Board delays mayor's appearance after dispute over acting mayor's role

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Jan. 23 voted to continue the scheduled “mayor’s appearance” item for one week after a contentious exchange over whether the acting mayor should take questions while the elected mayor is out of the country.

President Gavin Newsom was noted to be in Switzerland; Supervisor Elsbernburn was serving as acting mayor that day. Supervisor Elsbernburn said he did not believe an acting mayor should exercise mayoral prerogatives for a policy declaration and called the exercise “a little ridiculous,” proposing the board move on to other business. Supervisor McGoldrick offered a substitute motion to continue the item for one week; the city attorney confirmed a continuance would be legally permissible. The substitute motion passed on a roll call vote, and the item was continued one week.

The debate surfaced larger questions about how the city designates acting mayors and how the board should handle scheduled appearances when the elected mayor is absent. Supervisor Daley said the board should ask the mayor’s office to notify the board in the future when the mayor will be out of state so the timing of the appearance can be adjusted. Several supervisors, including Mercarini and Ellsbernburn, said the dispute highlighted a recurring procedural issue and suggested reviewing the acting-mayor designation process and board rules to avoid similar situations.

During the exchange, multiple supervisors emphasized they respected each other personally but differed on the substance and urgency of the item. Supervisor Jew recused himself from one consent item earlier in the meeting and several supervisors noted the mayor’s expected return date varied in communications; a clerk’s letter was cited indicating a return the evening of Jan. 30 but a later notice said an extension to Jan. 27; the clerk said she would confirm the mayor’s return date.

The continuance was approved and the board proceeded with other agenda items.