Here's a though to ponder...
If an APD/MD who grew up here and was hired by a Hits station, you could expect they would know the local hits that go beyond Journey, Santana, and Huey Lewis. One problem is that the potential APD/MD's who grew up with KFRC (circa Top-40 80-86), KYUU, K101, KLOK and other stations are not necessarily in the target demo anymore and they have moved above that position.
Regardless of who you are as an APD/MD, you have to test the music that is played to determine powers, mediums, etc. Also, strength - appeal and other attributes. It's all about ratings baby and if you don't have 'em you're screwed. The problem is that some of these songs like Steel Breeze/You Don't Want Me Anymore 10/82, which was a huge hit in the Bay Area has not been played since the 80's and many have forgotten about it! The way you position songs like that is between the HUGE testers. There are few MD's who get that because they don't know the history of the market because they didn't grow up here.
While you may not agree with what I'm saying about music testing, this is the way it is in radio. Until a local owner has the balls to go against a Clear Channel, CBS, Entercom, Cumulus or other big group, you will not get what you want on the radio - localism with a San Francisco flavor you won't hear anywhere else.