The mayor now has the power to fill three empty school board seats
After three school board members were voted out by a landslide in Tuesday’s special election, the ball is now in Mayor London Breed’s court to appoint their replacements. “I’ve made appointments before for this city on a number of bodies including the school board. But this is probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make in terms of appointments because of the significance of what this means,” Breed said in a press briefing Wednesday. Board of Education President Gabriela López and members Alison Collins and Faauuga Moliga were recalled by 75%,79% and 72% of voters, respectively. Turnout for the special election was notably low, with only about 26% of eligible voters participating. In comparison, about 74% of voters participated in the November 2018 school board member election. The Department of Elections will finish counting the votes over the coming week. Once the votes are certified, the Board of Supervisors will vote to approve the election results. That process is expected to take about a month. “It’s not about politics or having a progressive, moderate or liberal idea. It’s about, ‘My kid used to be a kid that was social and fun and is now quiet and sad and doesn’t smile.’ And you as a parent feel like there is nothing you can do about that,” Breed said when pressed on the low turnout in the election and demographics of voters.
