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Supervisors debate 'Good and Clean Government Act' to split appointments, re-power city administrator
Summary
A proposed charter amendment would share appointment authority for many commissions between the mayor and the board and re-evaluate the city administrator's role; supporters say it restores checks and balances, critics warn it could weaken executive ability to manage services.
Supervisor Connie Chan presented a charter amendment—branded in discussion as the 'Good and Clean Government Act'—to broaden Board of Supervisors confirmation in appointing members to many city commissions and to restore and clarify city-administrator duties. Chan said the measure seeks to “bring greater local government accountability and transparency” and to break patterns of cronyism and opacity.
Vice Chair Rafael Mandelmann and Supervisor Ronan spoke in support, noting that shared appointment authority has improved commission representation in other cases and that an empowered city administrator could improve service delivery. Mandelmann said the change could help “fix our building department” and speed permits. Ronan praised the public engagement that opposed some items and argued separation of powers was functioning.
Critics and some colleagues warned that shifting appointment power at scale could weaken the executive's ability to run departments, introduce more legislative politicization into day-to-day administration and raise questions about which commissions should be subject to shared appointment. Committee members asked the city attorney to prepare technical language and the sponsor circulated amendments to address conflicts with other proposed measures. The committee adopted amendments and continued the matter to the next Rules Committee meeting.
