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Welcome back to our โMeet the Candidatesโ series, where we ask the District 9 supervisorial hopefuls in the November 2024 election one question each week. Candidates are asked to answer questions on policy, ideology and more in 100 words or fewer.
Answers are being published individually each week, but we are also archiving the weekly series here.
If you know of other political events, let me know and I will add them to the post.
I will be at Arizmendi Bakery (1268 Valencia St.) at 5. p.m. on Thursday July 25, to say hello and talk about the district, or you can email me at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com.
This week’s question: Who are you supporting in the race for San Francisco’s District Attorney?
h brown
- Job: Retired special education teacher
- Age: 80
- Residency: Tenant, at current address for nine years, redistricted into District 9 in April 2022
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in special education from Clemson University
- Languages: English
Just watched Joe [Eskenazi]’s interview with [candidate Ryan] Khojasteh and shook my head over and over.
Finally decided to stick by my guns.
No way in the world could I ever vote for someone who chooses Marc Leno over Chesa Boudin.
I love Leno to death (father of ‘Offsite Inclusionary Housing’) but, like Sam Altman, these guys are the salesmen and not the scientist, if you get what I mean.
This dawg scores Ryan as a smug opportunist and will be writing in Chesa Boudin. Peskin for Mayor w/#2 on you ranked to Lurie.
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed.
Stephen Torres
- Job: Bartender at Twin Peaks Tavern, customer service at Flowercraft Nursery and freelance writer
- Age: 46
- Residency: Tenant, lived in District 9 summer 2001 to fall 2003, and returned in the summer 2010
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Moorpark Community College and San Francisco City College as work has permitted
- Languages: English and Spanish
I am supporting Ryan Khojasteh for District Attorney. Ryan would approach the role of DA in ways that are ethical and responsive to the people of San Francisco, who want to feel safe and heard. Ryan will work together with law enforcement to prosecute violent crime, increase prevention, depoliticize the office and hold accountable our criminal justice system in SF. So many San Franciscans have stopped reporting crimes because they believe the police and DA arenโt on their side. They deserve better. I believe Ryan is the kind of thoughtful and responsive DA we need and I look forward to working with him.
Endorsed by: Mark Leno, Former State Senator, Aaron Peskin, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Hillary Ronen, Supervisor, District 9 … read more here
Trevor Chandler
- Job: Public school teacher since 2023. Former director of government and public policy at Citizen, a public safety app.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 9 since July 2021
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Plymouth State University
- Languages: English
I’ve had significant disagreements with our District Attorney, and I have been unafraid to hold her accountable when I believed she was wrong.
Last year I was one of the first to call for the release of tapes in the Banko Brown murder. I also called for the case to be given to the Attorney General’s office because of my serious concerns with how she handled it.
I appreciate her dedication to charging fentanyl dealers and perpetrators of violent crime. I will continue to be a leading voice for accountability to ensure we balance our values with safe streets.
Endorsed by: Latino LGBTQ political organization HONOR PAC, State Senator Scott Wiener, Assembly Member Rick Chavez Zbur, Brownie Mary Democratic Club, Supreme Court Marriage Equality Lead Plaintiff Jim Obergefell … read more here
Jackie Fielder
- Job: Nonprofit co-director at Stop the Money Pipeline. Former educator at San Francisco State University, co-founder of the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition. Democratic Socialist
- Age: 29
- Residency: Tenant, lived in District 9 September 2017 to June 2018, October 2019 to August 2020 ,and April 2021 to present
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in public policy and master’s degree in sociology from Stanford University
- Languages: English and Spanish
Ryan Khojasteh. He’s got evidence-based solutions for crime prevention, violent crime and resource management.
Endorsed by: Former State Representative Tom Ammiano, Former District 9 Supervisor David Campos, Former Mayor Art Agnos, City College Trustee Vick Chung, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin … read more here.
Jaime Gutierrez
- Job: Transit supervisor for SFMTA/Muni
- Age: 57
- Residency: Tenant, born in District 9 in 1967 and, except for three years spent in the Army, has resided here ever since
- Transportation: Bike
- Education: U.S. Army, City College of San Francisco, University of California, Berkeley
- Languages: English and Spanish
I am willing to support anyone that is willing to prosecute. Stealing is a crime, and it should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. When you walk into a store, soap, shampoo, shaving cream and toothpaste are under lock and key. We have a problem. If you want to find these items fast, and they are more easily accessible on a sidewalk sale just outside the store. We have a bigger problem. I support any candidate that will do their job: Prosecute. Letting criminals run amok is no longer acceptable in this district or this city.
Endorsed by: Transportation Workers Union Local 200 … read more here
Roberto Hernandez
- Job: CEO, Cultura y Arte Nativa de Las Americas (CANA).
- Age: 67
- Residency: Homeowner, born in the Mission in June 1956 and has not left
- Transportation: Car and bicycle
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of San Francisco
- Languages: English and Spanish
I was initially skeptical of DA Brooke Jenkins. But when she asked me to serve on her Latino Community Advisory Board alongside other folks I admire, I said yes, because I believe in working with everybody to create solutions that serve our city.
Since joining, Iโve been encouraged by the DAโs responsiveness to our counsel. Iโm also encouraged by recent data showing crime stats coming down.
We still have a long way to go to tackle public safety, but DA Jenkins has proven herself to be a strong leader who is open to community collaboration. She has my support.
Endorsed by: Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, Supervisor Shamann Walton, State Senator Scott Wiener… read more here.
Julian Bermudez
- Job: Works in and directs his family business, Rancho Grande Appliance
- Age: 27
- Residency: Born San Francisco in 1996, raised on and off in District 9 until he left for college in 2015, then the army in 2019 and now back, living in the Mission
- Transportation: Carpool/catch a ride
- Education: City College of San Francisco, Chico State University
- Languages: English and Spanish
I’m supporting Ryan Khojasteh, because I believe our city leadership requires fresh faces. Both of our platforms call for preventative measures, rather than costly enforcement actions. Arresting, prosecuting and jailing a citizen costs more than assisting them in improving their lifestyle through education, job training, and substance abuse treatment. This also generates more jobs.
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed … read more here
District 9 contributions
Money raised and spent in the District 9 supervisor race
Money raised
Money spent
Jackie Fielder
$31,954
$112,742
Roberto Hernandez
$11,443
$100,577
Trevor Chandler
$72,682
$90,840
Stephen Torres
$13,848
$5,949
Julian Bermudez
$740
Michael Petrelis
$0
Jamie Gutierrez
$0
h Brown
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Money raised
Money spent
Jackie Fielder
$31,954
$112,742
Roberto Hernandez
$11,443
$100,577
Trevor Chandler
$72,682
$90,840
Stephen Torres
$13,848
$5,949
Julian Bermudez
$740
Michael Petrelis
$0
Jamie Gutierrez
$0
h Brown
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
Candidates are rotated alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com
Read the rest of the District 9 questions here, and the entire โMeet the Candidatesโ series here.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
Trevor never answered the questionโฆitโs a simple one.
As evidenced by his answer here, Roberto Hernandez is the king of scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Pretty disgusting he supports Brooke Jenkins. But thug is as thug does. And no surprise from a Jon Jacobo supporter. A vote for Roberto is not about change but keeping the status quo and making sure the Willie Brown and London Breed way of things continue.