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SF Supervisors Want To Choose New Mayor Sooner Than Later

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - There's a move underway at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to select a new mayor now, rather than wait until Gavin Newsom leaves office in January. The process could begin as early as next week.

Last week, Mayor Newsom was elected lieutenant governor, so the supervisors get to select an interim mayor to complete the last year of his term.  Tuesday, Supervisor John Avalos dropped a little bombshell at the weekly board meeting by introducing motions to begin the nomination process right away, rather than wait until Newsom is out the door.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

"It's important that we get an early start on appointing either an interim mayor, or if we can't do that, we know that in January we'll have an acting mayor," said Avalos. "But the acting mayor discussion is something that's really pertinent and important for us to engage in."

It's still a bit unclear whether a new mayor can be selected before the current one resigns, but if nothing else the board can make its intentions known by making nominations and taking a vote. But that raises another question; do current supervisors or the ones who take office in January get to choose Newsom's replacement?

Avalos' motion makes it clear that he thinks the privilege lies with the current board, and not the new one.

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