Mandelman becomes powerbroker in high-stakes police commission fight

A committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors decided to forward the nomination of a Tenderloin community organizer for the high-profile police commission Monday. The divided vote for Pratihba Tekkey was made over a member of the Democratic County Central Committee and former candidate for supervisor.

At the same rules committee meeting, the three-supervisor panel forwarded the renomination of a queer health advocate to the entertainment commission with little discussion.

Police Commission
Gay Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro on the board as District 8 supervisor and sits on the rules committee, lent his support for Tekkey over Marjan Philhour for a seat on the city’s police commission just days before William Scott officially wraps up his tenure as the city’s police chief. (Acting Chief Paul Yep has already started and made decisions on his command staff last Friday.) The commission will be heavily involved in the selection of a new chief, as it vets candidates and forwards the names of three to Mayor Daniel Lurie.

Philhour, who ran unsuccessfully for District 1 supervisor representing the Richmond neighborhood in 2016, 2020, and 2024, has been an advocate for tougher policing. She has garnered support to join the oversight body from Garry Tan, the president and CEO of Y Combinator, one of the city’s most prominent startups. 

Philhour, a mother of three, co-founded the Balboa Village Merchants Association.

“I’m applying for police commission because public safety touches every part of our lives,” she said at the June 16 meeting. “We talk so much in this city in the current political discourse or even in the current affairs discourse about the importance of transit, housing, small businesses, our local economy. The bottom line is if we do not have a very well functioning police commission, a fully staffed and resourced police department, and communities that feel connected to that process, it makes it harder for us to succeed.”

Asked by committee chair District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton if she supported pre-textual stops, Philhour said that she did. Pre-textual stops refer to the use of what are ostensibly traffic stops to investigate more serious crimes. Last year, the police commission restricted the use of pre-textual stops just before voters passed a proposition limiting the commission’s regulatory power over the department. 

Philhour was also supported during public comment by fellow DCCC member Nancy Tung, who chairs the San Francisco Democratic Party. Tung has also been outspoken on public safety issues.

She 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.

“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.”

In all, seven candidates applied for the commission seat, one of the three that are filled by the Board of Supervisors. (The other four seats are mayoral appointments who must be approved by the supervisors.) When it came time for a vote, it became clear that it was between Philhour and Tekkey. Mandelman explained his thinking behind supporting Tekkey, who is director of organizing for the Tenderloin Housing Clinic.

“We do politics,” he said. “City Hall is politics. … But 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 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.

The other candidates were Albert Mayer, Franco Cirelli, Hasib Emran, Meridith Osborn, and Neil Patrick Hallinan, who did not appear at the meeting.

Entertainment Commission
Earlier in the day, the committee voted 3-0 to forward the nomination of Laura Thomas to the full board to continue serving on the entertainment commission. Thomas, who is queer, represents public health interests on the commission and is seeking reappointment. She is also director of harm reduction policy for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Thomas said she was “happy to be on the entertainment commission.”

“I think it’s one of the best commissions the city has going,” she added.

Mandelman thanked her for her service, and, with no public comment, her nomination was also forwarded.