The Right-Hand Man

Behind every great man there’s ... someone like Alex Tourk. After managing Gavin Newsom’s mayoral staff for the past three years—which meant being on call 24/7—Tourk has stepped out from behind the scenes to run Newsom’s reelection campaign. He’s not used to the spotlight yet, but his staff is lending a hand: “People are telling him this might be the beginning of a successful modeling career,” says his assistant, Lisa Shell.

BRIGHT IDEA
Tourk’s biggest accomplishment was implementing Project Homeless Connect, which enlists volunteers, nonprofits and corporations to provide free services for the homeless, including health care and supportive housing. Since its creation in October 2004, 32 cities have adopted Homeless Connect as a national best-practice model.

A REAL O.G.
One of Tourk’s favorite things to do is walk the city, from his Noe Valley neighborhood to Chinatown, with his iPod. “I listen to hip-hop, like Gang Starr and A Tribe Called Quest. I also like Elvis Costello and Robert Cray.”

PROMISES, PROMISES
So what will Tourk focus on as next year’s Big Campaign Issue? “Quality of life,” he says. “People want the buses to be on time, their neighborhoods safe and the streets clean.”

WINTER OF LOVE
Tourk’s vote for his number one SF moment: February 2004, when about 4,000 same-sex couples got married in City Hall over the course of a few weeks.