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Here’s the latest in our “Meet the Candidates” series for District 5, in which we ask each candidate to answer one question per week leading up to the election. Four candidates are challenging incumbent Supervisor Dean Preston to represent District 5, which spans from the east end of Golden Gate Park through Haight-Ashbury, Japantown and the Western Addition, the Lower Haight and Hayes Valley, and most of the Tenderloin.
First we had school closures, and talks of a city intervention and a state takeover. Then we had the superintendent resign, and school closures were off the table. For our last week of questions, we asked our candidates what they think of the whole situation at San Francisco Unified School District.
Bilal Mahmood
- Job: Founder of private and philanthropic organizations
- Age: 37
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since May 2023
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, master’s degree from University of Cambridge
- Languages: English, Urdu
As Iโm sure many residents feel, itโs been frustrating to watch the issues with SFUSD snowball during the past years, further exacerbated by mismanaged finances for years.
While school closures will be needed over time, it’s clear this process was hastily conducted by the previous superintendent, and it is welcome news that there is now new leadership to better manage the process into the future. Ultimately, itโs critical to focus efforts on this to ensure students are adequately supported and families can trust there is stability in our education system.
Endorsed by: Mayor London Breed, TogetherSF Action, San Francisco YIMBY, State Sen. Scott Wiener and DCCC Chair Honey Mahogany … read more.
Dean Preston
- Job: Incumbent, tenant attorney
- Age: 54
- Residency: Homeowner, in District 5 since 1996
- Transportation: Public transit
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College, juris doctor degree from University of California Law, San Francisco
- Languages: English
As a public-school parent and District 5 supervisor, Iโm proud of our students, families, educators and school staff who, despite years of underfunding and leadership transitions, continue to push forward.
I opposed the school closure plan. Here is the statement I issued. I am relieved that the district has now abandoned this misguided effort to shutter so many schools in 2025.
Our city needs to come together to address the severe challenges that our students, families, and educators face, including understaffing, student mental health challenges, bullying, racism, and more. I hope the change of Superintendent brings positive change to SFUSD.
Endorsed by: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Public Defender Mano Raju, United Educators of San Francisco, San Francisco Labor Council, San Francisco Tenants Union, National Union of Healthcare Workers … read more.
Scotty Jacobs
- Job: Marketing
- Age: 30
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since November 2022, homeowner
- Transportation: Public bicycle
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Washington University
- Languages: English
The gross mismanagement of our school district is inexcusable. Families rely upon our public education system, and the state of current affairs further sows the question for families: Is San Francisco somewhere I can raise my family?
Our city is in need of a reset, one where we put pragmatic solutions on the table to address our most pressing issues, from homelessness to housing to transit. We need leaders who will break from the status quo and bring new vision, ideas, and perspectives to the table. Itโs time to vote out the incumbent supervisors and get our city back on track.
Endorsed by: Mark Farrell, TogetherSF Action, Marina Times, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club, Connected SF, and UA Local 38.
Allen Jones
- Job: Activist
- Age: 67
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since November 2021
- Transportation: Wheelchair
- Education: Teaching Bible studies at juvenile hall
- Languages: English
What a mess. However, I am more outraged reading the Mission Local report of “well-connected Asian political organizer,” Josephine Zhao, being hired as the “Black family liaison” at James Lick Middle School. This hire is the ultimate and continued disrespect of Black students in our public schools. And people wonder why Black students here are struggling.
Way past the risk of sounding racist, if James Lick Middle School can’t hire a Black liaison for its troubled Black students and their families, I have no faith that SFUSD will ever get its act together.
Autumn Looijen
- Job: School board recall co-founder
- Age: 46
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since December 2020, landowner
- Transportation: Public transit
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from California Institute of Technology
- Languages: English
When school closures are done right, kids benefit. In Denver, kids got better test scores after their schools were closed.
But itโs critical to do it right. We did not.
To rebuild trust, we must be fully transparent about which schools are at risk and why. Put families at the table from the start. Ask them for real input (not distributing coins in a weird process). Listen.
And when a school must be closed, we should mourn with the familiesโฆ then work with them to keep their communities together even as their campus changes.
Endorsed by: San Francisco police union, Marina Times, Chinese American Democratic Club.
The order of candidates is rotated each week. Answers are capped at 100 words, and may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at eleni@missionlocal.com.
Read all of the District 5 candidates' answers here, and the entire "Meet the Candidates" series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
So what exactly did the expensive and divisive school board recall get us? Imagine where weโd be if that money had been spent on our kids, teachers, school workers and school infrastructure or on paying SFUSD workers on time. This might be one of the only public facing instances where candidate Autumn from Los Altos Looijen did NOT crow about spear heading the school board recall. Equally disappointing that Scotty party zone Jacobs consistently fails to mention San Franciscoโs senior citizens and folks who donโt have kids when he chortles about his fixes and machinations for public transit, housing, health and elder care. Like a true YIMBot (who also happens to be a Marin landlord and a fourth generation beneficiary of SF real estate), he focus on future families with unborn babies whike neglecting our seniors whoโve contributed mightily to our city and who now need our support. Is Scotty an ageist? Does he care about anyone older than 40? It remains to be seen. Remember: a supervisorโs primary job is making policy for all district citizens top to bottomโฆโฆyoung and old, with or without kids, rich or poor, physically fit or physically challenged. Iโd vote for Scotty for Prom King. He seems like a lot of fun.
I attended the NAACP meeting on Sunday to listen in on the discussion concerning the hiring of an Asian woman to be the liaison for Black students and their families. Don’t tell Rev. Dr. Amos Brown I said this, but he was fair but first the woman at the center of this issue at James Lick Middle School. That said, I know San Francisco employees have been promoted unfairly (I have published receipts) SFUSD should be ashamed of itself.
I respect politicians that are willing to say out loud that schools need to close. So far, itโs been knee jerk reactions all around and magical thinking. With a $100 Million deficit, I donโt know that just cutting back on services (central office) and ppl will do it. If the district cannot submit a plan for how to make payroll next year, the state will step in, despite what Tony Thurmond said.
Public education should be one of the biggest priorities and for the budget for SF.
Uneducated persons are deemed to fail.
Also , children must attend school. If not they and their parents , if their parents care must be punished . Truancy should be a crime .Learning requires work and discipline.
Many cannot even add or subtract or spell?
Support for teachers and a safe clean environment to learn is the only hope for persons to be able to be able to take care of themselves , and live and be productive and self sufficient.
Look no further then on the streets to see the homeless , addicts and thugs who live a lifestyle because they they did not get an education . They are wasting their one life hanging out doing no good .