San Francisco politician and aide’s affair prompts city to review rules

San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos with former staff Racquel Redondiez. SF CHRONICLE PHOTO

SAN FRANCISCO, California — A romantic relationship between a Filipina staff worker and her politician boss has forced the San Francisco city government to review existing office rules.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that San Francisco supervisor and former mayoral candidate John Avalos earlier apologized for having an affair with his top office aide, identified as Filipina Racquel Redondiez.

City Hall’s human resources officials said the new policy will require elected officials to report romantic relationships with their subordinates to a third party.

The existing San Francisco HR handbook states that: “You must notify your supervisor if you are, or become, related to or romantically involved with another employee in the workplace over whom you have the authority to impose or recommend an employment action.”

The problem, insiders said, was that members of the Board of Supervisors, just like all elected city officials including the mayor, have no higher-ups, so there was nobody to report to.

The new rule will now require the subordinate to be reassigned to a new manager rather than have him or her report to a romantic partner.

Redondiez reportedly went on unpaid leave from her $95,082-a-year position last May.

Details of how the new guidelines will be implemented are still under study and the final product has to be approved by the employees’ union.

Avalos isn’t the only local elected official to have had a romantic relationship with a staff member. In 2007, then- Mayor Gavin Newsom made headlines for having an affair with his appointments secretary, who was also married to his campaign manager.

Avalos represents the Excelsior district, which has the highest number of Filipinos in San Francisco. He reportedly separated from his wife earlier this year.