While San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is all about policy and results now, and not personality and process, mayoral hopeful and Supervisor Bevan Dufty's new relationship might prove that the personal is still political.
Dufty announced at a fundraiser -- his campaign for mayor, still in its early days, has raised $50,000 so far -- that he's in a new relationship with local realtor Pat Patricelli.
"I was sweeping up broken glass outside Moby at 5:30 in the morning when he walked by with his dog, Luna," Dufty told the Bay Area Reporter. "He said he was impressed at seeing his supervisor cleaning the streets. I told him I was also impressed."
According to Patricelli's professional bio, he's a "top producer," yet flexible, having personally been both a buyer and seller.
The relationship revelation is interesting in light of Dufty's recent vote on the board against extending more protections to renters who don't live in rent-controlled apartments, such as condos built after 1979.
But as the San Francisco Appeal points out, Patricelli is currently representing three condo sales in San Francisco through Herth Real Estate, which was the site of protests after the agency's owner was accused of trying to force a gay couple out of a rental unit.
Still, the new boyfriend's profession may carry less cultural baggage among the electorate than Dufty's previous boyfriend John Alter, who is an investment banker.
Jackson West figures it must be true love, since Dufty seems unconcerned with projecting a populist image.
