August 23, 2007
Peskin's Out (State Senate Race, And Politics In General)
We've gotten word that everyone's favorite tough guy, Board of Supes Prez Aaron Peskin has made it official that he's not going to be running for the State Senate, declining to get in the middle of the Mark "Tanned Ambition" Leno and Carole "That car came outta nowhere!" Migden fight. In fact, Peskin's now saying he's getting out of politics altogether after his term ends on the Board (later this next year [Sorry! We've been watching so many presidential debates we briefly thought it was already 2008.])
You may remember Peskin had originally been rumored to be thinking about running to split Leno's support and give Migden a boost in the race -- so does this mean Peskin now thinks Migden can do it by herself now? Or is Peskin copacetic with Leno now? Or is Peskin maybe just burned out from having to referee all the fights at the Board of Supes for the last three years? Can't blame him for any of those options, really.
We'll miss ya, Aaron! You're totally the best. (We still totally love Peskin for jumping to our defense during that whole byorngate brouhaha earlier this year.)
Picture of Peskin by campaignphotographersformatt.
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thankfully for San Francisco, Peskin's still got a year and a half left on the Board.
He is one of the best.
good riddance. i wished he left before he took a big dump on west soma by compromising to make it (west soma) a huge parking garage. thanks for asking the residents Peskins! Sure, we'd love to have 2500 car parking garage in our back yards. No problem. Y not stick in ur district?
Peskin was the cause of several recurring nightmares.
On Halloween a few years ago I guess he was campaigning for reelection. I'm walking around North Beach with the wife, and we see all these little kids running around in Peskin MASKS, which I guess his campaign had been giving to people. It was totally weird and frightening.
(there is a slight possibility that I made all that up in my head, but I'm reasonably sure that's not the case)
I wonder if Rob Black will carpetbag and run for his seat. Will the voters of Peskin's district elect a man with no lips?
Or maybe Ed Jew can run - at least his flower shop is in the district.
Seeing him in speedos will be forever etched in my mind.
For better or worse.
this is too bad, since unlikle most politicians in the legislature from SF currently, or most politicians in SF in general, he read the rule book and figured out how to get laws passed, like the MUNI reform measure.
instead SF will keep sending people to Sacramento who talk big, but kowtow to moneyed interests. Good for SF, shows once again how talk trumps action any day.
I've been watching Peskin's political career for more than a decade now. Lord knows I've frequently disagreed with some of the things he's done, but it's obvious that he knows how the game is played and that he plays it well. Just as Telegraph Hill Dwellers under his presidency was SF's most effective individual neighborhood group, he's been one of the board's most effective supervisors. Effective. Good? I won't venture an opinion.
Great - now this means I'm gonna get stuck with a moron in 2009 representing me on the Board like every other district.
What a bummer. Term limits make for the worst policy .. just guarantees that politicians have their eye on the next seat before they master the current one.
Too bad we can't draft Peskin to run for Assembly. I can't imagine Ammiano is going to do much good for us in Sacramento .. though I'm sure we'll enjoy becoming the butt of more "only in san francisco" jokes! Sadly, Ammiano will probably be the one making those jokes himself..
I'd vote for him over Ammiano.
rita is my absolute favorite sfist!
Okay, I swear to the Lord above us, I'm never coming to San Francisco again if Ross Mirkarimi doesn't run for Aaron's position. He absolutely deserves it, and would do excellently.
Ross FTW!
... God, I seriously need a hobbie....
Except that I doubt Ross is going to move.
Tom certainly has Aaron pegged. He sees the trees, alright, and doesn't give a crap about the Forest.
This is in alll likelihood posturing anyway. He'll get a State commission seat to sit on until it's his turn for Mayor.