San Francisco Chronicle
Matier & Ross

One of the biggest behind-the-scenes players in the fight over whether the Sharp Park golf course should stay or go is Rep. Jackie Speier.

Speier, D-Hillsborough - whose district includes the course in Pacifica, which San Francisco runs - told the Golden Gate National Recreation Area flat out that she would oppose approving any funds for a federal takeover of the course. Such a takeover is the strategy favored by some San Francisco supes who would like to see the course go away.

Speier contends that the golfers, threatened frogs and endangered snakes can live together. She said as much in a letter to Mayor Ed Lee, and she phoned Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, who was seen as the swing vote, to urge him to vote "no."

He didn't, and the measure passed - only to be vetoed by Lee.

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