District 6 Supe Candidate Says He'll Drop Out If Theresa Sparks Runs -- And Support Her

Theresa Sparks

​Yesterday we reported that Human Rights Commission boss Theresa Sparks had been spotted with the mayor's appointments secretary meeting and greeting at a SoMa Festival and had spoken to city politicos regarding a supervisorial run to represent the area.

Reached by SF Weekly, Sparks did not confirm nor deny a potential run for District 6 supervisor. But if she did run, she'd get at least one vote -- from someone who actually has gone to the trouble of declaring his intent to run for D6 supe.

Tenderloin activist David Villa-Lobos told SF Weekly that if Sparks tosses her hat into the ring, "I will withdraw from the race and support her candidacy, both with spirit and money. The money I would otherwise spend on my campaign I'll donate to hers."

'No matter what The Gav throws at me, I'll always remain loyal to him,' says David Villa-Lobos, right

​ A couple of city politicos SF Weekly spoke to inferred the presence of mayoral appointments secretary Jason Chan at Sparks' side last week could infer some degree of support from Gavin Newsom for a Sparks candidacy (Newsom thought well enough of Sparks to elevate her to a $167,000-a-year job atop the Human Rights Commission).

Chan didn't return our calls, and Sparks said he's simply an old friend. But if the mayor does indeed hope for Sparks to succeed Chris Daly's supervisorial seat, Villa-Lobos -- whose loyalty to the mayor appears to border upon the absolute -- would immdiately respect Newsom's wishes.

"No matter what the Gav throws at me, I'll always remain loyal to him," says Villa-Lobos.