Steady Republicans
May 25, 2000
ARM WRESTLING: Supervisor Sue Bierman tried to wrest the gavel from Housing and Social Policy chairwoman Mabel Teng. But Teng won as she declined to stop a standing ovation on May 8 in a packed committee room, where she and Amos Brown declared their opposition to the state’s plan for a parole center in Visitacion Valley. Bierman, who demanded that Teng silence the anti-parole center crowd, had voted against Teng’s resolution to oppose the center. The Board passed the resolution 10-to-1, which was signed by the mayor last week.
Meanwhile, Eliott Hoffman, owner of Just Desserts and the building that is to be converted into the parole office, said May 20 that he would not lease the facility to the Department of Corrections, thereby giving up “millions” in the name of preserving harmony with his neighbors.
STAYING THE COURSE: It looks like the San Francisco Republican County Central Committee has decided to stick with incumbent Don Casper for chairman in what was characterized as a friendly contest with Howard Epstein.
At least a majority of the 27 members voted for attorney Casper over businessman Epstein in a secret ballot. Casper will lead a party that has ebbed down to 14 percent of San Francisco’s voters. Despite low registration rates, the party has gained commission appointments under Democratic Mayor Willie Brown, and is anticipating supervisor election victories for Republicans in November.
“There was unfinished business to be done,” said Casper, whose tenure brought the party back into the black with a $31,000 surplus with help from Charles Schwab, the Gap’s Donald Fisher and Clint Reilly.
Breaking the love-fest, however, some criticized Casper’s remarks in a March 29 edition of the S.F. Weekly, in which he reportedly said that the party might consider endorsing a Democrat in the District 3 supervisor race (Chinatown/North Beach) if no “qualified” Republican makes the runoff.
That was interpreted as a slap against the two Republican candidates in that district, former county committee member Rose Chung, and current member Michael Denunzio.
Other committee members, though, said that Casper’s remarks were misinterpreted.
WRONG, NOT RIGHT: At the May 17 S.F. Tomorrow awards dinner, Bureau of Building Inspection Commissioner Debra Walker helped award the Jack Morrison Medal of Honor by praising liberal environmentalist Board President Tom Ammiano for having the “highest rating” of the “League of Conservative Voters.” What she meant was “League of Conservation Voters.” Definitely politically incorrect, especially considering she’s an appointee of his.
MISTER E.D.: Retired U.S. Senator Bob Dole, whose voice could be a dead giveaway for Humphrey Bogart, talks about his “E.D.” problem in television ads. Was that his “erectile dysfunction” or “Elizabeth Dole” problem? Bob and Liddy have had way too much time together after opting out of presidential politics.
EASY ON THE SOY SAUCE: E-mail your comments to potsticker@prodigy.net or samson@sfindependent.com. Calls accepted at 415-826-1100, ext 23.
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