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Rules Committee deadlocks on Sunshine Ordinance Task Force pick, continues appointment
Summary
The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee failed to forward Cynthia Dye for Seat 10 on the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force after a 2-1 vote and instead continued the item to the call of the chair; two applicants and multiple public supporters spoke during the hearing.
The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on a divided vote failed to forward Cynthia Dye’s nomination for Seat 10 on the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force and instead continued the appointment to the call of the chair.
The item drew public comment from multiple community members and competing endorsements for the two applicants: Cynthia Dye and Charlie (middle name used) Bodkin. Supervisor Mandelmann moved to forward Dye with a positive recommendation; the motion failed when Vice Chair Cheryl and Member Mandelmann voted “no” and Chair Shimon Walton voted “aye.” Chair Walton then moved to continue the item to the call of the chair, and that motion passed unanimously.
The Sunshine Ordinance Task Force advises the Board of Supervisors on implementation and possible amendments to San Francisco’s Sunshine Ordinance, which the committee described as implementing and expanding on the California Public Records Act and the Brown Act. Seat 10 is one of four seats reserved for members of the public who have demonstrated an interest in citizen access and participation in local government and has a term ending 04/27/2026.
Applicant Charlie Bodkin told the committee he has newsroom experience, including work at the Los Angeles Times and as a founder of a company supporting journalists, and that he had filed public records requests and runs a local civic blog. He said, “I’m honored to be considered for a seat on the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force.”
Cynthia Dye’s supporters — including representatives from the League of Women Voters of San Francisco and longtime colleagues — described her experience on the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, nonprofit boards, and consulting roles. Speakers who endorsed Dye highlighted her record on transparency, consensus building and community outreach.
Supervisor Mandelmann explained her vote against recommending Dye by citing repeated personal policy disagreements: “I have struggled with this appointment quite a bit. I am, impressed, very impressed by Cynthia Dye … The challenge for me with Cynthia Dye is simply that I think I disagree with her, and have disagreed with her on things that she has done in the past.” Mandelmann said those differences in judgment prevented her from supporting Dye at this time.
Public commenters included Zoe Dunning (former first vice chair of the Democratic County Central Committee), Dylan Herschel (Potrero Hill resident and 2024 mayoral candidate), Lauren Gerhardin (League of Women Voters of San Francisco), Leticia Miranda (District 9 resident), Paul Gardner (community commentator), Chris Keane (longtime District 8 resident), and others who addressed qualifications and concerns about the applicants.
Because the committee did not advance a nominee, the item will return to Rules at the chair’s discretion for further consideration and possible additional applicants. Members noted there may be at least one more application or a corrected submittal that was routed incorrectly.
The committee distinguished between public comment, endorsements, and the formal motions: the department staff and applicants presented qualifications during the hearing, members asked questions and explained positions, and the committee took two formal votes — one on recommending Cynthia Dye (failed) and one to continue the matter (passed).
