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Board of Appeals elects Frank Fung vice president after heated nominations and public pleas for Robert Holland
Summary
Following a long public-comment period and competing nominations, the San Francisco Board of Appeals elected Commissioner Frank Fung vice president by a 3–2 vote. Supporters of Robert Holland urged adherence to a long‑standing order of succession and warned a vote against him would send a negative message to LGBT and labor communities.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals voted 3–2 to elect Commissioner Frank Fung as its vice president after a contested nomination and an extended public‑comment period urging the board to follow an informal order of succession and elevate Commissioner Robert Holland.
President Garcia opened nominations for the vacancy left by Commissioner Catherine Albright and explained the board would call each commissioner by name to record their choice. Commissioner Randall Knox nominated Robert Holland, citing about four years of an informal succession practice that “reflects a spirit of collaboration and cooperation.” Another commissioner nominated Frank Fung, arguing Fung’s experience would be helpful as the board searches for a new director.
The hearing drew broad public comment. Deborah Walker of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club told the board Holland ‘‘has worked really hard to bring people together,’’ and Teresa Sparks, a Police Commission member speaking as a private individual, urged commissioners to follow the history of rotating officers and ‘‘vote your conscience.’’ Supervisor Chris Daly and multiple community leaders also urged the board to respect the tradition that would have made Holland vice president.
During the roll call-style vote, commissioners named their preferred candidate. Fung voted for himself; Knox and Holland voted for Holland; President Garcia and Commissioner Peterson voted for Fung. The chair announced the result: Fung was elevated to vice president by a 3–2 margin.
The outcome crystallized tensions between two principles advisers and public speakers raised earlier in the night: preserving an informal rotation intended to reflect balanced appointing authority and elevating what some commissioners framed as institutional experience. No formal bylaw change was proposed; the board proceeded to other agenda items after the vote.
The board’s next procedural step will be continuity of regular calendar business; Fung now joins the commission’s leadership as vice president.
