Longtime lesbian artist Debra Walker's nomination to the San Francisco Police Commission moved forward June 26, with the Board of Supervisors rules committee sending it to the full board but without a recommendation.District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan, who sits on the committee, said during the meeting that she would not be supporting Walker's nomination because she wanted someone with more experience in police reform work.Walker, 69, was nominated by Mayor London Breed June 1 to replace Malia Cohen, a former supervisor and current elected member of the state Board of Equalization.
Cohen stepped down earlier this year as she's running for state controller. She advanced to the November general election where she will face off against Republican Lanhee Chan, after placing second in the June 7 primary.Walker currently serves on the city's arts commission.
She was a strong supporter of Breed's 2018 mayoral campaign and co-chaired the arts and tourism committee that advised her on policy matters during her transition that summer.As the Bay Area Reporter previously reported, if Walker is confirmed by the board, she will return LGBTQ representation to the powerful police oversight body.
It has been more than a year since Petra DeJesus, a lesbian and attorney, resigned from the closely scrutinized police commission on April 30, 2021.