Heart of the City Archives


Supervisor Gavin Newsom and former Supervisor Angela Alioto announce a partnership at Alioto's Montgomery Street law office. Detail

 

 

 

 


Monday, November 24, 2003. 11:00 am PST

Extra: "Vice Mayor" Alioto Endorses Newsom
by Hank Donat

Within the past hour, an anguished Angela Alioto endorsed Supervisor Gavin Newsom for mayor in the December 9 run-off election against Supervisor Matt Gonzalez. Alioto, at times fighting back tears and hanging her head, said the decision to endorse Newsom was a painful one. Alioto, who finished third behind Gonzalez in the November 4 general election, ran for mayor on a committed belief that Newsom was exploiting the poor for political gain.

Immediately following the endorsement, Alioto and Newsom announced a partnership that would create a position allowing Alioto to oversee homeless policy, public power, and single-source contract review in a Newsom administration. While details of the volunteer "vice mayor" position would have to be "worked out by the city attorney," Alioto said she has asked for an office at City Hall with a view overlooking Joseph L. Alioto Performing Arts Piazza. "It is an historic San Francisco partnership," said Alioto, "Your vote for Gavin Newsom is a vote for me to take care of homelessness."

In endorsing Newsom, Alioto affirmed her career-long commitment to the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates. Gonzalez is a member of the Green Party.

Sunday evening at approximately 8 pm, Supervisor Tom Ammiano endorsed Gonzalez. Ammiano's brief remark consisted only of, "I have endorsed Matt Gonzalez for mayor." It came at the end of Ammiano's address at a rally at Collingwood Park following the candle light march in honor of the 25th anniversary of the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.

Ammiano had been expected to endorse Gonzalez, a late entry in the race for mayor. Gonzalez came in second in the general election, earning a place in the run-off with Newsom. Ammiano finished in fourth place following Alioto.

Gonzalez, who was standing with this reporter behind the crowd of 250-300, was unaware that Ammiano would announce his endorsement at the rally. "He told me he was going to announce it soon," Gonzalez said, "but no, I didn't know." - Hank Donat

Heart of the City wraps up its unique series on the candidates to succeed Mayor Willie Brown in "Gavin Newsom Revisited," Tuesday, November 25, and "Matt Gonzalez Revisited," Tuesday, December 2. In his exclusive series of Heart of the City outings, Hank Donat reveals an unseen side of each of the top-tier candidates for mayor of San Francisco in 2003.

More at Notorious SF: Vice Mayor Alioto

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