Board of Supervisors overturns mayoral veto, keeps placeholder for special election

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8-2 on Feb. 10, 2009, to override Mayor Gavin Newsoms veto of an emergency ordinance that would have modified election procedures and deadlines for a potential June 2009 special election.

The override preserves the boards placeholder authority to modify election deadlines while supervisors and city officials continue negotiations over budget, revenue and structural reforms. A yes vote on the agenda item was described as an override of the mayors veto; a no vote would have sustained it.

Supervisor Bevan Dufty said the board should keep the placeholder in place to allow time for continued talks toward a citywide package of solutions. Dufty asked Deputy City Attorney Cheryl Adams to spell out options for the board, and Adams told the board that it could rescind its prior resolution calling for a special election by introducing a new resolution and passing it by simple majority. "What's before the board today is the veto of modification of some of the election deadlines," Adams said. "Last week, the board also adopted a resolution calling for a special election. That's a resolution that was adopted by a simple majority of this board, and this board could also rescind that resolution by introducing a resolution rescinding its vote to call for a special election. That's also a simple majority vote."

Several supervisors said they respected the mayors view that June might not be viable but supported keeping the…