SF supervisors ratify police, entertainment commission picks

Gay Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman was slightly hesitant June 24 when asking the board to vote on Pratihba Tekkey’s nomination to the Police Commission. He was perhaps unsure whether the vote would be unanimous, given the support another nominee had also received at the board’s rules committee meeting last week.

“And, I think we can take this same house, same call,” the District 8 representative said, his voice trailing up.

A member of the board could have challenged the nomination, but did not, and Tekkey was approved without objection right after Laura Thomas, a queer woman who is director of harm reduction policy for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, was reappointed to the Entertainment Commission similarly without objection or comment from the 11-member board.

Reached for comment, Mandelman approved of the board’s decisions, stating, “Two strong women for two important commissions. They were easy choices for me.”

The Police Commission will soon begin vetting candidates for a permanent police chief. Former Chief William Scott left the San Francisco Police Department earlier this month. Paul Yep, formerly Mayor Daniel Lurie’s public safety chief and a former SFPD member, is serving as interim chief. The commission selects and forwards three names to Lurie, who has the final decision on who will oversee the department.

Last week, the supervisor’s three-member rules committee voted 2-1 to forward Tekkey’s nomination to the full board. Though seven candidates applied to the seat, her major opponent was considered to be Marjan Philhour, a member of the Democratic County Central Committee and a three-time candidate for District 1 supervisor, encompassing the Richmond district.

Nancy Tung, a straight ally who is chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party and also works for the district attorney’s office, came to the rules committee to decry what she said was a political decision not to pick Philhour.

Both Tung and Philhour have been outspoken on public safety issues. Tung told the supervisors panel that she wanted to “pull back the curtain” on what she characterized was a politicized process. Tung noted that in 2020, then-mayor London Breed nominated her to serve on the police commission, which was voted down by the board, including by Mandelman. (The supervisors appoint three and the mayor appoints four members of the commission; though the mayor’s picks have to be approved by the supervisors.) Tekkey’s seat is a board appointment.

“Do I take offense to that? No, because this is not a decision that happens in a vacuum,” Tung said. “It is a political decision. I want people to understand that. Was it bonkers? Maybe, to some.”

Tung continued, “If you’re willing to take politics out of this process, the most qualified candidate – and the one I support – is Marjan.”

Mandelman owned it, saying, “We do politics. City Hall is politics.”

He added that different sides and perspectives on public safety need to be heard. 

Mandelman said, “As I’m thinking about politics in San Francisco right now, I have very much enjoyed the period of time we’ve been in since the beginning of this year. Bitter divisions I’d seen on the board and in City Hall previously had somewhat been mitigated.”

Mandelman said he met with the candidates and talked about his criteria. 

“I thought it was important to appoint someone unambiguously pro-safety and who understands their work on the Police Commission in supporting the department … and also holding it accountable,” he said. Triangulating, he said that “the tone has been good” as of late between the city’s various political factions, and “that is to the benefit of San Franciscans.”

Mandelman also spoke to Tekkey’s work day-to-day in the Tenderloin, and said this seat had traditionally been set aside for community voices, particularly surrounding the Mission district and the Latino community, but that “if you think of a neighborhood that needs representation in the conversation about safety in San Francisco and whose serious concerns must be addressed … it’s the Tenderloin.”

Tekkey said earlier in the June 16 meeting that she was honored to be considered.

“I come before you not as a candidate, but as someone who has dedicated many years of grassroots, public service in the city,” she said. “The challenges of our city cannot be addressed without addressing public safety first.”

She said immigrant communities, families, seniors, and small business owners need to be prioritized.

“I’ve seen when the community members and law enforcement work hand in hand,” she said. “Safety improves. Trust begins to grow. In my view, public safety is successful when community members are treated as partners, not as passive recipients of enforcement.”

Mandelman and Walton voted to forward Tekkey’s nomination. District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill voted against, but did not say who he would’ve chosen instead. He insisted, however, that he also agreed that “pro-safety does not mean giving up on the progress we’ve made.” He said this is likely the most important appointment the supervisors will be making this year.

Sherrill voted for Tekkey at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Before the police commission seat was considered, the committee voted 3-0 to forward the nomination of Thomas to the full board to continue serving on the entertainment commission. 

Thomas said she was “happy to be on the entertainment commission,” adding that, “I think it’s one of the best commissions the city has going.

Mandelman thanked her for her past service. 

Thomas stated to the B.A.R. June 24 that, “I am honored to be reappointed by the Board of Supervisors to the public health seat on the Entertainment Commission. I look forward to continuing to promote healthy, safe, and vibrant entertainment and nightlife in San Francisco.”

Tekkey didn’t return a request for comment.

Updated, 6/24/25: This article has been updated with comments from Laura Thomas.