CANCER SOCIETY'S UNLIKELY HERO CLOSE ALLY OF TOBACCO LOBBY.

Byline: Lance Williams San Francisco Examiner

The U.S. tobacco lobby's favorite politician is now one of the local American Cancer Society's ``humanitarians of the year.''

In a move that stunned tobacco foes, the cancer society's San Francisco unit announced that it would give its humanitarian award to Mayor Willie Brown Jr., who has received more tobacco contributions than any other politician in U.S. history.

Brown and City Attorney Louise Renne will each be honored as Humanitarian of the Year at a dinner tonight for giving the go-ahead to a city lawsuit against the tobacco industry, said spokeswoman Amy Weitz of the cancer society. The suit seeks to recoup taxpayer funds spent on treating cancer and other smoking-related illnesses.

The Democratic mayor said the award was more than justified by his record of deeds furthering cancer research.

Public records show that between 1981 and 1995, then-Assembly Speaker Brown received more than $750,000 in campaign donations, gifts and legal fees from tobacco interests, while repeatedly voting with the tobacco lobby on bills directly affecting the cigarette industry's bottom line.