The Greenberg Brief: Change SFGOP’s Leadership, Now 

A few months ago, I wrote about the need for San Francisco’s registered Republicans to take SFGOP party leadership elections seriously. So here we are, the county party committee elections are upon us now.

Each presidential year, the party leadership is elected by voters, timed with California’s primaries. This March 5^th, just a few weeks from now, Democrats and Republicans will choose their respective local leaders. For the San Francisco Republicans, the SFGOP, two dozen party representatives’ seats are up for grabs. Several of them are incumbents; many candidates are newcomers with unfamiliar names. This is because our local party is insignificant and functions more like a social club than a group tasked with representing the nearly 37,000 registered Republicans. Yes, we number a significant percentage of San Francisco’s voters. Changing the course for the party, adding meaningful marketing, strength and influence of the SFGOP means making it more relevant, accomplished only by truly good party leaders.

Nothing says more about the very weak and sidelined status of our SFGOP than the failed leadership of chairman John Dennis. A five-time “candidate” who over the years has run for Congress against Nancy Pelosi, Dennis has consistently placed his own needs and focus as the opposition to Speaker Emerita over SFGOP matters, every two years. It’s no secret that Dennis has used his status as local Republican Party chairman in attempts to validate his campaign and increase donations.

Every Pelosi/Dennis matchup cycle, his campaign committee worked overtime promoting him to donors across the nation, making the pitch to gullible Republicans in faraway states, alleging he is the anointed one to “fire” Nancy Pelosi. It’s an unfortunate message – which many member delegates on the party committee have witnessed over and over ad nauseum. It’s a consistent cause for conflict, strife, and frankly, wasting of time at SFGOP monthly meetings.

During my few years tenure as member in party leadership, the committee was split between John Dennis opponents and loyalists. And it still is today. Scheming by Dennis and his cronies has led to many tense meetings with threats of legal and disciplinary actions against the non-conforming if they don’t fall in line and support him. Angry outbursts by Dennis were recorded on video as well.

This infighting has paralyzed the party, plain and simple. We Republicans in San Francisco have a tough enough time living in this socialist/communist dystopian town of ours, and John Dennis has had every opportunity over several years’ chairmanship to really make a statement, in an honest and meaningful effort, to rally the city’s conservatives and independents sick of the so-called progressives in City Hall. There’s so much wrong, is would have been easy to lead such a charge.

But no, John Dennis focused his effort and resources on and to himself amid his quixotic, repeated engagements against an obviously, incredibly popular, Pelosi.

This is why, without a doubt, Republican voters living in San Francisco’s neighborhoods making up Assembly District 19 must vote against John Dennis.  He is listed on the Republican-specific ballot for San Francisco’s predominantly west side. There are thirteen seats open on the party leadership committee. Therefore, perusing the list of a total twenty-eight candidates vying for those thirteen SFGOP seats, more than half will not make the cut. Voting tabulation is cumulative, meaning, those thirteen candidates getting the most votes will have a seat.

By we AD19 Republican voters leaving Mr. Dennis off their selected list of thirteen on election day, he’ll be off the committee; he won’t make the cut. It’s very possible. I am proud to say I voted in City Hall in person recently and I did exactly this – I took my ballot and selected thirteen other candidates – and did not select his name. It’s that simple.

Word on the street is Mr. Dennis is currently in panic mode, contacting those he thought were allies in efforts to gain their endorsement.

What I and scores of voters hope for this March 5th is fresh, new leadership for the SFGOP, who will right the ship, not just rearrange deckchairs on the Titanic. Disrespect and cowering is what we conservatives have had to accept at work, at parties, at family gatherings and even in Uber rides. It’s quite possible to be known as a respectable and inclusive Republican here in San Francisco. A charismatic leader of the SFGOP who’s genuinely focused on local city issues would work wonders. It’s now up to you AD19 Republican voters to make the change. I’ve done my part, now it’s time you do yours.