The campaign headquarters of San Francisco District 3 candidate Aaron Peskin were burglarized during a break-in over the weekend but are not suspected of being politically motivated.
Peskin, who formerly served as president of the board of Supervisors, is running against incumbent mayoral appointee Julie Christensen in the November election.
Peskin said today that five laptops were stolen from his campaign headquarters located on Sutter Street near Van Ness Avenue, none containing any campaign data. One of the laptops was a staff member’s personal laptop, while the four others were campaign-owned.
San Francisco police spokeswoman Grace Gatpandan said the suspect remains unknown and the motive remains under investigation.
Peskin said the break-in must have occurred between 9 p.m. on Friday, when the last staff member locked up, and when a staff member reported it on Saturday morning.
He said the burglar appears to have jumped the metal gate and broke the glass door and then fled with the laptops. He estimated the burglar made off with a few thousand dollars worth of equipment.
Peskin said he doesn’t think the campaign was targeted, noting that The Regency Ballroom, located around the corner on Van Ness Avenue, was apparently burglarized of equipment just last week.
Concerning his campaign, Peskin said, “the response on the street and at the doors is very good.”
Regardless of the setback caused by the break-in, Peskin said that Christensen’s campaign is outspending his campaign and that he doesn’t believe Christensen is fully reporting all independent expenditures.
He said he would be attending a San Francisco Ethics Commission meeting on the issue this evening at San Francisco City Hall.
The San Francisco Ethics Commission agenda states that a discussion and possible action could be taken today regarding complaints alleging failure to disclose all campaign finance activity, exceeding contribution limits and engaging in incompatible and/or prohibited political
activity.
Peskin suggested that his opponent has failed to report more than $130,000 in independent expenditures.
Maureen Erwin, a political consultant for Christensen’s campaign, said today that she hadn’t heard about the complaint.
Regarding the break-in, Gatpandan said investigators are searching the area for footage of the suspect.
Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News
