public funds

SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - In an expected showdown between moderate and progressive candidates running this November for the Board of Supervisors, at least eight candidates will have war chests partially filled with public money.

The argument for giving taxpayer funds to candidates running for office is that it allows them to spend more time campaigning, helps them compete with more seasoned candidates with deep-pocket donors, and it takes the corrupting influence of money out of the equation if the candidates are elected.

District 4 candidate Ron Dudum qualified for public financing on Wednesday, the latest candidate to do so. Dudum is battling against incumbent Carmen Chu, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s pick for that seat.

“I find raising money one of the most distasteful parts of the process,” Dudum said, adding that he expected Chu would have an easier time getting donor support.

To receive public financing, candidates must submit a list of political contributions between $10 and $100 from at least 75 different residents and totaling $5,000 to show broad and substantial public support for their candidacy.

Qualifying candidates initially receive $10,000 of public money. If they raise another $10,000, the candidates are eligible to receive $40,000 in public money. Another $37,500 is given if the candidate has matching funds from donors.

Political analyst David Latterman said that public financing is a progressive measure to “stop downtown funding or equalize it.”

In at least one race, however, both a moderate candidate — Ahsha Safai, former Deputy Director of Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Office of Community Development — and a progressive — John Avalos, legislative aide for Supervisor Chris Daly — have qualified for public financing for the District 11 contest.

Ahsha said he went with public financing since it allows him to spend time campaigning, not trying to raise financial support.

Avalos said his contributors are not from well-heeled donors but “teachers, social workers, community activists.”

Three progressive candidates in District 9 — David Campos, Eric Quezada and Mark Sanchez — are receiving public funding.

In District 1, school board member Eric Mar, a progressive, is receiving public financing, which he said “helps level the playing field.” One of Mar’s opponents is Sue Lee, Newsom’s appointee to the Planning Commission.

In District 3, business lawyer Tony Gantner is receiving public financing and faces tough competition to replace termed-out Supervisor Aaron Peskin: David Chiu, who is endorsed by Peskin, and moderate Joseph Alioto Jr., brother of District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier.

jsabatini@sfexaminer.com

Filling war chests with taxpayer cash

Eight candidates so far have successfully applied to receive up to $87,500 in public money. Among notable contributions:

Eric Mar, District 1

$500, Michael Bornstein, San Francisco Bay chapter director of Sierra Club; $500, Dennis Kelly, president of United Educators of San Francisco

Tony Gantner, District 3

$100, James Pope, Realtor, Pope Properties; $500, Janet Hetzel, director of operations, Tower Tours

Ron Dudum, District 4

$500 John Fisher, president of Pisces Inc., son of Gap founder Donald Fisher; $100, James Pope, builder, Pope Builders

Eric Quezada, District 9

$100, Douglas Shoemaker, Mayor's Office of Housing assistant director; $500, Chris Daly, District 6 supervisor

David Campos, District 9

$100, Michael Hennessey, S.F. County sheriff; $250, Scott Wiener, chair of S.F. Democratic County Central Committee

Mark Sanchez, District 9

$500, Matt Gonzalez, former Board of Supervisors president; $100, Gerardo Sandoval, District 11 supervisor

John Avalos, District 11

$100, Tom Ammiano, District 9 supervisor; $100, Dale Butler, SEIU Local 1021

Ahsha Safai, District 11

$150, Michael Farrah, director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services; $500, Alex Tourk, Mayor Gavin Newsom's former deputy chief of staff

Source: Ethics Commission

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