Facing a tumultuous economic climate and a massive city deficit, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has tough decisions to make in 2009 in his quest to keep San Francisco a thriving center for commerce and a livable city.

With a potential 2010 run for governor in his future, Newsom sits down for a frank and candid discussion about the issues facing the city.


Gavin Newsom - Gavin Christopher Newsom is the current mayor of San Francisco. A Democrat, Newsom was elected mayor in 2003, succeeding Willie Brown and becoming San Francisco's youngest mayor in 100 years. Newsom graduated in 1989 from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. His PlumpJack Wine Shop, founded in 1992, grew into a multi-million dollar enterprise. He was first appointed by Willie Brown to serve on San Francisco's Parking and Traffic Commission in 1996, and was appointed the following year as Supervisor. Newsom drew voter attention with his Care Not Cash program, designed to move homeless people into city assisted care. He defeated Matt Gonzalez by 6% in his race for mayor in 2003. Newsom was reelected in the November 7 2007 mayoral election with 72 percent of the vote. As Mayor, Newsom has focused on development projects in Hunters Point and Treasure Island. He signed the Health Choices Plan in 2007 to provide San Francisco residents with universal healthcare. Under Newsom, San Francisco joined the Kyoto Protocol. In 2004, Newsom gained national attention when he directed the San Francisco city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In August 2004, the Supreme Court of California annulled the marriages that Newsom had authorized, as they conflicted with state law at that time. Still, Newsom's unexpected move brought national attention to the issues of gay marriage and gay rights, solidifying political support for Newsom in San Francisco and in the gay community, and causing several other states to change their laws concerning marriage and gay rights. Newsom is viewed in many political circles as a potential candidate for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election
Scott Shafer - Scott Shafer started his radio news career in the early 1980s as a reporter for KPFA in Berkeley and KFBK in Sacramento, where he filed some of the first stories in the nation on the AIDS epidemic. Shafer then went on to KOIT-AM in San Francisco, where he conducted on-air interviews with newsmakers from all over the world. From 1988 to 1992, Shafer served former San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos as Deputy Press Secretary and then Press Secretary, and from 1992 to 1994 he served then-State Controller Gray Davis as Chief of Staff. He left a position as principal in the San Francisco public relations firm Staton, Hughes and Shafer to join KQED 88.5FM in 1998. As host and correspondent of The California Report, Shafer has reported on a wide range of issues, and recently been honored with four awards for excellence from the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento. He also hosts The California Report's "Health Dialogues" series on important health issues facing our state. The California Report is KQED 88.5FM's statewide news program, which is carried by over 24 public radio stations throughout California.