Welcome back to the “Meet the Candidates” series for District 11, where we ask each candidate to answer one question per week leading up to the election, with answers in about 100 words.
District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí is termed out and running for mayor and, so far, four candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to replace him as the representative of the Excelsior, Oceanview and the Outer Mission.
In week 3, we asked: Who do you support in this mayoral race and why?
All of the candidates declined to answer the question directly, saying that they were not yet ready to throw their hats behind any one candidate. Instead, they described the features they would like to see in the city’s leader.
Chyanne Chen
- Job: Worker organizer, community facilitator & educator
- Age: 39
- Residency: Homeowner, landlord, living in District 11 since August 2000
- Transportation: Walk, public transportation, rideshare, and car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Davis, master’s degree from Cornell University, doctoral degree in education in progress at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
My priority has always been the success of our communities and the well-being of all residents. I’ll support a candidate deeply committed to addressing our pressing issues like the safety of our neighborhoods and the lack of affordable housing. They must champion revitalizing our local economy and small businesses, and foster good job creation and support for our elders, children, and youth.
District 11 has been my home for 24 years, and it’s too often been neglected by City Hall. We need a leader who acknowledges and actively supports our district and a thriving and secure San Francisco.
Endorsed by: Assemblymember Phil Ting, former police commissioner Larry Yee, San Francisco Board of Education commissioner Jenny Lam, former supervisors Norman Yee, Sandy Fewer and Mabel Teng.
Adlah Chisti
- Job: Public policy analyst, caregiver
- Age: 40
- Residency: Live with parents and caregive for them, born in District 11 in 1983 and lived there since, moved out in 2013 and back in 2017
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in politics and in environmental science, and master’s degree in education from University of San Francisco, master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, juris doctorate from University of California Law, San Francisco
- Languages: English, Spanish, Hindi
I am committed to working collaboratively with any of the mayoral candidates.
While the mayor oversees city operations for San Franciscans, it is the role of the Board of Supervisors to draft legislation. We need efficient city governance with clear and concise legislation and streamlined processes to effect change quickly. Achieving results on critical issues such as child care, senior care, affordable housing, public safety, and supporting small businesses requires building relationships and cooperation.
The reality is that the only way we are going to solve the city’s problems is by working together. That means finding common ground even though we may disagree.
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
- Job: Community advocate
- Age: 38
- Residency: Living in District 11 since November 1985 and has lived here always, except for time away at college
I’m concentrating on the District 11 race, and that is where I will put my energy. It’s very early, and I’m interested to see the entire field of candidates with their platforms. It’s no secret that Ahsha Safaí shared his experience with me, and we worked well together.
Like most San Francisco voters, I will vote for the candidate that has a comprehensive plan to prioritize public safety, housing for families and the revitalization of our economy. The candidate must work collaboratively with the entire board to solve San Francisco’s problems in order to earn my vote.
Endorsed by: Supervisors Shamann Walton and Myrna Melgar, Assemblymember Matt Haney, Former SF mayor Willie Brown Jr., Transit Workers Union Local 250A… read more here
Roger Marenco
- Job: Transit operator
- Age: 42
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 11 since May 2014
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental sustainability and social justice from San Francisco State University. City College San Francisco
- Languages: English, Spanish
I’m supporting whoever will treat students like students, workers like workers and criminals like criminals. I’m supporting whoever is running as a third-party candidate, because Democrats and Republicans have proven that their neverending bickering will not allow us to move forward.
This two-party system is crippling and limiting our potential. It’s time to establish a new political party of new ideas so that we can finally fix old problems. New ideas that focus on protecting our families, not criminals; supporting workers, not criminals; helping students, not criminals; providing assistance for children, elderly and people with disabilities, not criminals.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at xueer@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the District 11 questions here, and the entire “Meet the Candidates” series here.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
