After spending more than two decades as one of San Francisco’s leading political powerbrokers, it is understandable that Carole Migden now misses the limelight. That may explain why she is spreading word that she is exploring running for District 10 Supervisor in 2010. Migden told Fog City Journal that she was planning on moving into the district, and one of her confidantes said she was “seriously looking” at the race. There are many reasons why a Migden candidacy makes no sense for San Francisco’s last remaining district with African-American representation. But perhaps chief among her problems goes back to 1995, when she publicly expressed fear about even holding a meeting in Bayview-Hunters Point. It’s hard to see Migden campaigning in a district where she feels she needs armed security, and her comments are unlikely to be forgotten by voters.
Not satisfied earning $132,000 serving on the state Integrated Solid Waste Management Board – and readers should ask what she did to lead Governor Schwarzenegger to appoint her to this historic sinecure for defeated or termed-out legislators – Carole Migden is seeking new challenges. Migden’s landslide primary loss to Mark Leno – which has to be one of the biggest margins an un-indicted incumbent has ever lost in a primary –apparently left Migden with a bad taste that she feels can best be remedied by winning a new political office.
Although Districts 6 or 8 would give Migden the best chance, she is instead exploring District 10. It could be because this district, unlike the other two, does not yet have a prominent announced gay or lesbian candidate.
But Migden’s history in District 10 is, shall we say, mixed.
Afraid of Bayview?
In 1995, the Board of Supervisors voted to expand their outreach to underserved communities by holding meetings outside City Hall. But as the Jan. 17, 1995 meeting at the Southeast Community Facility – a community college campus and neighborhood center at Oakdale and Phelps streets – approached Migden publicly expressed concern about the Board holding a meeting in Bayview-Hunters Point.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Migden raised questions over whether there would be ample security to protect the supervisors and the public. This led Bayview activist Sam Murray to respond by saying “There’s never been a mayor or supervisor killed in Bayview-Hunters Point,” referring to the 1978 City Hall murders of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
Under pressure, and after receiving assurances from the SFPD that sufficient security would be provided, Migden withdrew her opposition. But her objections defeated the Board’s goal of having the Bayview meeting coincide with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; the Bayview Board meeting was instead delayed until March.
Migden’s Other Problems
Even if comments that were widely perceived as racist back in 1995 were her only problem, Migden’s candidacy faces many of the same challenges that led to her one-sided defeat to Mark Leno. For example, she may be the only politician whose Wikipedia entry includes a section on “Driving History,” and given District 10’s proximity to the highway, Migden’s driving problems would remain on voters minds.
A Migden candidacy would also put her progressive backers in the position of promoting someone whose victory would eliminate African-American representation on the Board of Supervisors. With Sophie Maxwell termed out, and no prominent African-American currently being considered in other districts, District 10 voters may strongly favor a black candidate.
It’s also worth noting that Carole Migden has developed a long list of political opponents over the years. This is common for someone who has long served in public office, but many of Migden’s advesaries seem more passionate.
Consider John Whitehurst, who ran Leno’s campaign against Migden. When I asked Whitehurst if he thought Migden’s expression of fear about holding a meeting in Bayview over a decade ago would hurt her in a 2010 race, he said:
“If Migden pursued the D10 Board of Supervisors race it would be an insult to the African American Community and other communities of colors for the former Senator to big foot their aspirations and limit the diversity of Board of Supervisors. Migden doesn’t live in the district, has little connection with it, and when she was on the Board of Supervisors in the 1990s made it clear that she feared the community. Didn’t she learn anything from her last election defeat?”
Sounds like political consultant Whitehurst does think Migden’s comments would become an issue. And that, once she takes a step back and looks at the big picture, Carole Migden will appreciate the benefits of staying on the front lines in the battle to manage solid waste.
