thanks for the update. this was the first info i could find online about the vote results.

In what was a disappointing night for myself and many others support Scott Wiener, Mr. Chiu, in his bid for a long career in politics, will be remembered most in my mind for his vote.

Last night I attended the DCCC meeting where Aaron Peskin beat Scott Wiener to become DCCC Chair.

For all the bluster and arguments for and against both candidates, it was so obvious to me that Democrats still can’t openly talk about the most pervasive form of discrimination in politics – heightism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heightism#Heightism_in_politics

Peskin’s appointment last night was a resounding victory for shorter people, who in San Francisco continue to be ignored.

Against the odds of a much, much, much taller candidate in Wiener, Peskin prevailed by showing that shorter people can and should assume leadership within the progressive political family.

Some speakers talked about the importance of having a queer DCCC Chair. But what about us shorter people in the world? Why should we face discrimination everyday because it’s harder for us to reach for the dishes sitting on the top cupboard shelf?

Frankly, I was worried when the meeting started because clearly Wiener supporters had staged the setting to give him a clear, visible advantage. Peskin had to endure sitting and standing next to the two tallest DCCC members – Wiener and Arlo Hale Smith – for several hours.

I couldn’t believe the subtle, stagecraft heightism I was witnessing before my eyes. It was a stunt that only Karl Rove could pull off.

As a short person, I applaud the DCCC members who supported Peskin. Your vote made shorter people everywhere in San Francisco feel taller, even if it was symbolic vote against heightism.

Peskin’s appointment was one small step towards equal rights for shorter people. It’s now time for all Democrats to come together.

Murphy -> David Chiu is a human being, and he has the right to change his mind. That's an important quality to have in a leader and shows that he is not so rigid as to ignore the will of the people who clearly voted in a progressive slate if even by a small majority.

Besides, change is good. If Peskin does a crappy job, I'm sure Wiener will be voted back in as Chair because he did an excellent job! Besides, they are all friends behind the scenes anyway.

Murphy -> David Chiu is a human being, and he has the right to change his mind. That's an important quality to have in a leader and shows that he is not so rigid as to ignore the will of the people who clearly voted in a progressive slate if even by a small majority.

Besides, change is good. If Peskin does a crappy job, I'm sure Wiener will be voted back in as Chair because he did an excellent job! Besides, they are all friends behind the scenes anyway.

I too was disappointing by David Chiu's vote, is this the first sign that he has no politial back-bone and will beholden to Chris Daly.
Change is good, but I don't see this a change, Peskin and Daly have been working in SF politics for 8+ years.

The overheated rhetoric around the DCCC chair's race seems to me a bit silly. David Chiu's entire worth as a potential public servant turns on which of two eminently well-qualified individuals he supported for chair? His mentor or his friend? Huh? I don't get it. For myself, I'm a bit more interested in how Chiu will approach land use issues. Or what he's going to do about the ongoing shame of our housing our mentally ill on sidewalks. Or what he's going to do to protect and expand affordable housing. His vote for Peskin actually gives me some confidence that he will take those issues seriously if he's elected to the Board of Supes. But to suggest that this one vote should somehow define anyone's political worth is frankly ridiculous.

Why did Assemblymember Fiona Ma vote for Peskin? This was the biggest surprise to me.

I was disappointed with DCCC members who voted for Scott Wiener. Is this a sign that these DCCC members have no political backbone and will be beholden to the anti-tenant Plan C, real estate, and downtown agenda and Mayor Gavin Newsom?

Seriously, folks, get over your disappointment. Your blanket statements are almost as absurd as the above introductory paragraph about Wiener supporters.

Individual DCCC members voted for their preferred candidates for different reasons, not necessarily because of lack of political backbone.

For many DCCC members, the tough choice was between two strong candidates – 18 members thought Peskin would be a stronger DCCC chair, while 16 thought Wiener would be stronger.

With the likely exception of Chris Daly, whose antics and language I sometimes cringe at, I think most DCCC members who voted for Peskin respect Wiener but they just felt Peskin would be a better chair. Fine. We'll see over the next several months and beyond if this is true. And if not, DCCC members can likely call for another vote anytime.

Chiu likely supported Peskin because Peskin has served as one of Chiu’s political mentors for many years. And any political observer reading this knows that Peskin is the incumbent District 3 Supervisor who strongly endorsed Chiu in his bid for District 3 Supervisor.

Their friendship, from what I hear, is very strong.

Chiu’s vote was obvious to most everyone who knows his personal and political relationship with Peskin.

Less obvious was why Fiona Ma supported Peskin? And David Campos?

And why did Arlo Hale Smith try to switch his vote at the last minute? Now that was confusing!