Don Casper Killed: Renowned San Francisco Attorney And Republican Chair Dies In Hit-And-Run

On Sunday evening, prominent San Francisco Republican, attorney and vice president of the San Francisco Civil Service Commission Don Casper was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Forestville, SFGate reported.

Casper was jogging on River Road when he was struck by a white pickup truck with an extended cab, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. A reporter on the scene described the accident site: "A distinctive skid mark in the eastbound lane of River Road comes to a stop at a running shoe and a sock in the road, with the body of the victim coming to rest ten to fifteen yards farther down the lane." Casper died at the scene.

Witnesses said that the white truck slowed after striking Casper, but then fled east down River Road. Police are investigating the identity of the driver. Casper was visiting friends in Forestville, who went looking for him after he did not return from a run.

Casper was an owner at San Francisco law firm Jacobs Spotswood and Casper LLP, as well as a former chair of the city's Republican Party. Casper was also the whistleblower on a sloppy plan by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sell off state buildings for quick cash and then lease them back.

One of Casper's closest friends and business partners was Dick Spotswood, former Mill Valley Mayor, current columnist at Marin Independent Journal and the father of local personality Beth Spotswood. Spotswood, described Casper to SF Weekly as, "Though he would cringe at this –- a moderate Republican. He knew the civil service life of San Francisco better than anyone."

The driver of the pickup truck is still at large.

UPDATE: On Monday morning, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee released the following statement in a press release in response to Casper's death:

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Don Casper, a truly dedicated civil servant, bright attorney, fourth-generation San Franciscan and an avid long-distance runner. Appointed to the Civil Service Commission in March 2000 by former Mayor Willie Brown, Don was the expert on the rules governing employment in the City & County of San Francisco and knew it better than anyone else. He has arbitrated labor disputes and established wages, work rules, and benefits for our City employees. His contributions to our City are immeasurable.

His family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers today as the City mourns the loss of one of its own. As a mark of respect for Don Casper, I have ordered the flags at City Hall to be flown at half-staff from now until sunset tomorrow.”

Comments

[paladinlvs]

09:49 AM on 08/17/2011

If he'd had a gun he could have shot the car.

[Pierre99]

10:58 AM on 08/17/2011

The last thing he probably saw was an Obama 2012 bumper sticker.

[paladinlvs]

11:57 AM on 08/17/2011

Well, it won't be like finding a needle in a hay stack since most of those disappeared with the Clunker Stimulas.

[Kev Bat]

09:11 AM on 08/17/2011

Such poor responses ! That fellow was as human as everyone else and had loved ones . HAVE SOME RESPECT , PEOPLE !

[thefacts22]

09:02 AM on 08/17/2011

Are we back to the era under certain President with a lot of unexplainable deaths, suicides, muggings, disappearances....Strange, very strange.
"Casper was also a member of the San Francisco State Building Authority, which controlled state-owned office buildings in the city. When then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed selling several state buildings and leasing them back to help patch the budget gap, Casper called foul. "Don objected, saying it was fiscal ruin, that it would cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
Schwarzenegger fired Casper from the building commission, and he and two other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit claiming the $2.3 billion sale was unconstitutional and a waste of taxpayer funds. The court of appeal put the sale on hold until Schwarzenegger was out of office. Gov. Jerry Brown then reversed the decision and reinstated Casper at the commission in July."
?????????

[blurredmolly]

03:14 PM on 08/17/2011

"Are we back to the era under certain President with a lot of unexplaina­ble deaths, suicides,"

Are you kidding? Loosen the strap on your tin foil helmet.

[factuals]

03:29 PM on 08/17/2011

Why should I. I got you!

[Disgustedagn]

09:01 AM on 08/17/2011

Sounds like a hit to me. Who did he blow the whistle on?

[thefacts22]

09:27 AM on 08/17/2011

That could be the start of political killings....it is an old socalist tactic

[lesliebro]

11:57 AM on 08/17/2011

Hey Facts, Did you mean a socialist tactic or a Southern Califonia tactic? Just curious.

[paladinlvs]

09:57 AM on 08/17/2011

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

[thefacts22]

10:39 AM on 08/17/2011

How are we supposed to know? There are a lot of democrats in California which pockets could have been hurt....

[jhooperaa]

08:56 AM on 08/17/2011

I just heard that they think the hit and run vehicle was Joe Biden's limo. Joe told his driver to drive him to China for his visit there later this week. Joe does not realize that China is across the ocean.

[richard bergman]

08:49 AM on 08/17/2011

The Obama Administration and its Democrats,Communists, Liberals and "progressives" are now road kill.
Rick Perry let it slip out, "treason trials coming!"

[thefacts22]

09:06 AM on 08/17/2011

Just because someone is a Republican doesnt mean that he is not honest. Both parties have quite a Rap Sheet! Dont be so fanatical, it obscures your thinking.

[richard bergman]

09:47 AM on 08/17/2011

I never mentioned "republicans".
There really is no place for the collectivist command and control Left in any civilization.

[wevad2]

11:27 AM on 08/17/2011

Adolf Perry for president,

[er2blu]

09:10 AM on 08/17/2011

Why do the moderators of this forum allow this kind of comment and hatred to pass!!!

[tonycgi]

09:19 AM on 08/17/2011

Be careful of what you wish for, it sometimes come home to roost. You Sir or Madame need to grow up!

[kent05r]

08:33 AM on 08/17/2011

He wasn't that smart. Forestville,Gurenville and Winsor are in the heart of Wine country.
Wolferines and Baddgers are the animals of symbols for the families there. Well organized and non republican. He should of known better.

[tteeghen]

08:20 AM on 08/17/2011

What a shame. The last living and breathing republican in the City of San Fran is dead, extinction of the republican party there is official.

[richard bergman]

08:57 AM on 08/17/2011

Sterility Wins! Democrats now facing extinction!
No American will live near them!

[LeftWingLift]

04:12 PM on 08/17/2011

Watch how the run the city further into the ground......they'll have no shame holding their hand out tot he feds for money.

[joeherby]

08:08 AM on 08/17/2011

Bush did it!

[rebasfl]

08:07 AM on 08/17/2011

This could very easily be the intended outcome of this incident.

[JWB111]

08:11 AM on 08/17/2011

Gives a literal meaning to "Natural Selection", huh?

[majmac9659]

08:36 AM on 08/17/2011

That was hitler's rationle as well for the murders of those who dared to think differently from him.

[omnioasis]

08:16 AM on 08/17/2011

So you you support killing politicians you dont like. Typical leftists, kill those who dont do as you say

[Scruffyboo2]

08:32 AM on 08/17/2011

There's far more blood on Teapublican hands than "leftists" ... if facts matter to you.

[jvrhou]

08:45 AM on 08/17/2011

SO, WHERE DO YOU JOG, OMNIOASSS?

[richard bergman]

08:52 AM on 08/17/2011

Reported!

[frank1946]

07:35 AM on 08/17/2011

He was an Intelligent and Effective Man................a real Loss to San Francisco !

My Sympathy to his Family and Friends !

Running on Public Roads is not safe, bicycles included !

[Dealerdeb1]

07:16 AM on 08/17/2011

It is said that nancy Pelosi's botex was recioovered from the scene

[Dealerdeb1]

08:23 AM on 08/17/2011

My typing is terrible I can live with that. I have a full arm body cast and pins which unless I go very slowly I make typos. I can live with that. Mea culpa. That being said why do you Libs always resort IMMMEDIATLY with personal attacks and name calling? Are you just following Obama and his sophomoric childish assault on anyone right of far left?FYI The tea Party and Conservatives AND independants are Americans too. I would defend your rights to my death but you folks seem to think only Libs should have the right to air. Please increase your inteeligence quotient and learn to debate like an adult. The pullups king needs to put on his man pants and stop the blame game. Get to work and bring people together. Who knows you may have a good idea? Even a blind squirrel gathers nuts.

[paladinlvs]

10:04 AM on 08/17/2011

Leave his spelling alone and go get my part of the money your boss is spending on his bus trip to blame other folks.

[kpingzing]

07:15 AM on 08/17/2011

This is what the progressives refer to as progress. At least the Republicans stop with words.