Progressives lose majority on Board of Supervisors

The balance of power on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors shifted toward the center following Tuesday’s election, in which six board seats were up for grabs.

The board’s progressive faction has held a 6-5 majority over its moderates since the election of Supervisor Aaron Peskin last year, but three progressive supervisors — Eric Mar, David Campos and John Avalos — termed out, while two others were up for re-election.

With 99.6 percent of precincts reporting, Avalos’ open seat in District 11 appeared to be moving into the moderate camp following a hotly contested campaign.

Ahsha Safai, a labor union official and public affairs professional who is considered to be a moderate, was leading in that race with 38.8 percent, with progressive Kim Alvarenga following at 32.2 percent.

Elsewhere in The City, Mar’s District 1 seat appeared to be going to school board member and fellow progressive Sandra Lee Fewer, who had 38.6 percent of the vote to moderate rival Marjan Philhour’s 35.5 percent.

In District 3, Peskin was winning re-election easily with 73 percent of the vote to Tim Donnelly’s 26.9 percent.

In District 5, board president London Breed, a moderate, successfully fought off a challenge from progressive Dean Preston, with 53.4 percent of the vote to Preston’s 46.5 percent.

In District 7, Supervisor Norman Yee took a substantial lead at 39.3 percent of the vote, with his nearest rival Joel Engardio at 21.5 percent.

In District 9, progressive Hillary Ronen, who has Campos’ endorsement, led with 57.1 percent of the vote. Her closest competitor, Joshua Arce, held 30.65 percent of the vote.

Board incumbents on both sides of the fence seemed destined to hang on to their seats Tuesday night, while Jane Kim appeared destined to return to Room 250 after Scott Wiener won their hotly-contested race for the District 11 state Senate seat being vacated by the termed-out Mark Leno.

Mayor Ed Lee can fill Wiener’s District 8 seat with an appointment.