Janet Reilly

Ranked-Choice Voting Hasn't Helped Progressives

Is ranked-choice a rank choice? ​It's not a surprise that progressive and moderate supervisors are readying to cross swords on whether to continue San Francisco's ongoing dalliance with ranked-choice voting. What is a bit surprising is who's on which side. Moderates are out to dismantle a system t ... More >>

What Will It Take for Ross Mirkarimi to Lose the Sheriff's Race?

Not an easy slide into first place​Barring a miracle, Ed Lee is on his way to becoming the next mayor --it's now the hotly contested sheriff's race that is the one to watch. As of this morning, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi had a narrow, 10 percent lead over Chris Cunnie, securing 38 percent of the vo ... More >>

Ranked-Choice Voting Will Force Politicians To Swallow Their Pride

Arggggh, I don't want to be humble​A growing chorus of politicians who lost in November claim Ranked-Choice Voting, the instant-runoff system used in San Francisco and other cities, is flawed and should be scrapped. But Steven Hill, architect of RCV systems such as ones used in here and in Oakland ... More >>

Supe Races Over: Tony Kelly Concedes to Malia Cohen in District 10

Quelle désastre!​With yesterday's concessions by District 2 candidate Janet Reilly and District 10's Tony Kelly, the San Francisco supervisorial races are, at long last, kaput. The new supervisors on the 2011 board will be Jane Kim, Scott Wiener, Mark Farrell, and Malia Cohen. As for how this wil ... More >>

Mark Farrell Declares Victory in District 2

Mark Farrell says he's won. Does Janet Reilly concur? ​Update: Janet Reilly ConcedesMark Farrell -- who didn't have very many endorsements but did end up with more ranked-choice votes than favorite Janet Reilly -- has declared victory. "As of this evening, all the votes have been counted in Distr ... More >>

Elections Overtime: The Races That Haven't Finished

...And we're counting​Funny thing about Instant-Runoff Voting: The results often aren't so instant. A number of elections around the state are still undetermined. What does the future hold? Gnashing of teeth, threats of litigation, and, of course, counting, counting, and recounting. In an Instant- ... More >>

San Franscisco Voting: All Leaders Expand Margins

​Earlier today, city election chief John Arntz told us that today's most recent round of ranked-choice voting tabulations determine "nothing." Fair enough. But it's better to win than to lose, and it's better to be ahead than behind. You can bet that all the politicos involved and their supporters ... More >>

Ranked-Choice Voting Totals For San Francisco -- Are These Our Next Supervisors?

She's ranked Nos. 1, 2, and 3 in our voting​San Francisco's Department of Elections moments ago released its most up-to-date voting data yet -- and Mark Farrell, Jane Kim, Scott Wiener, and Malia Cohen are all smiling. Smiling nervously, but smiling.  Today is the first tally using ranked-cho ... More >>

Supes Races Too Close to Call

Four supes-to-be will be 'crowned' on Friday, leading to a memorable weekend. Their identities are not so clear. ​It's going to be a hell of a weekend for a quartet of San Franciscans. While the vast majority of San Francisco votes have been counted, late absentees and others will keep the city fr ... More >>

Tens of Thousands of Uncounted Ballots in San Francisco

Count 'em all...​Earlier today, we noted that only several hundred votes separated the thrill of victory from the agony of defeat in all four contested supervisorial races. It requires an astoundingly small number of votes to become a supervisor in this city. But you can count on it requiring quit ... More >>

Janet Reilly Is No Chris Daly. (In Case You Were Wondering)

Chris Daly. He's not blond.​Is there a more toxic name in local politics than that of District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly? In 2008 we saw efforts to attack progressive candidates for the Board of Supervisors by tagging them as Daly's "puppets." Now a website run by a group calling itself "C ... More >>

Bay Area New York Times Affiliate to Host Young Democrats' Campaign Volunteer Drive?

Sometimes pints and politics don't mix​It's not unusual for news organizations to be accused of bias or political agendas in their coverage. But seldom do professional journalists find themselves in the position of actively helping specific political campaigns recruit volunteers in the run-up to a ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Picks a Successor. Do Voters Care?

Michela Alioto-Pier's a Mark Farrell fan. Will voters follow?​The Chronicle is reporting that termed-out Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier will throw her support to would-be successor Mark Farrell. This confirms what we'd heard, too. The question is -- do voters give a damn? It's a legitimate questio ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Ruled Ineligible By Court of Appeal

Luke ThomasThe city has shaken its Alioto-Pier Magic Eight Ball once more...​The city's Brett Favre-like quandary over whether Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier is eligible to run for another term swerved once again today. The state court of appeal this afternoon overruled superior court Judge Pe ... More >>

City Attorney Dennis Herrera Appeals Ruling, Fights to Keep Michela Alioto-Pier off Ballot

Luke Thomas, Fog City JournalIt's not over yet, Michela...​City Attorney Dennis Herrera will this morning file an appeal of Judge Peter Busch's ruling that Michela Alioto-Pier is eligible to run again for District 2 supervisor. Herrera told KTVU-TV he was compelled to make this move on behalf of " ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier's $50,000 Legal Bill May Be Paid By City

Luke Thomas, Fog City Journal Michela Alioto-Pier: This won't be cheap, Mr. Herrera...​After beating the city in court yesterday to win the right to run again as District 2 supervisor, Michela Alioto-Pier treated her staff and supporters to a nice lunch. The city isn't on the hook&nbs ... More >>

Is Janet Reilly Quitting District 2 Supervisor Race?

So long, Janet? ​After a judge yesterday ruled Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier is not termed out and can run again for District 2 supervisor, calls flooded in to challenger Janet Reilly's office. Her campaign manager, Patrick Collum, said Reilly felt the need to "get the word out" about her plans. ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Wins Term Limits Suit, Will Run Again for District 2 Supervisor

Michela beat the city -- but can she beat her District 2 rivals? ​Staffers for Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier tell SF Weekly that the District 2 supe has won her suit vs. the city and will be allowed to run again. Judge Peter Busch this morning ordered her name be placed on the ballot. A 2 ... More >>

Alioto-Pier: Not Progressive, Thus Termed Out?

Can't Stop, Won't Stop​Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier just doesn't understand. Tom Ammiano served fourteen years on the Board of Supervisors, Chris Daly ten. So why, then, is City Attorney Dennis Herrera insisting that Alioto-Pier -- who's been on the Board since 2004, when she was appointed to fi ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Will Take City to Court, if Necessary, to Run for Supe Again

Michela Alioto-Pier is running until the judge says she can't​Yesterday, we reported on how Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier took out papers with the Department of Elections to run again, even though a 2008 opinion from City Attorney Dennis Herrera claimed she was ineligible to do so. John Arntz, th ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Files to Run for Supe Again. Will Suit Against City Be Next?

Are Michela Alioto-Pier and the city on a collision course?​City's Department of Elections does not consider District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier eligible to defend her seatTwo years after City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed an opinion stating Michela Alioto-Pier was ineligible to run for re-e ... More >>

For Whom the Bridge Tolls

Politicians want pork to pay for Golden Gate increases, but the money should be paid by drivers instead.

Smoka Free

Believe It or Not!

Let's get beyond the balderdash and take a closer look at the motivations behind some political campaigns

Letters to the Editor

Week of Wednesday, May 4, 2005

Same as the Old Boss?

Why the new mayor should resist political pressure from the new shadow ayatollah of San Francisco politics, real estate mogul Clint Reilly

Who Is Clint Reilly, Really?

He's running for mayor again, and this time he wants to define himself, before his enemies do it for him