Despite advice by most campaigns (and me!) to vote absentee, the Chronicle says they’re “trickling” in:

By Wednesday evening, just 15,331 absentee ballots had been returned – a small percentage of the more than 69,000 cast in 2003. About 400 people have come in to vote early at City Hall, compared with about 1,200 at the same time four years ago.

Well, people, vote absentee, or vote at City Hall. But don’t come crying here when it takes forever.  Oh…wait, turnout is going to be abysmal because there is no real race on the ballot. So…nevermind. But there are several propositions which deserve our attention. Specifically, it is very important that we vote Yes on A, and NO on H.

But, wait, even though the mayor is expected to win in a landslide with no major competitor, there is still a mayoral election going on.  And, even though the debate was super lame (30 seconds? C’mon!), there’s a great YouTube “debate” going on, check it out here.  It’s being organized by SF Votes, and consists of the candidates answering questions posed by SF youth.  It’s a cool concept anyway.  And of course, if you’re interested, you can check out the candidate forums for mayor, sheriff and DA at the League of Women Voter’s website.

Is Art Agnos plotting a comeback? According to the San Francisco Examiner, it’s not out of the question.

Politics is such a bruising sport, you have to wonder how many people would jump back into it 16 years after leaving office.

But that’s where former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos finds himself these days, with a chorus of people urging him to go into a battle against a man 30 years younger, if only for the reason that nobody else will.

Wow. My memory of Agnos is limited to the days of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which seemed to have been a sucess. But I also remember that he was faulted for his handling of the homeless issue. Regardless, this could be an exciting match. Stay tuned.

(Cross-posted on daily kos)

It looks like 2007 may be an intereting election year in San Francisco after all. The Fog City Journal is reporting that former Supervisor Matt Gonzales is considering a rematch with a weakened Gavin Newsom and is shopping around for a campaign manager.

Although former Board President Matt Gonzalez has not officially declared his candidacy for mayor, he has been working behind the scenes to secure a campaign manager.

Fog City has confirmed today political campaign strategist, Nicole Derse, has been in discussions with Gonzalez over her availbility to be his campaign manager.

Reached by phone, Derse told Fog City she has discussed the position of campaign manager with Gonzalez but stressed: any offer is contingent on Gonzalez’ decision to run, and her availability.

This may partially explain why Newsom demoted his press secretary and brought John Kerry’s guy into 200 City Hall. I was not around for the last tussle between the two, but from all accounts it was a knock-down-drag-out fight. Personally, I do not know enough about him to form an opinion. I’m wary of Greens, but considering the drift of the current administration, I’m willing to listen to him. I would be most receptive to a candidate who can get a handle on some of the tougher issues that Newsom has not coped well with, namely a police department with serious morale problems. However, this should be interesting.