Candidate for
City Attorney; City of San Francisco

San Franciscans deserve a City Attorney that is experienced, impartial and committed to protecting the City's legal interests and improving the quality-of-life in our city. I am the only candidate that offers significant experience in municipal law, expertise on the San Francisco City Charter, and a track record of independence and accomplishment. As a fourth generation San Franciscan and father of four, I am deeply vested in the future of our city and wish to serve, not because I want to climb the political ladder, but because this most important office requires the best qualified person to serve as City Attorney.

For the past 26 years, my career has been focused on public administration and municipal law. I have served our City as a deputy city attorney, deputy mayor, labor negotiator and neighborhood activist. My first job was working for Governor Jerry Brown, enforcing laws to protect farm worker rights. I then served for five years in the San Francisco City Attorney's office. As a deputy city attorney I tried cases; advised city officials; and drafted laws, labor agreements and contracts. I have negotiated landmark agreements -- preventing healthcare strikes, protecting employment rights for the gay and lesbian community, the City's first comparable worth policy for City workers and bringing millions of dollars of state revenue to the City. I was the principal author of the City's first rent control law, the 1995 Charter and the recent MUNI management reforms. I served as the legislative counsel to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and in-house counsel to two mayors. I am the only candidate who has significant experience as an administrator, from a small office to a large City department.

As San Francisco's next City Attorney, I will strongly defend the City's legal interests, provide the best advice without political consideration and target issues that affect the quality-of-life for every resident. I will crack down on substandard housing by negligent landlords, promote energy self sufficiency and continue to aggressively pursue public interest lawsuits against out of state electricity generators, gun manufacturers, tobacco companies and toxic polluters. I will ensure the Office maintains the highest level of independence and serves as the nation's finest public interest law firm.

Most importantly, I will ensure that the office provides non-political, impartial legal advice. Deputies will report directly to the City Attorney, not to politicians and bureaucrats. I will address the insular nature of the office, assigning deputies to work with district supervisors and community organizations on code enforcement and quality-of-life issues. And my hiring of attorneys will reflect our City's diversity.

I have receive support from throughout our city. I would be honored for your support.