Brown Claims Victory in S.F. Mayor’s Race

Opening a new chapter in his storied political career, veteran Assemblyman Willie Brown appeared well on his way to becoming this city’s first black mayor Tuesday, taking a solid lead over incumbent Frank Jordan.

With nearly 40% of the vote counted, Brown appeared before a cheering throng of supporters and claimed victory, thanking his opponent and promising to use Jordan’s talents in his administration.

“Do I feel confident? You bet,” Brown declared at a festive celebration near Fisherman’s Wharf. “From now on, address me not as Mr. Speaker but as the mayor. I done won.”

As Brown left the room, he donned a baseball cap reading, “Da Mayor.”

A few miles away, about 500 Jordan supporters kept their spirits high as they nibbled cold ravioli and sipped beer at the mayor’s post-campaign party. Aides, however, appeared downright gloomy.

“It doesn’t look very good,” said campaign manager Clint Reilly, noting that Jordan’s dominance of the absentee votes fell considerably short of expectations.

But the mayor initially refused to concede. While acknowledging Brown’s lead, Jordan noted that votes from numerous precincts where he runs strong had yet to be tallied.

“We’re in a horse race tonight,” Jordan said as his backers roared “four more years.” “We still have a very good chance to pull it off,” Jordan said.

Once dubbed the “Ayatollah of the Assembly,” Brown has served San Francisco as a legislator for 31 years, reigning for nearly half that time as Assembly speaker. He sought to become the city’s first black mayor because term limits will force him to surrender his Assembly seat next year.

The San Francisco registrar of voters said Tuesday’s turnout was unexpectedly low, largely because of heavy rains and powerful winds that buffeted the city much of the day. At least 30 polling places were without power throughout the day, forcing workers and voters to rely on flashlights and candles.

The colorful, bitterly fought race initially featured seven candidates, including a civil rights attorney who had hoped to become San Francisco’s first lesbian mayor. Brown and Jordan--both Democrats--wound up in Tuesday’s runoff after finishing at the top of the heap in the November primary.

Although prestigious, the mayor’s job in San Francisco is a tough one. Besides the standard pressures facing America’s big-city mayors, San Francisco’s leader will have to cope with a faltering transit system, deteriorating public housing, an unreliable 911 emergency network and a Police Department in disarray.

Jordan, a career cop and the city’s former police chief, was elected in 1991 as a “citizen mayor” with no political experience. Like other “outsider” candidates nationwide, he rode a tide of anti-incumbent emotion to power.

When Jordan took office, San Francisco still was suffering ill effects from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, its economy was in recession and throngs of homeless were encamped across the street from City Hall. The new mayor vowed to use a no-nonsense style to “get San Francisco back on track.”

In seeking reelection this year, Jordan said he had fulfilled that pledge. City streets are cleaner, he said, serious crime has dropped and Fortune magazine recently ranked the city the No. 1 place in America to do business. Jordan, 60, also reminded voters that he helped assemble a group of investors who kept the San Francisco Giants baseball team from leaving town.

Despite such accomplishments, Jordan was haunted by a series of management missteps throughout his tenure. Most glaring is a Police Department in turmoil. More than a dozen officers are under investigation for brutality and other charges, and Jordan went through four police chiefs during his first term--including one who is on trial for sexual harassment.

Beyond those problems, some voters said they were weary of Jordan’s bland style and eager for a more dynamic leader in the tradition of former Mayors Joe Alioto and George Moscone.

Brown--a charismatic politician of national prominence--took full advantage of that sentiment. Belittling Jordan as a “nice man inappropriately situated,” Brown declared that he had the “proven leadership skills” to guide San Francisco into the next century.

Few disputed the former speaker’s record as an unrivaled power broker in the legislative arena. But even some supporters questioned whether Brown’s imperial style would work on the local level, especially in a city where dozens of interest groups demand a role in governance.

Regardless of such qualms, Brown, 61, seemed to have momentum on his side throughout the campaign. Two of his vanquished mayoral rivals--lesbian Roberta Achtenberg and Republican Ben Hom--endorsed the assemblyman after the primary, and a Who’s Who of business and gay community leaders stood behind him as well.

By Tuesday, 10 of the 11 members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors were backing Brown. Even the Police Officers Assn.--which would seem a natural ally of a mayor who was once police chief--sided with Brown.

Such positive signs led some to joke that the assemblyman had picked out new furniture for the mayor’s office long before election day. But Brown--a highly superstitious politician--never relaxed, campaigning until the end.

Occasionally, Brown made a telling faux pas in his campaign wanderings, such as when he boarded a city bus without exact change. But for the most part the flamboyant politician--known for his pricey taste in cars and clothes--appeared to connect with the people, mingling comfortably at pancake breakfasts, church services and innumerable other events.

Sensing doom, Jordan redoubled his efforts during the five-week runoff campaign. Unveiling a new theme--advertised by blue and white signs bearing the single word “Trust”--Jordan sought to portray Brown as a slick creature of Sacramento, beholden to special interests and unfit to be mayor.

Instead of touting his own record, Jordan mostly chose to hammer at Brown--attacking him for collecting millions of dollars in special interest donations while speaker and for defending developers and cocaine dealers as a private attorney.

But experts said Jordan’s claim as the candidate voters could trust was undermined by one of the more bizarre moments in political campaign history--his decision to pose naked in the shower with two disc jockeys. A photo of the three men--discreetly cropped--was printed repeatedly in local newspapers.

Jordan eventually apologized for the stunt, saying it merely showed voters he is “squeaky clean.” But analysts said it raised questions about his judgment and offended conservative white and Asian residents who are his base of support.

The wild card in Tuesday’s election was the nasty weather. Jordan had to cut back on campaigning this week to cope with a city emergency--a storm-related sinkhole in the exclusive Sea Cliff area.

To combat the elements, Brown campaign aides bought 1,000 umbrellas, 800 rain slickers and scores of flashlights, distributing them to about 1,000 volunteers who were charged with getting out the vote.

In the shadow of the mayor’s race, a sideshow was being played out by Democrats in the state Assembly, who were struggling to choose a leader to succeed Brown. Veteran Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) was the heir apparent. After two days of meetings this week in San Francisco, the Democrats were expected to make their choice Monday.

San Francisco voters also were choosing a new district attorney Tuesday. Early returns showed Bill Fazio, a veteran prosecutor, holding a slim lead over liberal San Francisco Supervisor Terence Hallinan, best known as a promoter of legalized prostitution. The two men made the runoff after incumbent Arlo Smith, who served four terms and once ran for California attorney general, was eliminated in the November primary.

Times staff writer Mark Gladstone and researcher Norma Kaufman contributed to this story.

* CAMPBELL WINS: State senator captures special congressional election. A27