SAN FRANCISCO — The stage is set for the latest debate between the highest polling candidates for mayor of San Francisco.
But a last-minute dropout is leaving a visible absence on stage that political experts say will be felt by voters.
After committing her participation in April, Mayor London Breed’s campaign team last week announced they would withdraw, citing timing.
She told CBS News Bay Area on Tuesday afternoon, “I am the mayor of San Francisco not just a candidate. I have to run the city and that includes meetings and everything else that I need to do so I have to be very selective about the number of the debates and the amount of time I’m able to be available for these kinds of opportunities.”
Political expert and Sonoma State University professor David McCuan said voters will notice the vacancy, one that we can expect other candidates to try to fill.
“San Francisco voters are hyper-political and hyper-engaged, and when you see you not on the stage, that does send messages,” he said.