Welcome back to the “Meet the Candidates” series for District 11, where we ask each candidate to answer one question every week leading up to the election. They must answer the question in 100 words or less. We will link to longer answers.
With District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí termed out and running for mayor, seven candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to represent the Excelsior, Oceanview and the Outer Mission.
The complaints from residents of District 11? We don’t get enough attention from City Hall; we get fewer resources; we are always overlooked. The frustration has been evident throughout the campaign. The lack of resources directed to the district has also been one of the talking points for the six candidates, but we wanted specifics.
This week, we are asking the supervisorial hopefuls: What can you, as supervisor, do to ensure District 11 gets its fair share of city services?
Next week, I will be at Purtea at 1422 Ocean Ave on Thursday, June 27, at 5 p.m. Drop by and share your thoughts! xueer@missionlocal.com
Michael Lai
- Job: Early education director, elected to the San Francisco Democratic Party
- Age: 31
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 11 since February 2024
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in government at Harvard College with coursework at Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Languages: English, Mandarin
I’m excited to bring my creative problem-solving, fundraising and negotiation skills, relationships, and organizing and press skills to ensure District 11 gets its fair share of city services. I spent the past five years founding a creative joint childcare and workforce-housing model and would bring that same mindset to creative ordinances and charter amendments to unlock city services.
Second, I’ve negotiated eight-figure contracts, and will negotiate hard for District 11 in the city budget and, when needed, raise outside money for district projects, just like the $30,000 I raised recently for a new Excelsior neon sign … read more here
Endorsed by: Attorney General Rob Bonta, Senator Scott Wiener, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Supervisors Joel Engardio and Matt Dorsey, NorCal Carpenters Union. 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
We need to start by doing exactly what I did when I was the president of TWU Local 250A, which is to open the books, and show everyone how much money is coming in and how the money is being spent.
Then we need to eliminate wasteful expenditures.
Finally, we need to reallocate the money, so that the right programs can have funding to survive. When I did this, as stated earlier, I was able to increase the budget from negative $80,000 to positive $600,000 in just three years. This is a clear example of outstanding results by reappropriating funds.
Jose Morales
- Job: Sales professional, small business owner
- Age: 28
- Residency: Tenant, born in District 11 in 1995 and has lived there since, except for time away in college from 2014 to 2017 and living in Idaho from 2021 to the end of 2022
- Transportation: Car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics from Sonoma State University
- Languages: English, Spanish
As Supervisor of District 11, I will ensure our district receives its fair share of city services by advocating strongly at City Hall, engaging with the community to understand their needs, and using data to prioritize resource allocation.
I will collaborate with city departments, fight for fair budget allocations, and establish transparent processes for accountability. By building partnerships with nonprofits and local businesses, I will supplement city services and address any gaps.
My goal is to ensure District 11 gets the attention and resources it deserves for a better quality of life for all residents.
Chyanne Chen
- Job: Worker organizer, community facilitator and 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
We cannot be afraid to raise our voices. I’ve spent my life building coalitions to bring about meaningful change, whether as a labor organizer fighting for higher pay and stronger benefits, or as a community advocate pushing to improve services to non-English-speaking residents.
What I have found, again and again, is that when we stand together, we can make change happen. District 11 is a wonderfully diverse community full of working families, seniors and young people. I will work to build district-wide, and across racial and cultural coalitions, so that we can raise our voices together and get the attention our families deserve.
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
As a supervisor, I will ensure District 11’s concerns are consistently addressed at city council meetings and through regular town halls. I will fight for equitable budget allocations, build public-private partnerships, and advocate to establish an SFMTA satellite office in our district to improve services. Transparent tracking will hold departments accountable, while prioritizing infrastructure projects will enhance our quality of life. Collaboration with city departments and the mayor’s office is crucial, and I will stay dedicated to our district without letting personal ambitions for higher office get in the way of resources to our community.
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
- Job: Community advocate
- Age: 38
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 11 since November 1985 and has lived here always, except for time away at college
- Transportation: Public, car
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, Dominican University, master’s degree in public administration from University of San Francisco
- Languages: English, Spanish
In order to ensure District 11 gets its fair share of services, the Supervisor’s office must listen to community members to deeply understand the immediate needs of each neighborhood. From there, the Supervisor must advocate for those resources in the budget process and directly with departments.
Empowering community groups and local organizations to apply for funding outside of the city budget helps to get special projects off the ground and supporting capacity building within these organizations helps the projects become a reality.
It ultimately adds up to advocacy and resource sharing.
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
District 11 contribution
Money raised and spent in the District 11 supervisor race
Money raised
Money spent
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
$34,342
$70,501
Chyanne Chen
$0
Adlah Chisti
$0
Roger Marenco
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Money spent
Money raised
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
$70,501
$34,342
Chyanne Chen
$0
Adlah Chisti
$0
Roger Marenco
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically but rotated weekly. 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.
I really don’t like how Michael Lai has carpet bagged himself into this race. EJ’s done a lot of good work for the community over the years and generally does seem to be able to bridge the gap between moderates & progressives in SF while also serving his community.
Of course tech money probably doesn’t like that EJ isn’t all in on just more condos. So here comes Michael Lai straight from hacker house pizza party land to kick out all the house rich but cash poor residents here so his buddies can build luxury condos on their graves. This guy doesn’t know this neighborhood. He can’t understand potential local traffic issues that come up here and what citizens don’t want here. He hasn’t worked with the previous supervisors in the area to get general knowledge of what needs to be done here.
He’ll be starting from ground zero with no historical knowledge. He doesn’t have endorsements from within the district or the surrounding areas because no one knows him. He can’t do a good job for District 11 because he is nothing more than a puppet for citywide interests. What people in District 11 need is someone looking out for District 11 interests…