The Candidates Gavin Newsom
- Biography
- Record
- Rating
- Platform
Biography: Gavin Newsom
Current Office or Position
Mayor of San FranciscoFirst Elected: 11/03/1998Last Elected: 11/02/2004Previous Experience
mayor of San Francisco since 2004, appointed to the San Francisco Parking and Traffic Commission in 1996, re-elected as supervisor in 1998Record: Gavin Newsom
As San Francisco Supervisor, Newsom was a proponent of development and smart growth. He advocated for public transit reform and received election endorsements from Rescue Muni, a transit riders’ association.Newsom raised his public profile significantly as the most visible supporter of the controversial “Care Not Cash” initiative, or Proposition N, a November 2002 ballot measure that reduced the amount of cash given as general assistance payments to the homeless and replaced it with city services.Newsom’s administration released the first city Climate Action Plan in the nation in 2004. He has implemented green building standards and energy efficiency programs and has increased the number of zero- and low-emission vehicles in the city’s fleet and public transit.San Francisco offers cash incentives to its residents for installing solar power beyond what the state’s GoSolar program provides. Newsom also recently signed an ordinance requiring mandatory composting for city residents. Mayor Newsom has stated that San Francisco has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions to 6 percent below 1990s levels, though the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the federal EPA and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District couldn’t verify that number.While critics (such as former Supervisor Tom Ammiano and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi) suggest that Newsom takes too much credit for city accomplishments during his time as mayor, Newsom’s campaign responds that Newsom’s strength is working together with people to accomplish solutions, regardless of political differences.
Rating: Gavin Newsom
More Information To Come
Platform: Gavin Newsom
Former candidate Newsom positioned himself as a strong environmental candidate. Newsom frequently cites his accomplishments as San Francisco mayor in the areas of recycling, clean air, tree planting trees, municipal carbon offsets, green building standards, and alternative energy, among others.Though he has released few specific policy proposals, he is on record in support of establishing high-speed rail in California, creating green jobs, expanding public transit, reducing carbon emissions, expanding the state’s use of renewable energy, and a variety of other environmental proposals.
