The Facts

District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder asked Tuesday to be excused from Board and committee meetings through June after a mental health crisis, according to Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez at The Standard. Under the Board’s Rules of Order, excusing a supervisor from a Board meeting requires a majority vote of supervisors present. Fielder has held the District 9 seat for just over a year.

The Context

Fielder was hospitalized March 27, during what her office described as an acute personal health crisis. Rumors are still circulating that her office was the source of a leaked legal memo, in violation of the law. As we noted last month, a resignation would have let Mayor Daniel Lurie appoint a replacement; a leave does not change the seat, but it does leave District 9 without its elected voice in regular Board and committee debates. Last week we said a three month leave would be reasonable, but any longer should prompt a discussion about her constituent's right to active representation.

The GrowSF Take

We hope Fielder makes a full recovery. If she still needs more time after her three month leave, then we expect calls for her replacement to grow louder so that District 9 residents have representation in City Hall.