Barnes for DCCC chair

THE NEWLY ELECTED members of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee will meet April 1 to choose a committee chair, and the decision will be both practically and symbolically important. The clear choice for the job is Bill Barnes, an aide to Sup. Chris Daly.

Barnes has long been active in progressive causes, was a supporter of Sup. Matt Gonzalez for mayor, and would continue the reform agenda the current chair, Jane Morrison, took on after years of backroom pro-machine dealing. His main opponent is Leslie Katz, a former supervisor and ally of the Brown machine who was a supporter of Mayor Gavin Newsom.

After a hard-fought (and remarkably expensive) campaign, the committee, which sets policy for the local party and determines the official party endorsements in local nonpartisan races, is closely split between progressives and Newsom allies. There are a number of crucial decisions this year, including endorsements in district supervisor races, in which the Democratic Party nod could play a significant role. So it's crucial that the chair – who not only runs the meetings but also makes rulings on procedural issues that can affect endorsements – be in the progressive camp.

Besides, electing Katz would be a step backward, a sign that the local party is moving away from its activist position and returning to its old role as an enforcer of pro-downtown machine policies. The committee members should vote for Barnes.