Gay male hustlers have long worked the Polk Street corridor. Transgender prostitutes also have plied their trade along the streets and back alleys between Nob Hill and the Tenderloin.

Both areas fall within the jurisdiction of the District 3 supervisor, and in recent days, how the next person who fills that seat on the Board of Supervisors will handle the city's sex trade has heated up the race to replace termed-out Supervisor Aaron Peskin.

Television ads paid for by the San Francisco Association of Realtors falsely claim that David Chiu, whom Peskin is backing as his successor, supports legalizing prostitution. In fact, Chiu opposes such a policy change and has come out against Proposition K, the local ballot measure that would decriminalize prostitution in San Francisco.

On Tuesday, he filed formal complaints about the ads with the city's Ethics Commission, the realtor group, and local cable provider Comcast, which he wants to immediately yank the spots off the air. Chiu contends the commercials violate local election laws that strictly prohibit the distribution of campaign ads that contain false endorsements.

[After deadline Wednesday, Chiu's campaign announced it had been notified by Comcast that the company was pulling the ads. In an e-mail the cable company said that as of yesterday morning the ad had been suspended and off the air. It also said that the realtors group would have to "provide substantiation to back up their claims or provide a new ad."]

"It is the realtors' attempts to swift boat me; to smear me with lies," said Chiu, 38, a former criminal prosecutor and community court judge-arbitrator. "Every single candidate in my race opposes Prop K. It is a very real issue for us who live in this area and care about public safety."

As a member of the Democratic County Central Committee, Chiu voted against Prop K, though the local Democratic Party ultimately backed it, and he is listed on the No on Prop K Web site as an opponent of the measure.

"While I certainly think consenting adults ought to do whatever they want, the situation on the streets is a different reality," said Chiu, a former chair of Lower Polk Neighbors. "Many unconsenting adults and children on the streets are forced into prostitution."

Chiu said he is being targeted because he is a strong backer of tenants rights and would be an independent voice on the board. In its ads, the realtors group paints Chiu as being a puppet of Supervisor Chris Daly.

"We are running the strongest grassroots campaign in the race and I am supported by neighborhood leaders who have concerns about billionaire real estate interests," said Chiu. "I am not supported by big special real estate interests; they are backing my opponents."

Candidate Denise

Denise McCarthy. Photo: Rick Gerharter

McCarthy, 68, who ran the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center for 25 years, is also against Prop K, which she describes on her campaign Web site "as a poorly written measure that fails to adequately address the problems associated with sex trafficking and child labor laws. I am generally supportive of efforts to decriminalize nonviolent actions."

In an interview, the former Castro resident said there needs to be a distinction between those causing the violence on the streets and those merely trying to survive.

"There is a problem with straight prostitution in that area and somewhat into middle Polk area. That has brought the police because there is a lot of negativity from neighbors and some shootings and violence connected with that," said McCarthy, who lived on Castro Street above Market for 20 years beginning in the late 1960s. "I think there needs to be a differentiation and people need to understand and have more dialogue with the police so there is some understanding of where the violence is coming from. It is attached to pimps. It is not coming from the gay community, but it is all being wrapped in the same bundle."

The other top candidates in the race, attorney Joseph Alioto Jr. and former Treasure Island Development Authority President Claudine Cheng, also oppose Prop K. Neither responded to a request for comment by press time Wednesday.

Late Wednesday afternoon Cheng said that prostitution is a concern for many residents of District 3 who live west of Union Square.

"I have heard from residents telling me about health spas that may or may not be health spas," she said.

As a woman of color, Cheng said her main reservation about Prop K is concern it would not help those women of color who are forced into prostitution.

"Part of the problem of the ballot measure has to do with removing law enforcement dollars to monitor and enforce activities for pimps and others. That is not a good idea," said Cheng. "It is not addressing the concerns of the people in the neighborhood."

The District 3 race is one of three generating the most attention from the city's progressive and more moderate camps battling for control of the board. Along with who wins in Districts 1 and 11, the winner in District 3 could tip the balance of power at City Hall to either side.

Polling in recent weeks shows Alioto with a 5 percent edge over his opponents. Peskin, who became chair of the local Democratic Party this summer, has made electing Chiu to his seat a top priority. He recently turned up at a Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club meeting and said Alioto is progressives' "worst nightmare."

Gay issues

On gay issues, the top four candidates all oppose Proposition 8 and each has secured backing from LGBT groups. Cheng, 49, received the B.A.R.'s first choice endorsement in the race last week, and her supporters include Andrea Shorter, an out lesbian on the Commission on the Status of Women, and openly gay City College Trustee Lawrence Wong.

"The past 20 years of my life has been about bringing people and organizations together to do what is right and get things done," Cheng told the B.A.R.'s editorial board. "My approach to addressing issues is driven by common sense and balance."

Alioto, 37, has the backing of his sister, District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, and garnered a third choice endorsement from the B.A.R. Mayor Gavin Newsom and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California), both of whom also support Cheng, have endorsed him, as has Plan C, a moderate, LGBT-led political group.

"I am not an ideologue; I make decisions based on a careful analysis of all sides of an issue, not based on ideology," Alioto told the B.A.R.'s editorial board. "As an antitrust attorney, I have tirelessly represented small businesses and consumers against some of the largest corporations in the world. My experiences fighting for the underdog show my ability to successfully advocate for the voices of underrepresented groups in our society."

Chiu has the backing of the Milk Club, as well as out lawmakers Supervisor Tom Ammiano and state Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who has also endorsed McCarthy.

"I think, in part, the race will come down to whether big money will prevail over the grassroots," said Chiu. "District 3 is an incredibly diverse district. It will take a person who knows how to build bridges between various communities to move forward and get stuff done at city hall. I think I would help with that."

McCarthy has the backing of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and received a second choice endorsement from the B.A.R. She argues that she would be the most independent supervisor were she to be elected.

"I am not endorsed by either Peskin or the mayor. I am the one candidate that could actually change the dialogue and attitude on the board," she said. "If Joe or David get elected then things are going to continue. It means either Newsom has one more vote or Peskin and the really left-leaning progressives will continue to control the board. If people truly want a change, they should vote for me."