The pool of candidates vying to succeed District 9 supervisor Hillary Ronen has grown both deeper and shallower of late, with new aspirants tossing their hats into the ring and one potential front-runner notably opting not to do so.
Santiago Lerma, 42, a Ronen aide who previously expressed an intent to run, has confirmed to Mission Local that he will not stand for election in November 2024. The reason, he said, is personal: His 7-month old son will require numerous medical procedures over the next 18 months, and he can’t envision balancing that with a competitive, yearlong campaign.
“It’s a bummer,” he said. “But I’ll still be here [in the Mission], making noise.”
Lerma’s exit — before any official entrance — alters the dynamic of a crowded D9 race. As a two-time legislative aide who sandwiched his time in City Hall around a stint with the city’s largest union, the SEIU, Lerma would have been an extremely competitive candidate, if not the front-runner. But, as Lerma stepped back, others stepped forward.
Roberto Hernandez, a lowrider enthusiast, Carnaval organizer and “The Mayor of the Mission” filed a candidate intention statement on Oct. 6 with the Ethics Commission. Hernandez, a Mission lifer with deep community ties, also distinguished himself during the pandemic as an organizer of the Latino Task Force food hub.
On that same date, Jaime Gutierrez also filed a candidate statement. He describes himself to Mission Local as a Mission native, military veteran, University of California, Berkeley grad, former public school teacher and cab-driver and, presently, a transit supervisor at the SFMTA. “I’m not trying to out-politic the politicians,” the 56-year-old says. “I do have concerns for the state of the neighborhood, how businesses are being run out and how decisions are being made at City Hall without properly vetting things.”
Julian Bermudez, Trevor Chandler and Jackie Fielder have also filed candidate intention statements with the Ethics Commission. Chandler has additionally filed to run for the Democratic County Central Committee — a neat trick for any aspiring city office-holder, as candidates for the DCCC, a state office, are not beholden to San Francisco’s $500 campaign donation limit.
Chandler and Fielder are shaping up as the presumptive standard-bearers for the city’s moderate and progressive factions. But the election is still 13 months off, and more candidates could yet enter the fray — or exit it.
In the last presidential election, in 2020, 86.3 percent of San Francisco registered voters cast a ballot. And, informally, it seems most District 9 voters likely don’t yet know who they’ll be voting for — or even who the candidates are.
In a recent, unscientific Mission Local poll of English- and Spanish-speaking Mission denizens, the supermajority of respondents weren’t familiar with any of the candidates’ names.
Or, for that matter, with the name of the two-term incumbent, Hillary Ronen.
My heart goes out to Santiago and his family. We are thinking of you and your baby <3 Bravo to you for putting your family's well-being first. We do look forward to a time when your family is healthy and you can come back to run again 🙂
Based on what I’ve read – opposition to market rate housing, against the recalls – sounds like a good thing
“the supermajority of respondents weren’t familiar with any of the candidates’ names.
Or, for that matter, with the name of the two-term incumbent, Hillary Ronen.”
No wonder. I follow SF politics fairly closely and so far as I know, all Ronen has ever done is attend Chesa Boudin’s election-watch parties, scream and make a fool of herself. I couldn’t name one actual thing she has done in government. We really deserve better next time.
Hillary Ronen’s accomplishments are clearly listed within her campaign literature.
There are three on my campaign flyer – retained for posterity.
“her district is now a citywide leader in affordable housing”
“strongly negotiated with the Mayor to create Mental Health SF to guarantee homeless people medication and services”
“her legislation made it possible for San Francisco to move forward with buying out PG&E”
I’d say, with her “strongly” negotiation skills, Hillary solving the mental health issues for homeless folks is her greatest accomplishment. Think of what the streets would be like if mentally ill people without access to medications and services were left to fend for themselves.
Ronen ranks down with Ed Jew, Eric Mar and Michela Alioto-Pier in effectiveness, bringing a personality type wholly ill suited to politics and legislating to the Board.
Apparently Ronen’s self esteem is validated when she’s treated as a doormat by power and she then in turn treats her constituents accordingly. The only thing that catches the attention of this technician for connecting nonprofits and city money attention is the scent of city money to be directed to a nonprofit.
Hillary Ronen is the poster supervisor for why political power has drained from the progressives and why the alt right is mobilized and ascendant in SF politics.
The Ammiano/Campos dynasty has finally fizzled out.
Santiago Lerma, please help. I’m a Mexican-American SF native. I work as a vendor in front of St. Peter’s Church, at Florida/24th. A vendor from the Mission just abruptly set up shop where I have been there many years. This individual does have a permit, but wouldn’t you think to ask if someone is already there, as myself. This has became a great problem.since this is my livelihood. Please let these permitted vendors before setting up shop to make sure no one is occupying the space. I do not want problems and why can’t they stay in the Mission.
Campers
D-9’s Supe generally starts behind the 8 Ball.
Because they are usually the spear tip of Left opposed to line of moderate mayors.
I can recall the cops simply refuse to send anyone to testify on their behalf in the course of an Ammiano legislative move.
It’s hard for D-9 supe to get a pot hole filled or extra glance over you from a police cruiser or the City under Breed took 2 weeks of phone calls to move a sofa and refrigerator and mattress from Clarion Alley.
Gimme Fielder in 9 and Peskin, I guess, for Mayor.
Tho I did talk to Daniel Lurie yesterday by accident and he seems nice and noble.
Congrats to Browns for outplaying us Sunday.
See you in Super Bowl !!
h.