Leave No District Behind: S.F. Progressives Should Run for Every Seat

by Paul Hogarth, Beyond Chron (reposted)

Fri, Oct 27, 2006 7:54AM

In the October 19th edition of Beyond Chron, I explained that Democrats will probably take back Congress this year because, unlike in the past, they have aggressively fielded candidates in almost every district. Initially criticized as foolish and a waste of resources, Howard Dean’s “Fifty State Strategy” has been such a success that, along with the national climate, Republicans now have to defend their seats in places like Idaho. In the final weeks before Election Day, San Francisco progressives have mobilized to defend Supervisor Chris Daly in District 6 – to keep a seat that was initially thought to be a sure thing. But there was no pro-active effort early on to determine that progressives have a candidate running in every district, which would have forced moderates to fight the battle to control the Board of Supervisors on multiple fronts.

Meet David Kiddoo. You won’t find his name on the ballot this year, but he’s running as a write-in candidate for Supervisor in District 2 (the Marina.) Progressives have never seriously challenged this seat, allowing Gavin Newsom to use it as a springboard to run for Mayor – and then appoint Michela Alioto-Pier after he got elected. “I grew up in the rural Midwest,” said Kiddoo, “and if you were a progressive and wanted something on the ballot, you didn’t have a choice. When it came time for me to vote this year, I suddenly realized that I was in the same situation. There are progressives in every corner of our city, state, and nation -- including District 2.” Egged on by the League of Pissed Off Voters, the 32-year-old nonprofit housing developer decided to run at the last minute against Alioto-Pier. The San Francisco Bay Guardian and the Tenants Union have already endorsed his candidacy.

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