San Francisco mayoral race projected to be one of the most expensive races in the city
San Franciscans are getting ready to choose a new mayor in what is projected to be one of the most expensive races in the city.
Like most San Francisco voters, Illya Reagans is concerned about crime and homelessness. The native San Franciscan believed the upcoming mayoral election will affect the speed of the city's economic recovery.
"Everybody has peaks and valleys. We went through some valleys. And we're climbing our way up to get to the peak again," said Reagans.
He voted for London Breed in the previous mayoral election but said not this time.
'I'm not saying that London Breed is bad or evil," said Reagans. "It's just time for a change. Let's try some new strategies, see if things can get done a lot faster (under a new mayor)."
Losing support from some of those previous Breed voters is partly why Breed supporters believed her path to victory will be dependent on new and young voters who are motivated to turn out by the presidential race.
"We're really targeting the 150,000,18 to 35 younger voter that is progressive," said Chris Larsen, who is a business executive and philanthropist based in San Francisco.
Larsen, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the Northern California Carpenters Union donated about $2 million to the independent expenditure Forward Action San Francisco to campaign for Breed.
But that amount doesn't come close to an independent expenditure account supporting candidate Daniel Lurie. The pro-Lurie committee, Believe in SF, raised more than $5 million.
This year's mayoral race is projected to be one of the most expensive races in San Francisco.
"It is the system we have. So everybody is forced to compete with those rules. It's a little bit of don't hate the players, hate the game," said Larsen.
Forward Action San Francisco also produced a 90-second ad that will run on social media sites.
"I want to say something to those who traffic in negativity," proclaimed Breed in the ad, who appeared to be speaking at a public event. "San Francisco is not wearing the shackles of your negativity any longer."
Breed is known as a moderate Democrat, but the ad and her supporters portray her as a "practical progressive."
"Valuing the safety of our seniors, from Chinatown to the Bayview, our migrant and working families in the Tenderloin, is progressive," said Breed in the ad.
Larsen said Breed deserved another term because she is battle-tested and provides the right balance compared to her challengers.
"We're on track here now for the lowest murder rate since 1985. Car break-ins in July were down 70% from the year previous. And that is largely because of London's leadership," said Larsen.
But not everyone buys what's being sold. The undecided Reagans was leaning toward one of the moderate challengers. He said the November election is about building a better future of his 6-year-old son, Benjamin.
"The future belongs to them, to the young ones. You've got to vote or the future is doomed," said Reagans.
