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Rules Committee recommends four nominees to Golden Gate Bridge board, including labor-backed Michael Theriault
Summary
The committee recommended a slate for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District seats — including reappointment of Janet Riley and recommendations for Michael Theriault, Dave Snyder and Richard Grossbaugh — after candidate presentations and extensive public testimony from labor and community groups.
The Rules Committee on Feb. 17 reviewed five applicants for four seats on the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District and advanced a recommended slate to the full Board.
Janet Riley, the current board president, described her eight years of service and work on long-term financial sustainability and safety projects, including the movable median and suicide-deterrent. "We have approved as a board the suicide barrier… we have to go out and look for $45,000,000 to fund that barrier," Riley said, framing safety and fiscal planning as priorities.
Candidates Michael Theriault and Dave Snyder presented different perspectives: Theriault, speaking from a building-trades background, urged restoring labor representation on the board and said the board needs working knowledge of structural and construction issues. Dave Snyder emphasized transit-oriented priorities such as an incremental tolling plan for electronic-payment customers and a monthly transit pass for Golden Gate Transit.
Public comment was dominated by labor and community leaders. Dozens of activists, union representatives and nonprofit leaders — including Marina Secatano of the Inland Boatmen’s Union and Tim Paulson of the San Francisco Labor Council — endorsed Michael Theriault and urged a labor voice on the board. Supporters highlighted construction safety, local hiring and workers’ representation on contracts.
Supervisors exchanged competing motions over the best combination of seats to forward, balancing continuity, labor representation and gender diversity. The committee ultimately moved to recommend Janet Riley (seat 1), Michael Theriault (seat 4) and, after roll-call motions, Dave Snyder (seat 2) and Richard Grossbaugh (seat 3) to the full Board. Those recommendations will be considered by the full Board on March 1 unless otherwise indicated.
