Rules Committee forwards three candidates to Commission on Animal Control and Welfare

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Monday voted unanimously to forward three nominees to the Commission on Animal Control and Welfare, recommending Marie Fortier for seat 1, Irina Ozernoy for seat 2 and Dr. Brian Van Horn for the veterinarian-required seat 7.

Chair Supervisor Aaron Peskin said incumbents Fortier and Ozernoy "seem to be doing well" and praised their service, urging the committee to reappoint them to preserve continuity on the commission. The clerk called the motion and a roll call vote recorded Supervisors Chan, Vice Chair Mandelmann and Chair Peskin voting "Aye"; the motion passed without objection.

Marie Fortier, the current occupant of seat 1, told the committee she has served on the board since 2012 and framed her candidacy around her institutional knowledge: "I'm representing myself and the animals of our city," she said. Irina Ozernoy, the incumbent for seat 2, described her recent work investigating an incident involving injured community cats and said she has served as the commission's vice chair.

Chair Peskin noted that seat 7 must be filled by a veterinarian and said Dr. Brian Van Horn had reapplied and met those qualifications, though the committee also recorded that Dr. Van Horn was not logged into the meeting. No members of the public testified on Item 1; a remote caller initially seeking to speak on a different item was routed back to the queue.

The committee forwarded the recommendations to the full Board with a recommendation for appointment; items acted on at the Rules Committee are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on April 26.