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Former supe bows out of race to unseat Newsom
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Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Former supervisor Tony Hall — the one challenger in the mayor’s race who had previously held an elected office in San Francisco — announced Thursday that he would not run for The City’s top office, just days after raising enough money to qualify for matching public funding.
Hall, 65, a registered independent who is conservative by San Francisco standards, told The Examiner that he blamed the media and San Franciscans, but mostly Mayor Gavin Newsom for his decision to bow out.
He accused Newsom’s re-election team of intimidating potential donors from contributing to his campaign. Hall wouldn’t elaborate on his charges but said the intimidation limited his ability to get his message out.
He also said that the media’s coverage of the mayor’s race never detailed his many years of experience in public service. San Franciscans didn’t escape his criticism, either.
“I don’t think there’s enough people to hold this guy and his incredible spin machine accountable,” Hall said.
The deadline for candidates to withdraw their name from the November ballot is 5 p.m. today.
Hall left his supervisor seat in 2004 to become head of Treasure Island, part of a “triple play” on the part of a newly elected Newsom to gain an ally on the Board of Supervisors. Hall moved from the board to Treasure Island; then-Treasure Island head Annemarie Conroy took over the Office of Emergency Services. Sean Elsbernd was then appointed to the board seat.
The plan backfired: Hall went head-to-head with the Mayor’s Office regarding control of redevelopment of the island but was then ousted by the Treasure Island Development Authority.
Twelve challengers remain in the race for mayor, including a director of a neighborhood safety nonprofit, a city probation department manager, a self-proclaimed showman and two bloggers. Political analysts say none has the name recognition and fundraising potential to beat Newsom.
beslinger@examiner.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:36 AM MST on Sat., Sep. 1, 2007 re: "Former supe bows out of race to unseat Newsom"
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Examiner Reader & SF citizen (Cole Valley) said:
Ironically, the final paragraph of this article states, "Twelve challengers remain in the race for mayor", however, "Political analysts say none has the name recognition and fundraising potential to beat Newsom." The article fails to mention any of the names of the candidates!! According to the article, "[Hall] also said the media’s coverage of the mayor’s race never detailed his many years of experience in public service." Perhaps none of these candidates, including Hall, are considered newsworthy until after they dropout. Perhaps I missed these other articles? Or should we suffice ourselves with the Examiner's running joke on mayoral challengers (what's it today? 900-1 odds that Jeff Tedford, Cal's football coach, would win??). Add to this, Ken Garcia's 8/28 article stating, "...whether Mayor Gavin Newsom will continue trying to raise money or bother to debate against a bunch of no-name candidates." Again, no candidates are named. Sad.
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