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Rules Committee backs Cara Dukakis and Betty Robinson Harris for First 5 Commission
Summary
The Rules Committee recommended appointing Cara Dukakis and Betty Robinson Harris to the San Francisco Children and Families First (First 5) Commission; the committee discussed residency waivers and heard multiple endorsements from early-childhood advocates and unions.
The San Francisco Rules Committee voted to forward recommendations to the full Board of Supervisors to appoint Cara Dukakis and Betty Robinson Harris to the San Francisco Children and Families First Commission (First 5).
Committee members heard statements from three applicants and several public endorsers. Betty Robinson Harris described more than 30 years in early childhood education and foster-care work and said she would focus on targeted investments for infants and toddlers and workforce supports if appointed. Cara Dukakis, a licensed clinical social worker and veteran policy advocate, highlighted her work on the statewide "Preschool for All" movement, research on the early-childhood workforce with UC Berkeley and WestEd partners, and her experience as a parent of two young children.
Union and community representatives urged the committee to support the appointees. Linda Plack said the United Educators of San Francisco and allied unions back Betty Robinson Harris. Linda Sotto and David Fleishman from WE Children's Services both endorsed Dukakis and Farris Page (the third applicant), citing local program experience and policy knowledge. The First 5 executive director (identified in the transcript as "Ms. Klumek") told the committee the commission was undertaking strategic planning and implementing Proposition H and Preschool for All, and said strong commissioners are needed for that work.
Supervisors discussed residency requirements and the difficulty of choosing among three well-qualified candidates. The committee moved to recommend appointments for Dukakis and Harris and to process a residency waiver for the appointed applicant where appropriate; the clerk confirmed the committee would prepare the waiver to accompany the recommendation. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote; the clerk was directed to transmit the committee's recommendation to the full board.
The nominations will proceed to the Board of Supervisors for final confirmation; the committee emphasized the commission's role in implementing Prop H and Preschool for All during a period of strategic planning.
