It was a move that saw the progressive faction of supervisors teaming up with a moderate supervisor to prevent Board President Breed from taking the position after a heated, racially charged debate.

The board voted 7-2 (later revised to 6-3) to appoint the District 2 supervisor as "caretaker" mayor, leading up to the special election in June as a result from Mayor Ed Lee's untimely death Dec. 12 from a heart attack.

Breed put her name in the hat in the running for the special election earlier this month, but the idea behind the caretaker mayor is to install someone like Farrell who is not running.

The decision drew an angry response from the audience, which was stacked with dozens of Breed's largely African-American supporters who had lined up to speak in her favor during several hours of public comment before the vote. It has been noted that Breed is a San Francisco native.

Protests and shouting erupted when the result of the vote was announced with many recording the raucous scene in the chambers with their cell phones. There were screams of "shame on you! Racist board!" and boos as the gavel came down to calm the room.

The three 'no' votes against appointing a "caretaker" mayor were supervisors from Districts 4, 10 and 11, Katy Tang, Malia Cohen and Ahsha Safaí respectively. Tang revised her vote, but that didn't change the outcome.

A final confirmation vote for Farrell was 10-2, with Farrell abstaining and Cohen and Breed voting in opposition. Breed's nomination was rejected on a 4-5 vote, with progressives lined up solidly against her. Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, generally considered a solid moderate vote, supported both Breed and Farrell.

The board meeting had been in its fifth hour by the time the vote came up, with the last portion of public comment open to taking nominations and appoint the successor mayor.

Since Breed is also the Board of Supervisors president and District 5 supervisor, many took issue with her numerous positions and said there should be a separation of power. The city's charter states the supervisor president serves as acting mayor in the event of a vacancy of the mayor's office.

Tonight's debate was heavily colored by racial politics, with Breed's supporters arguing that the move to remove her from the acting mayor's position was driven in part by the fact that she is a black woman.

Once Breed announced she would run for mayor in the June mayoral election, progressives began to push for the appointment of a "caretaker" mayor who was not running to prevent her from gaining the advantage of incumbency.

Breed's top competitors in the race include Supervisor Jane Kim and former state Sen. Mark Leno, both of whom identify with the progressive camp in San Francisco politics.

Kim was nominated for the interim mayor position by Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer but declined, saying she felt it was important that the election take place on a level playing field. And while a number of speakers called for the appointment of City Administrator Naomi Kelly to the position,

she had previously told supervisors she wasn't interested.

Of the hundreds of people who spoke, it appeared to be split on whether Breed should be replaced or not.

"We owe it to the charger and we owe it to the public to have this conversation," said Supervisor Aaron Peskin. "It is not a pleasant conversation to have, it is a very painful to have. Watching the divisions around racial divides, around gender is very painful, but it is a conversation we are supposed to have," Peskin said.

Breed, who appeared visibly shaken after the vote, stepped outside the board chambers and thanked her supporters, reminding them that there was still a campaign to run.

"I am born and raised here, I will still do everything I can to take care of the city," Breed said. "I am still on the ballot on June 5. We need to get lined up and ready to go."

Farrell was sworn in following the vote by City Attorney Dennis Herrera and appeared in the mayor's office with his wife and children following the ceremony to address the press for the first time as mayor.

Farrell would say only that he had heard "many different rumors" before his nomination.

"To me this isn't about politics, this is about moving the city forward and the continuity of government," Farrell said of his appointment and the angry response. "All I can say is I will work to represent every citizen of San Francisco."

By accepting the appointment, Farrell is giving up his District 2 seat and will have a chance to appoint his successor.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3869233&forum_id=2#35224124)