Harris Makes It Official
D.A. Kicks off re-election campaign with strong record, broad grassroots support
(August 8, 2007)
After collecting nearly 2,000 signatures from San Francisco voters, earning a broad array of support from San Francisco community leaders, organizations, and elected leaders, and raising contributions from more than 1,700 contributors, District Attorney Kamala D. Harris, together with dozens of grassroots supporters and community leaders, today filed her nomination papers at San Francisco’s City Hall, putting her officially on the November ballot for election to a second term.
“Four years ago, they said it couldn’t be done. This year, we’ve shown we’re getting it done,” said Harris, noting that, in 2003, many didn’t think her challenger campaign could prevail. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done. We’ve kept our pledge to give San Francisco a competent and compassionate District Attorney’s office, and improved San Francisco’s felony conviction rate to the highest in a decade.”
Harris, a career prosecutor, said her “smart on crime” strategy is getting results in San Francisco and helping spread progressive criminal justice reform throughout the country. “Conservatives want you to believe that we have two choices – tough on crime, or soft on crime. Our strategy is to be smart on crime, and it’s working,” said Harris.
Since taking office in 2003, Harris has increased the overall felony conviction rate from 52% in 2003 to 67% in 2006. She has doubled the conviction rate in felony gun trials, put 216 violent gang members behind bars, and sentenced 40% more serious and violent felons to state prison than the office did in 2003.
Harris has also sponsored state and federal legislation to strengthen witness services, increase penalties for the sexual exploitation of young girls and boys, and crack down on the horrendous practice of trafficking women and children into sexual slavery. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National District Attorneys Association and the California District Attorneys Association.
With Harris today were many community leaders and grassroots supporters, including Tim Paulson of the San Francisco Labor Council; John Hanley, President, San Francisco Firefighters; Leon Chow, Chair, Chinese Progressive Association; Barbara George, Mothers Against Violence; Doris Ward, Former President of the Board of Supervisors and Assessor-Recorder; David Chiu, Immediate Past President, Asian American Bar Assn, Greater Bay Area; and Laura Spanjian, San Francisco Democratic Party.
Harris is supported for re-election by Senator Dianne Feinstein; Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Congressman Tom Lantos; State Senator Leland Yee; State Assemblyman Mark Leno; Sheriff Mike Hennessey; Public Defender Jeff Adachi; Assessor Phil Ting; City Treasurer Jose Cisneros; Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin; Supervisors Alioto-Pier, Ammiano, Daly, Dufty, Elsbernd, Maxwell, McGoldrick, Sandoval; along with community organizations the SF Firefighters, Police Officers for Justice, SF Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, SF Labor Council, SF Building and Trades Council, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, and the National Women’s Political Caucus SF.
