Harry Britt
Harry Britt | |
---|---|
President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors | |
In office 1989–1990 | |
Preceded by | Nancy G. Walker |
Succeeded by | Doris M. Ward |
Member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from the 5th district | |
In office January 1979 – January 1993 | |
Preceded by | Harvey Milk |
Succeeded by | Sue Bierman |
Personal details | |
Born | Port Arthur, Texas, U.S. | June 8, 1938
Died | June 24, 2020 San Francisco, California, U.S. | (aged 82)
Political party | Democratic |
Harry Britt (June 8, 1938 – June 24, 2020) was an American political activist and politician in
Career
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Britt served as President of the San Francisco Gay Democratic Club.[3] Additionally, he was elected to the Board of Supervisors in November 1979, 1980, 1984, and 1988[4] and served as President of the Board of Supervisors from 1989 to 1990.[5] Britt was one of a few members of the Democratic Socialists of America to be elected to public office.[6]
Britt, who was openly gay, introduced
Other campaigns
Britt chose not to run for reelection in 1992.[10] He ran unsuccessfully for California's 5th congressional district in 1987, narrowly losing to Nancy Pelosi in a special election to fill the seat left after the death of Sala Burton, winning 32 percent of the vote to Pelosi's 36 percent.[11][12] He also was unsuccessful in his 2002 race against Mark Leno for a seat in the California State Assembly.[13]
Later career
Britt directed the Weekend BA Degree Completion Program at New College of California, which closed in January 2008 due to financial problems.[14]
Death
After a long illness, Britt died at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco on June 24, 2020.[15]
See also
- List of Democratic Socialists of America who have held office in the United States
References
- ^ Daly, Chris. "Pushing the debate". San Francisco Call.
- ISBN 978-0-312-52330-5.
- ISBN 978-1-4516-9411-6.
- ^ "Board of Supervisors: Past Supervisors". City and County of San Francisco. Archived from the original on 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
- ISBN 978-0-309-04628-2
- ^ Democratic Left, vol. 8 no. 1 (January 1990), page 7.
- ^ Bishop, Katherine (1989-05-31), "San Francisco Grants Recognition To Couples Who Aren't Married", The New York Times
- ISBN 978-0-231-09663-8.
- ^ Reinhold, Robert (1990-10-30). "Campaign Trail; 2 Candidates Who Beat Death Itself". The New York Times.
- ^ "SF's Gays Crying out for a Leader". San Jose Mercury News. 1992-11-13. pp. 19A.
- ^ "Gay is expected to make strong run for House seat". San Jose Mercury News. 1987-02-10. pp. 1C.
- ^ Associated Press (1987-06-03). "Democrat Elected in San Francisco". The New York Times.
- ^ Gordon, Rachel (2002-03-09). "Britt concedes race to Leno". San Francisco Chronicle. pp. A–18.
- ^ Fulbright, Leslie (2007-07-31). "Progressive New College in academic, fiscal mess". San Francisco Chronicle. pp. A–1.
- ^ Laird, Cynthia (2020-06-24). "Breaking: Gay former SF supervisor Harry Britt dies". Bay Area Reporter.