Supes Race: Mandelman Concedes, Wiener Victorious

The final tally won't be official until the end of November, but the race for District 8 Supervisor is over. From SFGate:

...The other conceded race goes to Scott Wiener in District Eight. The second-place finisher in that showdown, Rafael Mandelman, issued his statement to ''Dear Friends'' on Wednesday.

''I cannot express just how incredibly grateful I am to all of you who have been part of my campaign for supervisor,'' Mandelman wrote. ''Unfortunately, after two years of dialing for dollars, knocking on doors, chasing after endorsements and harassing the bejeezus out of every registered voter we could track down in the district, we are firmly in second place. ... Scott Wiener will be the next supervisor for District Eight (and a very capable and excellent supervisor he will surely be), but I am so glad and grateful for the opportunity to represent you and your values in this campaign.''

Like Kim, Wiener also made use of the exclamation mark in a mass e-mail, stating: ''Victory!''

In the latest results, Wiener had 42.75 percent of the first-choice votes Thursday to Mandelman's 35.27 percent. But again, when voters' second- and third-choice votes were run in a preliminary count, Wiener surpassed the crucial 50 percent mark.

[SFGate: Kim, Wiener declare victory]

Preliminary Ranked Choice Results: Supes Race District 8

The short version: Scott Weiner leads with 12,985 total votes or 55.65% of the vote in Round 2 (Mandelman has 44.35%).

In case you were confused by the ranked choice voting, here's how it works:

The Ranked-Choice Voting Report for Round 1 combines the accumulated totals of first-choice rankings as well as the second- or third-choice selections transferred to the first-choice ranking selections when the first-choice ranking was skipped as required under San Francisco Charter Sec. 13.102: "If a voter casts a ranked-choice ballot but skips a rank, the voter's vote shall be transferred to that voter's next ranked choice."

The numbers are not final, and Mandelman has not conceded. The department will release final results on November 30, 2010.

[SF Department of Elections: Preliminary Ranked-Choice Results Report, Board of Supervisors, District 8]

Early Returns: District 8 Supes Race

Via SF Appeal:

San Francisco's elections for four new members of the 11-member Board of Supervisors remained undecided.

With no candidates achieving a 50-percent majority of votes in races in District 2, 6, 8 and 10, San Francisco's ranked-choice voting system will determine the winners in the coming days.

District 8 in the Castro District and Noe Valley will be led by either Deputy City Attorney Scott Weiner, who got nearly 42 percent of the vote, or public law and affordable housing attorney Rafael Mandelman, who received 36 percent.

[SF Appeal: 2010 Election: Newsom Probably Headed To Sacramento, Other SF Candidate Results]
[Images: Twitter]

Harvest Fest 2010: Giants Love, Politicking, Costumes...And Goats

This year's Noe Valley Harvest Fest was more subdued than years past. It felt denser (more booths) but less ambitious (smaller stage, less entertainment), and the rainy weather certainly didn't help. The event could be summed up as a mix between catering to kids and people looking for your vote.

The costume contest was once again a hit (especially among mothers). The 2008 winner (as a geisha) won again, this time as a flamenco dancer. Second place was a mummy, third a little lion.

In politics, Scott Weiner's team was part of the zeitgeist (go Giants!):


There was no petting zoo this year, but Rafael Mandelman's crew brought...goats.

Supes Race: District 8 Candidate Forum

Last chance to hear from all four candidates to replace Bevan Dufty as District 8 Supervisor here in Noe Valley is tomorrow night at the monthly Upper Noe Neighbor's meeting at the Upper Noe Rec Center. Bill Hemenger, Rafael Mandelman, Rebecca Prozan and Scott Wiener will answer questions submitted to UNN President Vicki Rosen.

When: Thursday, Sept. 16, 7:30 pm
Where: Upper Noe Recreation Center (Day & Sanchez)

Can't make it? There will be another meeting on October 6th over the hill at the Randall Museum.

Update: The Bay Area Reporter has a good summary of candidate positions as well as upcoming forums and debates.

Supes Race: DCCC Shenanigans Unchanged With Progressives In Power

BeyondChron was at last night's meeting of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) and notes that politics are unchanged since Progressives took power:

The Committee then moved to the District 8 race to succeed Bevan Dufty. As the only progressive candidate running, Rafael Mandelman had the edge. On the first round of voting, he grabbed 18 votes – one more than necessary. David Chiu, who I had heard from a few sources was a “wild card,” voted for Mandelman. But the real surprise was State Senator Leland Yee – who has endorsed Rebecca Prozan, but was the 18th vote.

Immediately after this vote, DCCC member Scott Wiener congratulated Mandelman for getting the Party’s endorsement – and said he would not be seeking the “second place” vote for the District 8 nod. “I’m running for first-place,” he said, “and I intend to win.” With Wiener out of the picture, Prozan easily secured the “second choice” endorsement.

It became clear that a deal had been struck, with one moderate politico telling me that Rebecca Prozan had “back-stabbed Scott.” Another way of putting it is Mandelman had to secure the endorsement, and Prozan delivered Leland Yee. And while it’s true that Mandelman only needed 17 votes to prevail, perhaps David Chiu didn’t want to be the 17th vote. Regardless, now progressives are going to feel beholden to Leland Yee.

As SFGate puts it: "Mandelman...walked away from the vote a happy man, noting that candidates who have the backing of the Democratic Party more often than not win their races."

[BeyondChron: Cronyism Makes a Comeback at SF Democratic Party ]
[SFGate: Who got the endorsement of SF Demo Party?]

Supes Race: District 8 Candidate Debate, Round 2

The Noe Valley Democratic Club is sponsoring a second debate in the 2010 District 8 Supervisor race. Bill Hemenger, Rafael Mandelman, Rebecca Prozan, and Scott Wiener will all be there. You can submit questions same-day, or in advance to moderator Jary Larsen.

What: District 8 Candidate Debate
When: Wednesday, July 21st, 7:30PM
Where: St Philips Church 725 Diamond St

Supes Race: Ammiano Endorses Mandelman

Wasting no time, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano endorsed Rafael Mandelman today for this November's District 8 Supervisor race. The former SF Supe adds his name to a growing list including Supervisors John Avalos, Eric Mar, Ross Mirkarimi and...um....Chris Daly. And don't forget - Mandelman also has the support of the Harvey Milk LGBT Club.

[FCJ: Ammiano Endorses Mandelman]
[NVSF: Harvey Milk LGBT Club Endorses Mandelman for District 8]

Supes Race: Harvey Milk LGBT Club Endorses Mandelman for District 8

An update to the District 8 2010 Supervisor race that could be significant: The Harvey Milk Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Democratic Club has endorsed Rafael Mandelman for district 8 (via SF Citizen).

Oh, and if it matters, Mandelman was also named one of the Hot 20 Under 40 by 7x7 magazine.

[SF Citizen: Harvey Milk Club Endorses Debra Walker, Rafael Mandelman and Michael Goldstein for 2010]
[7x7: Hot 20 Under 40]
[Photo: John Lee for 7x7]

It's Official: Mandelman Enters Supes Race

Lawyer and Board of Appeals Commissioner Rafael Mandelman filed papers with the San Francisco Department of Elections Wednesday, formally declaring his candidacy to replace sitting Supervisor Bevan Dufty in the 2010 race for District 8 Supervisor.

[FCJ: Mandelman First to Declare District 8 Candidacy]

Prop 8 For Political Gain

Is the arrest of a District 8 supervisor candidate while protesting the CA Supreme Court's ruling on Prop 8 trivialized if it was planned?

Among those arrested Tuesday for blocking Van Ness Avenue in protest of the ruling upholding Proposition 8 were two out candidates for supervisor in 2010: Rafael Mandelman and Debra Walker.

...Mandelman, a gay man who is the first out of the gate in the race to replace termed out District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty. An attorney and member of the city's Board of Appeals, he will hold his campaign kickoff in mid-June, 18 months before voters go to the polls in November 2010 to elect Dufty's successor.

But as Matier & Ross reported:

...Protest organizers met with San Francisco police in the days leading up to the court's decision and negotiated just how the arrests would go down....The arrests also began at noon- just in time for the live TV shots for the noon news.

FWIW, Mandelman "plans to pull papers for the race next week and his campaign launch begins at 6 p.m. Monday June 15 at Blush Wine Bar on Castro Street."

[BAR: Gay, lesbian supe candidates arrested at Prop 8 protest]
[M&R: This time, Newsom plays it straight]
[NVSF: Election 2010: And So It Begins]