Board delays picking new mayor until January

The Board of Supervisors will not decide on a new mayor until the day after the current one is scheduled to assume his new post in Sacramento.

On an 8-3 vote on Tuesday, the board delayed any decision to nominate Mayor Gavin Newsom's successor until at least Jan. 4, 2011. Supervisor Sophie Maxwell made the motion to continue the vote, one week after asking for a similar continuance. Chris Daly, David Campos and Ross Mirkarimi voted against the delay.

"It's like déjà vu all over again," Daly said.

The Jan. 4 meeting would be first after Newsom is sworn in as the state's lieutenant governor. It would also be the last full meeting of the current board before four new members take their seats on Jan. 8. Daly, Maxwell, Bevan Dufty and Michela Alioto-Pier will term out of office.

"Until we put out our competing, our tangential or collaborative visions, until we start compiling those nominations," Daly said, "We're not going to make progress."

He also said that if his board colleagues wanted to continue the nomination process or change it, "then say that."

It was the fourth meeting of the board to discuss choosing a new mayor, but no supervisor has formally suggested who should serve out the remaining year of Newsom's term.

During public comment periods, speakers have suggested Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and Campos as choices for interim mayor. Ammiano has said he is not a candidate.

Other candidates who have been mentioned include: Mirkarimi and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu; former Mayors Art Agnos and Willie Brown; Sheriff Michael Hennessey; San Francisco Public Utilities Chief Ed Harrington; former City Attorney Louise Renne; and former Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Matt Gonzalez.

Under city law, Chiu would be acting mayor until six supervisors agree on a successor.

There has been speculation that Newsom would delay taking his new post until after the new supervisors take office.