San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Newsom rewards Padilla’s loyalty in replacing Harris
Gov. Gavin Newsom used the oldest rule in politics when picking Secretary of State Alex Padilla to replace Vice Presidentelect Kamala Harris in the U. S. Senate: Reward loyalty. Padilla has known Newsom since the mid2000s, when Newsom was San Francisco mayor and Padilla was on his way to the state Senate. And he has stayed with him. He was with Newsom for his shortlived run for governor in 2009, when no one was with Newsom. He backed Newsom over former Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa in the 2018 governor’s race. He may have been the lone Latino elected official who did so. He even cochaired Newsom’s campaign.
But don’t mistake Padilla for a Newsom sycophant. He has always been his own man. He’s very serious — I have never heard him crack a joke — very ambitious and very good at what he does.
As senator, Padilla instantly becomes the de facto leader of Latino elected officials across the state. And with Latinos representing 40% of
the population, they deserve a place at the head of the table.
They could also be crucial to Newsom’s future, either in a 2022 reelection campaign or a recall before then. Having Padilla as an ally won’t hurt.
Newsom could have and maybe should have selected a Black woman for the Senate to replace Harris, but it would not have had the same potential political payoff.
In fact, appointing anyone but Padilla would have hurt Newsom. He would have been seen as passing over a longtime ally for the sake of enhancing his stature among women nationally, especially women of color.
Like it or not, the bottom line is that in politics, loyalty is the coin of the realm and needs to be rewarded. Otherwise, you will never get it from anyone else.
Meanwhile: On the same day he named Alex Padilla to the Senate, Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated a Black woman, Assembly member Shirley Weber, to replace Padilla as secretary of state.
Weber is a professor turned legislator from San Diego. She is passionate about education and African American issues.
Some people see her nomination as a good start by Newsom toward making up for not naming a Black woman to replace Vice Presidentelect Kamala Harris in the Senate.
The governor will have another nomination to make if and when the Senate confirms state Attorney General Xavier Becerra as health and human services secretary. Naming a Black woman would be a good idea, but I have a feeling it will go to an Asian American.
Holiday cards: It’s the end of the year, and it has not been an easy one. But life goes on.
Former Secretary of State George Shultz celebrated his 100th birthday, former state Sen. John Burton celebrated his 88th birthday, and my old law partner Judge John Dearman and his wife, Ina, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
And I’m looking forward to Joe Biden’s four years or more as president, Nancy Pelosi’s two years or more as House speaker, and at least two vaccines to knock out COVID19 and get us back to normal.
Vaccine advice: I was out shopping at Union Square other day when I got into a conversation with a brother about some people’s hesitancy about being vaccinated.
“I’ve got just the solution,” he said.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Pfizer makes the vaccine, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Pfizer makes Viagra as well, right?”
“Right.”
“Mix the two together, and guys will be lining up around the block for a shot.”