Mayoral election: Another graduate's climb to power

By Matthew Meyerhofer

Earlier this month, Santa Clara graduate Gavin Newsom was sworn in as San Francisco's new mayor, marking another high-ranking political figure's emergence from the university's political science department.

On Jan. 8, Newsom, 39, who had worked in both the private and public sectors, became the city's youngest mayor. Newsom has amassed a fortune of almost $7 million from his PlumpJack wine and restaurant business, and until recently was a member on San Francisco's Board of Supervisors.

The young, moderate Democrat received the backing of U.S. Sen Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), as well as the support of former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore. Politically, Newsom has announced that his top priority is to combat homelessness by supporting the construction of affordable housing in the city.

Newsom appointed another Santa Clara graduate, Joanne Hayes-White, as San Francisco's new fire chief. Hayes, who graduated from Santa Clara with a business degree in 1986, is the first woman ever to hold the post.

Despite his success, Newsom has left little mark among Santa Clara faculty. "Hardly anybody remembered him," said Peter Minowitz, associate professor of political science. Minowitz did not have Newsom as a student.

One of Newsom's former professors, Timothy Lukes, had to dig through his records to confirm that he had the mayor as a student. Lukes, another political science professor, said he had "virtually no memories" of Newsom.

The mayor declined a request to be interviewed for this article, and his office has not returned calls.

Newsom's election draws attention to a number of former Santa Clara students who have gone on to prestigious political careers following their time at the university. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, another Democrat, is a graduate of the department.

Napolitano, Santa Clara's first female valedictorian, took office in 2003 following a career as Arizona's first elected female attorney general in 1998.

Speaking to last year's graduating class, Napolitano said that "the most important value of a Santa Clara education is the realization that education and intellect is incomplete without character."

Alaska's current governor, Frank Murkowski, attended Santa Clara for two years before transferring to another Jesuit institution, Seattle University, where he graduated with a degree in political science.

û Contact Matthew Meyerhofer at (408) 554-4546 or mmeyerhofer@scu.edu.