Supervisor Jake McGoldrick: It's been an honor to serve

Today, I pause to write my last column as your supervisor. I have had the honor and privilege of serving you as a legislator for eight years. Alas, term limits require that I join the many men and women who preceded me and seek to use our experience in other capacities.

While I relinquish one title, I am proud to have acquired another as I have now gained the title "grandpop" thanks to my wonderful daughter. Among the many trials and tribulations that the job of supervisor has entailed, I have always had the unfailing support of my wife, son,and daughter. Only they can attest to the daily challenges that an elected official faces emotionally and intellectually. Their love and devotion to husband and "dad" have given me the strength and confidence that my work in our community has been genuine and worthwhile.

When we debated the pros and cons of issues they knew I was facing, they were always forthright in helping me see different views and perspectives, even when it was obvious that I felt initially different. I thank them for their "domestic lobbying." They too have served our City in ways that they never anticipated.

I also want to thank my brother, Cliff, who came repeatedly from Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love," to volunteer in my campaigns and those of others in San Francisco (what he admiringly dubbed "the city of brotherly and sisterly love"). His uncanny ability to listen to the people he met and convey their concerns has helped me enormously.

There are so many people to thank as I leave office. My aides, especially Jerry Threet, Betty Chan, Pooja Jhunjhunwala and Cassandra Costello (who will continue to serve for my successor, Eric Mar), have displayed deep dedication to serving everybody in our City. Like so many hardworking public employees who serve us everyday, they work mostly without recognition behind the scenes to carry out the work of keeping San Francisco a wonderful city.

In eight years, I am proud to have been part of a dynamic and ambitious city government. Working together (despite what some cynics may believe), we managed to keep local public services essentially intact, provided for public health and preserved public safety. It is no wonder that San Francisco is consistently voted the number one city in the country by visitors.

While we may be critical of ourselves ("constructive criticism!"), others mainly see the bright side of our city when they come here. Of course, none of the benefits of visiting San Francisco would be possible without the wonderful people who live here. You are the greatest asset we have. You are the ones I want to thank for allowing me to do this job and for making our city such a great place.

Where else could I have come 33 years ago with $200 in my pocket and a generously offered sofa to sleep on for my first six weeks? Where else could I have found a job on the rooftops of beautiful San Francisco within 24 hours? And where else, married with two young children, could I have gone to college, earned two degrees, and transformed myself into a teacher? And where else could I, with no family connections nor birthplace advantages, have been allowed to occupy a position of leadership and power solely on the basis of trust?

I am and remain forever grateful to the people of San Francisco and I am confident that those who continue to come here will be welcomed with open arms, love and a belief that their contribution is welcome, appreciated and rewarded.

Finally, I want to thank the editor of this paper for allowing me and other elected officials to convey to the readers our thoughts and ideas. That service to a democratic dialogue does not go unnoticed. He invited me to write a monthly column the day after I was first elected and, even when we had disagreements on issues, he never once suggested that I should alter my columns nor did he ever censor or edit anything that I wrote.

I hope to be of service to our community in whatever way that my knowledge and experience may be useful. Despite the unfortunate negative view of "politics" in our modern society, I remain convinced that it is the greatest of the arts, one that attempts to support our highest visions and democratically empower the powerless to have and achieve their finest aspirations.

I dream of the day when, as my immigrant grandparents believed, every corner of this country is truly dedicated to the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

Jake McGoldrick is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.