December 18, 2002

Hall Monitor

By Savannah Blackwell

Stumping for Sophie: Women leaders associated with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and one machine-friendly organization have urged the Board of Supervisors to support the only incumbent female supe in the race for board president.

Sup. Sophie Maxwell, city hall insiders say, is Mayor Willie Brown's choice. She faced no opponents in her reelection race in the Bayview-Hunters Point and Potrero Hill district. But the low-key pol has stiff competition for the top board job. Sup. Aaron Peskin is running with the support of outgoing prez Tom Ammiano and Sup. Jake McGoldrick. And Sup. (and Green Party member) Matt Gonzalez is running with the support of his board buddy, conservative supervisor Tony Hall.

On Dec. 11, Jennifer Webber, the consultant who ran the Proposition A campaign for the chamber, fired off an e-mail to women members of the California Abortion Rights Action League as well as to the San Francisco Women's Political Committee. Titled "I'm for Sophie!," Webber's note asked for help in convincing the supes to back Maxwell. Two days later Gwyneth Borden, director of government relations at the chamber and a former aide to Sup. Gavin Newsom, spread the word to members of the National Women's Political Caucus. The NWPC's board includes some machine luminaries – such as Linda Richardson, Brown's pick for District 10 supervisor in 2000.