Charter Amendment Heightens Harris-Newsom Tensions

News of the less than amicable relationship between Mayor Gavin Newsom and District Attorney Kamala Harris has been circulating for months, and the recent dust-up over the shooting of a man in the Witness Protection Program appeared to cement the animosity between them. Now, a charter amendment being voted on by the Board of Supervisors tomorrow is poised to deepen the divide. Supervisor Jake McGoldrick’s proposal to change the election years for the Mayor, District Attorney, City Attorney, Sheriff and Treasurer so that they’d be elected in even-numbered years would extend the current office-holders’ terms by one year each, allowing them to seek re-election in 2008 instead of 2007. Rumor has it that Newsom loves the idea, while Harris remains less than pleased.