Following the oath of office for the recently appointed members, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors chose a new president on Wednesday.
After receiving the only nomination from District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan and District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman—the longest-serving member of the Board—was unanimously elected.
In an address, Dorsey stated, “It is my distinct honor to place the name of Rafael Mandelman as the nomination for president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors,” outlining his reasons for believing Mandelman was the most suitable candidate. “What in my view recommends Rafael to the Presidency of this Board, at this time, is a temperament, and intellect, and good heart of someone who has worked cooperatively and well across ideological lines throughout his public life.”
Mandelman has been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, affordable housing, the city’s public transit system, and tackling behavioral health issues since joining the Board in 2018.
He is the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to hold the position of Board president in over two decades.
“He has been a fearless champion for the LGBTQ+ community that we are both a part of,” Dorsey stated. “From the earliest days of the marriage equality fight in 2004 … To today’s fight to ban transgender homelessness and fund HIV/AIDS services that continue to be a national model.”
The freshly elected and reelected supervisors took an oath of office as one body and raised their right hands in unison before casting their votes for a new president.
Bilal Mahmood for District 5, Jackie Fielder for District 9, Chyanne Chen for District 11, and Stephen Sherrill for District 2 are the five new members. There are still six former Board members.
After winning reelection in November, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar was both excited and a little anxious about working with her new coworkers.
In an interview, Melgar stated, “I am thrilled to have a group of people with fresh eyes.” “I am a little bit anxious because everybody is from outside of government.”
To congratulate Mandelman and greet the recently sworn-in supervisors, newly appointed Mayor Daniel Lurie also took a seat on the dais beside Mandelman.
“President, they have bestowed upon you a unanimous vote,” stated Lurie. “I am unsure of the last time that occurred. Because the eleven of you set aside your differences for the sake of our city’s improvement, I see a bright future for it.”
He informed the incoming supervisors that in order to become familiar with the nuances of functioning in the city’s legislative body, they will need to rely on the more experienced members.
“We have five new ones and six that have tremendous experience that we are going to lean on in the coming days, weeks, and months,” added Lurie. “We’ve got work to do.”
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.