What Will Progressives Do About the Mayor’s Race?

The Green Party recommended four candidates (but did not endorse), and the Harvey Milk Club is scheduled to vote on endorsements Tuesday. Candidates must raise $25,000 by August 28th in order to get public financing, which will indicate if anyone is viable. Regardless of the outcome, progressives must focus on an issue-based legislative agenda for the upcoming year – and plan for the Board of Supervisors races in 2008.

“I’m not playing the endorsement game,” said Supervisor Tom Ammiano. “I love them all, but I really like Quintin Mecke.” That appears to be the consensus among most of the City’s progressive leadership – besides labor unions, which have generally endorsed Newsom.

Supervisor Chris Daly, who organized a Progressive Convention in June and stressed the need to field a challenge to Newsom, has endorsed Quintin Mecke. "He has a long track-record of advocating for issues that are important," said Daly, including public safety and city planning.

Matt Gonzalez and the partners at his law firm have cut $100 checks for six of the Mayoral candidates – Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai, Lonnie Holmes, Quintin Mecke, Chicken John Rinaldi, Josh Wolf and Tony Hall. But Gonzalez was quick to point out that these donations are not meant to be endorsements.

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