A Clean Sweep of Endorsements

First it was the San Francisco Chronicle. And now it’s the San Francisco Examiner. The two most-read newspapers in town have endorsed Joel Engardio’s campaign for District 7 supervisor!

Why does the Chronicle endorsement matter?
The Chronicle endorsement is a big deal because it determined “Engardio is the best choice” among the candidates trying to unseat incumbent Norman Yee. The Chronicle called Yee “uninspiring” while saying Engardio “has the intelligence and manner to introduce change where it fits. He shows the potential to add seriousness and problem-solving skills to a board that could use more of each.”

Voters who want a change in leadership are hearing from a trusted source that Engardio is the candidate they should support.

Why does the Examiner endorsement matter?
The Examiner endorsement is an even bigger deal. Why? Because the Examiner tends to only endorse progressive candidates. Yet it abandoned Norman Yee, saying “his advocacy…has been lackluster and his leadership on the board has been weak.”

Voters inclined to support Yee are hearing from a trusted source that Yee has not performed well and that Engardio is worth considering because he “would be an independent supervisor.” The Examiner said “Engardio’s sound judgment, commitment to transparency in government and sense of fairness will serve the city well.”

Read the full Examiner endorsement
Here is the Examiner endorsement in full. It beautifully sums up what Joel Engardio’s campaign is about:

"Supervisor Norman Yee faces a tough battle in his re-election bid as supervisor for District 7. His advocacy over the past four years for his west of Twin Peaks district has been lackluster and his leadership on the board has been weak, vulnerabilities his challengers are quick and accurate to point out.

Our endorsement goes to Joel Engardio, a relatively moderate and independent voice, who would be an ideal fit to represent the district and ensure its perspective and issues are well represented at City Hall.

Engardio, a former journalist, recently was a columnist for the Examiner and still contributes frequently as an opinion writer. As much as he often differs with the editorial position of this paper, his articles frequently provide insightful commentary on neighborhood issues and highlight deserving city residents that would otherwise go unheralded.

Engardio said, if elected, he would be an independent supervisor and bring more city attention to issues that matter to District 7, such as crime, affordability, housing and fiscal responsibility. 'In the good times is when we should actually go in and maximize efficiency to figure out where can save money and also put money away,' he said.

Engardio’s sound judgment, commitment to transparency in government and sense of fairness will serve the city and his district well."

Examiner endorsement: San Francisco Examiner October 13, 2016
Chronicle endorsement: San Francisco Chronicle September 18, 2016