<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title><![CDATA[politcs - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports]]></title><description><![CDATA[SFist is San Francisco's source for fun, witty, & serious news. With updates about restaurants, events, sports, politics & more, SFist reaches millions of users in California.]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/</link><image><url>https://sfist.com/favicon.png</url><title>politcs - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, &amp; Sports</title><link>https://sfist.com/</link></image><generator>Ghost 2.12</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:21:14 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://sfist.com/politcs/rss/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><ttl>60</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[Nate Ballard Quits Newsom Administration]]></title><description><![CDATA[Witty and wise Newsom spokesman <a href="http://sfist.com/2009/04/16/nathan_ballard_makes_excellent_pot.php">Nathe Ballard</a> made a choice decision today: he <a href="http://sfappeal.com/news/2009/1...]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/2009/11/16/nathan_ballard_quits_newsom_adminis/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c242d6544ad066cdcf77bec</guid><category><![CDATA[SF News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gavin Newsom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nathan Ballard]]></category><category><![CDATA[Newsom]]></category><category><![CDATA[politcs]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brock Keeling]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:22:44 GMT</pubDate><media:content url="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2009/11/nathan_ballard_facebook-thumb-640xauto-458747.jpg" medium="image"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2009/11/nathan_ballard_facebook-thumb-640xauto-458747.jpg" alt="Nate Ballard Quits Newsom Administration"><p></p>

<p>Witty and wise Newsom spokesman <a href="http://sfist.com/2009/04/16/nathan_ballard_makes_excellent_pot.php">Nathe Ballard</a> made a choice decision today: he <a href="http://sfappeal.com/news/2009/11/godspeed-nate-ballard.php">quit Newsom's (sinking?) ship</a>. To the press release:</p>

<blockquote>San Francisco, November 16, 2009 — Today Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that Nathan Ballard, his director of communications, will be leaving the Newsom administration.

<p>Newsom praised Ballard’s skills.</p>

<p>“Nathan Ballard is unflappable, smart and a fierce advocate,” said Newsom. “He is a talented communicator and a consummate professional, and we will miss him.”</p>

<p>Ballard praised Newsom for his leadership.</p>

<p>“Mayor Newsom is a gifted leader who fearlessly tackles significant issues such as health care, the environment, education, and equal rights,” said<br>
Ballard. “It has been a privilege to serve this administration.”</p>

<p>Ballard took the helm of Newsom’s communications operation in February,<br>
2007. He will be leaving the administration in February, 2010. He said he plans to spend more time with his family and to relaunch the business he founded in 2004, Earned Media, LLC.</p>

<p>Ballard, 40, has served as a spokesman for two presidential candidates, Senator John Kerry and General Wesley Clark. He has also been a communications director for the Democratic National Committee, the California Democratic Party, and California’s largest labor organization, the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Ballard's decision to leave comes after Gavin Newsom <a href="http://sfist.com/2009/10/30/breaking_newsom_drops_out_of_race.php">quit the governor's race</a> and <a href="http://sfist.com/2009/11/04/newsom_goes_on_hawaiian_vacation.php">escaped to Hawaii</a> without telling his staff, <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=51608">lied to the press</a>, and.... God only knows what else.  This surprising news also comes just months after <a href="http://sfist.com/2009/07/27/eric_jaye_resigns_from_team_newsom.php">Eric Jaye bolted</a> from Team Newsom in July. </p>

<p>As local scribe and activist <a href="http://twitter.com/paulhogarth/status/5777756307">Paul Hogath</a> puts it, "with Eric Jaye, Newsom lost his brain ... With Nate Ballard, Newsom is losing his voice ..." Agree? Disagree? Thoughts? Musings? Quips? Savory gossip? Let us know in the comments, folks.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Newsom <s>Spams</s> Raises Money On Twitter With the Help of Chelsea Handler]]></title><description><![CDATA[While SFist likes to bitch about Mayor Gavin Newsom, as any self-consciously and affectedly pissed-off San Francisco voter does, we also love us some Chelsea Handler. (If you don't know who she is, pl...]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/2009/06/25/newsom_spams_raises_money_on_twitte/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c24279a44ad066cdcf480a4</guid><category><![CDATA[SF News]]></category><category><![CDATA[chelsea handler]]></category><category><![CDATA[entertainment]]></category><category><![CDATA[Newsom]]></category><category><![CDATA[politcs]]></category><category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brock Keeling]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:25:38 GMT</pubDate><media:content url="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2009/06/newsom_twitter-thumb-640xauto-344031.jpg" medium="image"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2009/06/newsom_twitter-thumb-640xauto-344031.jpg" alt="Newsom <s>Spams</s> Raises Money On Twitter With the Help of Chelsea Handler"><p><br>
While SFist likes to bitch about Mayor Gavin Newsom, as any self-consciously and affectedly pissed-off San Francisco voter does, we also love us some Chelsea Handler. (If you don't know who she is, please watch Handler's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyRHcOjVjlo">interview with T.I.</a> right this second.) So, it came as a bit of a surprise when the host of E's superb <a href="http://www.eonline.com/on/shows/chelsea/index.jsp">Chelsea Lately</a> asked her Twitter followers to <a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Gavin-Newsom-Raising-Money-on-Twitter.html">donate to Newsom's campaign</a>. It seems she's quite the Gav fan. You see, Newsom needs even more money for his gubernatorial campaign, so he's holding an unfortunately-titled online event called a "<a href="https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/newsomtweetraiser?refcode=twitter&amp;amount=10">tweetraiser</a>." While not necessarily the most innovative thing a candidate can do to raise money, as <a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Gavin-Newsom-Raising-Money-on-Twitter.html">NBC Bay Area's Owen Thomas points out</a>, "looking is the part is where the youthful Newsom, who loves to hobnob with the founders of Google and other young tech entrepreneurs, really shines." (At this point, Newsom needs to start talking in a robotic voice while making herky-jerky movements. "Beep bop boop. I. am. from. the. future. Give. me. your. earth. money." Like that.) Anyway, if you have an extra $25,900.00 lying around, go <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/newsomtweetraiser?refcode=twitter&amp;amount=10">here</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Relax, You Will All Get the Chance to Vote Today]]></title><description><![CDATA[SFist has received scores of emails and a few comments today, <a href="http://dcist.com/attachments/dcist_nicole/cathy2.jpg">Cathy</a>-ing about the lack of ballots and alleged chaos at certain pollin...]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/2008/11/04/relax_you_all_get_the_chance_to_vot/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c24289144ad066cdcf4ff18</guid><category><![CDATA[SF News]]></category><category><![CDATA[ballots]]></category><category><![CDATA[election 2008]]></category><category><![CDATA[politcs]]></category><category><![CDATA[polls]]></category><category><![CDATA[stations]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brock Keeling]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:06:41 GMT</pubDate><media:content url="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2008/12/entry191004_thumb-thumb-640xauto-38070.jpg" medium="image"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2008/12/entry191004_thumb-thumb-640xauto-38070.jpg" alt="Relax, You Will All Get the Chance to Vote Today"><p>SFist has received scores of emails and a few comments today, <a href="http://dcist.com/attachments/dcist_nicole/cathy2.jpg">Cathy</a>-ing about the lack of ballots and alleged chaos at certain polling stations. </p>

<p>We asked a voting official today, who asked to remain anonymous, if the polling stations aren't well-equipped, if ballots are running out, and if the sky will fall. </p>

<p>Not so. According to our source:</p>

<blockquote>We will NEVER run out of ballots. There are enough for this election. Turnout is high and even higher than anticipated in some precincts. This leads to a <strong>temporary shortage</strong> of ballots until a field deputy can deliver more securely. These drop-offs are sometimes delayed due to unforseen circumstances (breakdown of vehicle, issues at other precincts, etc.). All of the ballots for each precinct are not dropped off right when they open at 7am due to many issues: weight, security, and so forth. Some voters may need to wait in line at their precinct until they can vote. If they cannot wait, they can come back later, or go to another precinct and vote provisionally. Or they can come to City Hall and vote provisionally.

<p>Again, we are not running out of ballots. Every vote will be counted. Every person who has the right to vote and is in line by 8PM will be allowed to cast a ballot.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Hope this puts some of your frayed minds at ease. </p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>