Gavin Newsom

From dKosopedia

Categories: California Democrats | San Francisco

Gavin Newsom, b. 1967, was elected mayor of San Francisco in December 2003 in a tight run-off election against Green Party candidate Matt Gonzalez. Mayor Newsom's previous political experience had included being president of San Francisco's Parking and Transit Commission to which he was appointed (1996) by then mayor Willie Brown, who subsequently appointed Newsom to the Board of Supervisors in 1997. Newsom was later elected to the the board in 1998 and re-elected in 2000 and 2003. A Democrat and a San Francisco native, Newsom attained national notoriety in February 2004 when he directed the City and County of San Francisco to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This stand in favor of Gay Rights has been controversial in California and the wider nation, but has made Newsom extremely popular in his home city. Generally, Newsom is seen as following the liberal and pro-growth policies of his political mentor, Willie Brown.

Newsom has close ties with the wealthy Getty family, of oil fame. He is divorced from Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom, a former lingerie model, currently a prosecutor and a commentator on CNN. In 2008 he married actress Jennifer Siebel.

Newsom won reelection, see U.S. mayoral elections, 2007, despite the resignation of his campaign manager, Alex Tourk, after the mayor admitted having an affair with his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, who also worked in the mayor's office. (Source: S.F. mayor apologizes for affair).

Newsom has formed an exploratory committee to raise money for a possible bid for governor of California.

Links

Newsom for California