Former candidate for District 2 Supervisor Janet Reilly and husband, Clint Reilly. File photo by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
November 16, 2010
Janet Reilly today conceded defeat in the race for District 2 Supervisor.
Though the final vote tallies from the ranked-choice race have not been officially certified by the San Francisco Department of Elections, Mark Farrell, a conservative Democrat, is the presumed Supervisor-elect for the District.
Though Reilly garnered the most first place votes in the first round, Farrell benefited from second and third place votes from fellow contenders Abraham Simmons and Kat Anderson. Farrell was also endorsed by termed out incumbent District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier.
“After a long race, my campaign for Supervisor has ended,” Reilly, a liberal Democrat, said in an email. “Although I received more first-place votes than any other candidate, I have not been elected District 2 Supervisor.”
“Public service is an honor. It is an integral part of our democratic tradition for candidates to pass a series of difficult tests before earning the right to hold office. Still, I understand why many bright, capable people choose not to run for office when I see how poisonous and cynical the process can be,” Reilly added. “In my own race, an independent expenditure committee armed with $230,000 leveled an 11th-hour smear campaign against me. They violated a litany of election laws while peddling gross distortions and outright lies. This is simply wrong. Actions like this deter many good people from public service.”
“That said, I am truly proud of the campaign we ran. We never wavered in the face of adversity and we continued bringing our positive message to the voters of District 2 all the way through Election Day. I encourage all who supported me to continue fighting to make San Francisco a better place. Although this campaign may have drawn to a close, our goals have never been more important to fight for. If we are to restore economic growth to the city, clean up our fiscal mess at City Hall and enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods, it will take a committed, collective effort from all of us.”
“You can count on me to be fighting by your side every step of the way, for the good of the city.”
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Follow Me:
The Hunger Site
November 20, 2010 at 10:55 am
“They violated a litany of election laws while peddling gross distortions and outright lies.”
If this is true, why not pursue the violations of election law? (In 2003, Herrera at least wrote an opinion that the Newsom campaign had violated election law. I think it’s worth creating a record if nothing else.)
November 18, 2010 at 11:26 am
Have some grace and dignity in defeat, Janet. This is exactly why I didn’t vote for her. And you know what else keeps people out of politics? It’s not the mud slinging. It’s not having a politically connected, millionaire husband that can fund your campaign for you. But you don’t have that problem.
If running for office was available to anyone and funding was equal, that is truly how you’d get the best candidates out there. You simply weren’t the best option. Deal with it.
November 18, 2010 at 7:01 am
Reilly should be more gracious in defeat–at least congratulate the winner. And blaming her loss on an independent expenditure committee is misplaced. I live in D2 and received a number of hit pieces regarding Farrell that were way over the top and strained credulity. One hit piece from a firefighters’ group was so inflammatory I decided to vote for Farrell and not even list Reilly as any of my top 3 because I assumed her operation was behind it. Those mailers can backfire.