Gonzalez: Don’t Cry For Me, San FranciscoPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Jul. 31‚ 2007I predicted in January that the only progressive who could challenge Gavin Newsom this year was Matt Gonzalez. Last night, Gonzalez announced that he would not run for Mayor – after a Progressive Convention in June produced no candidate. The Chronicle was quick to call Gonzalez the “last hope” to run for Mayor, and Newsom campaign manager Eric Jaye snidely remarked that his exit proved that progressives are in disarray. But despite Newsom the candidate being unbeatable this year, Newsom’s agenda for San Francisco is a very different story. While progressives have struggled to elect one of their own as Mayor, Newsom has proven that he has no coattails – while progressives have racked up an impressive number of legislative and electoral accomplishments. Letting the Teflon Mayor get re-elected by default is not such a terrible proposition, when you take the long-term approach of a movement that will outlive any election. |