Haney and Campos Face Off Over Progressive Values Ahead of Election Call

By Ian Firstenberg 

Last week, Assemblymember David Chiu was appointed to take on the role as San Francisco’s city attorney after 20-year incumbent Dennis Herrera announced he will leave to head up the embattled Public Utilities Commission. 

Chiu is expected to step down on Oct. 31. The vacancy requires Gov. Gavin Newsom to call for a special election within 14 days. That actual election can be held between 126 and 140 days after the governor’s call, or within 200 days to consolidate it with an upcoming election. 

City Hall issues momentarily aside, San Francisco’s political future is shaping up as a contest between progressives. Of the four early candidates, two are pitted against each other on the matter of progressive values and policies: Supervisor Matt Haney and former Supervisor David Campos. 

Thea Selby — a City College of San Francisco trustee who raised her two children in San Francisco — and Bilal Mahmood — a philanthropist, entrepreneur and scientist — also announced their candidacies last week. 

Name recognition is a key factor at this early stage, making Haney and Campos early favorites. 

Haney, as current District 6 Supervisor, has supported affordable housing through a variety of rezoning laws. Campos, as former District 9 Supervisor, pushed for energy alternatives for San Francisco and fought to hold property rental companies like Air BnB accountable. Campos boasts a wealth of political experience compared to Haney, serving in the City Attorney’s Office before being elected to the Board of Supervisors.

However, some of Campos’ experience can be viewed as polarizing, namely his time as chief of staff for District Attorney Chesa Boudin, a position he currently serves in.

Campos, a gay man who emigrated with his family from Guatemala at the age of 14, has racked up more than 20 years in San Francisco politics. Haney, who was born and raised in the Bay Area, was elected to the San Francisco Board of Education and served as president before turning his attention to local governance. 

While it’s very early in the campaign game, it appears political niceties between the two camps have already evaporated. 

In an apparent attempt to stifle a Campos endorsement, Haney’s supporters showed up to a Harvey Milk Club meeting the week of Sept. 21, according to reporting in 48 Hills. 

That kind of political maneuvering seems more characteristic of the Capitol Hill crowd, not the sweet ol’ City by the Bay. It rings of a more ‘across the aisle’ kind of competition, and yet both men are California Democrats, and San Francisco Democrats at that. 

It’s worth questioning why Haney would risk the bad publicity by blocking an endorsement for someone who is ostensibly on his side?

Progressive policy squabbles could be sorted in debate or in another public forum, but this is a bit more pointed. 

Oct. 31 is still lightyears away if you consider what can, and does, change from day to day in the political sphere, and the special election has yet to even be called for, which leaves San Francisco voters like an eager Golden Retriever or a Christian kid on prom night, just waiting. 

City Hall changes in the wake of corruption allegations seems to be shaping up in favor of Mayor London Breed, who gets a political ally in Dennis Herrera at the PUC following the federal investigation, and another ally in Chiu as the next city attorney. 

If Boudin is recalled as DA, and that is still a big if, Breed could appoint another ally there. Similarly, if Haney wins the District 17 seat, the would be gifted yet another appointment opportunity at the Board of Supervisors. 

Lastly, San Francisco is in the midst of a potential school board recall stemming from controversy over how schools were reopened for in-person instruction. If the three potential board members are recalled, Breed gets the chance to appoint allies there as well. 

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a victorious 2022, for at least one San Franciscan. What that means for the rest? That part is unclear.