In our โMeet the Candidatesโ series, we ask each front-running candidate in the District 10 supervisor race one question each week. The candidates are given 100 words or less to answer the question.
District 10 covers the neighborhoods in southeast San Francisco, stretching from the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill to Bayview-Hunters Point, Sunnydale and Visitacion Valley, among other neighborhoods.
If you have a question for the candidates or just want to talk about District 10, reach out to Marina at marina@missionlocal.com, or on Signal at marinanewman.12.
Here are the questions we’ve asked so far:
Mission Local color codes the answers to yes/no questions. A blue background means the candidate answered yes, an orange background means no, and a yellow background means that the candidate answered ambiguously.
Week 8: What criticism have you received that you believe is unfair?ย
J.R. Eppler
- Job: Small business attorney
- Age: 46
- Residency: Homeowner, lived in San Francisco since 2007 and Potrero Hill since 2010
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking, biking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, law degree from University of California, Los Angeles, MBA from University of California, Los Angeles
- Languages: English
GrowSF portrays my work on housing as opposition. Thatโs unfair and untrue. When developers proposed to build predominately studios or 1-bedroom units, I pushed for homes that more families could live in. At Pier 70, I fought to increase the number of affordable homes.
District 10 needs a broad range of homes that meet our residentsโ needs, including family-sized units, middle-income housing, and deeply affordable homes that help longtime neighbors stay.
Counting units matters. So does asking who can live in them. As supervisor, Iโll fight for more housing, and housing that gives District 10 families a future here.
Dion-Jay “DJ” Brookter
- Job: No current job, formerly chief executive officer at Young Community Developers
- Age: 43
- Residency: Homeowner in Candlestick Point/Little Hollywood area since 2021, moved to San Francisco in 2014
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in speech communication, Utah State University, masterโs degree in business administration, University of Phoenix
- Languages: English, some Spanish
One criticism is that I would make it more difficult to build housing. My record tells a different story: I am the only candidate who has directly helped deliver housing in District 10 as part of a development team.
There is a big difference between overseeing development as a public commissioner and doing the nuts-and-bolts work of getting housing financed, developed, built, and occupied.
As CEO of Young Community Developers, I helped deliver 208 homes and secured development rights for six additional projects representing more than 1,100 units. That hands-on experience prepares me to turn housing plans into actual homes.
Theo Ellington
- Job: Executive director, Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. Policy director, Brownstein, public affairs director for the Golden State Warriors and the first director of homelessness initiatives and community development for The Salvation Army San Francisco.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Renter and former homeowner, lifelong San Franciscan and third-generation resident, born and raised in Bayview near Third and Palou streets, has lived in the Hunters Point Shipyard in District 10 since 2016
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in political science, Notre Dame de Namur University; masterโs degree in urban affairs from the University of San Francisco.
Iโve received pushback for not supporting rezoning of industrial space in District 10 for housing. District 10 has roughly 20,000 homes in the pipeline, and Third Street remains underdeveloped. My job is to get them built and to put housing along our transit corridors.
Our industrial land is different, and should be the new economic and jobs center. We should welcome innovation that brings jobs in life science, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and other research and development opportunities that will employ the people who live here.
Week 7: Do you agree with new contracting rules for S.F. homelessness nonprofits?ย
Dion-Jay “DJ” Brookter
- Job: No current job, formerly chief executive officer at Young Community Developers
- Age: 43
- Residency: Homeowner in Candlestick Point/Little Hollywood area since 2021, moved to San Francisco in 2014
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in speech communication, Utah State University, masterโs degree in business administration, University of Phoenix
- Languages: English, some Spanish
I support performance-based contracting, because public dollars should produce measurable results. However, the City must get the implementation right. Metrics should be developed collaboratively with providers and people with lived experience, while reflecting the varying needs of those they serve.
The City should provide training, technical assistance, resources, and ongoing touchpoints to identify challenges and adjust in real time. If we expect higher performance standards, we must provide funding to succeed.
We should not incentivize providers to serve only people easiest to house while penalizing those serving people with the greatest needs. Performance-based contracting should improve services โ not destabilize nonprofits.
Theo Ellington
- Job: Executive director, Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. Policy director, Brownstein, public affairs director for the Golden State Warriors and the first director of homelessness initiatives and community development for The Salvation Army San Francisco.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Renter and former homeowner, lifelong San Franciscan and third-generation resident, born and raised in Bayview near Third and Palou streets, has lived in the Hunters Point Shipyard in District 10 since 2016
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in political science, Notre Dame de Namur University; masterโs degree in urban affairs from the University of San Francisco.
Solving our homelessness crisis requires accountability, and accountability is a two-way street. Yes, I support tying homeless service contracts to clear, measurable performance standards. Taxpayers deserve to know whether programs are working, and people experiencing homelessness deserve services that produce real outcomes.
But the City must be held accountable, too. That means paying providers on time, executing contracts faster, improving coordination between departments, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, and providing capacity-building support, particularly for smaller community-based organizations.
We should measure results while ensuring providers have the resources and partnerships necessary to deliver them.
J.R. Eppler
- Job: Small business attorney
- Age: 46
- Residency: Homeowner, lived in San Francisco since 2007 and Potrero Hill since 2010
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking, biking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, law degree from University of California, Los Angeles, MBA from University of California, Los Angeles
- Languages: English
I support performance-based metrics. City Hall should measure whether people escape homelessness, not merely how many people pass through a program, and hold both providers and itself accountable for the results. Public, outcome-based standards should focus on what matters: Long-term housing, effective services and lasting stability.
These metrics must reflect the complexity of homelessness. Thereโs no one-size-fits-all solution because people face different causes, conditions, and barriers. The standards should be developed with experienced providers and people who have experienced homelessness.
The goal is not just better-looking numbers. It is helping more people leave homelessness for good.
Week 6: Would you put a moratorium on AI data centers?
Theo Ellington
- Job: Executive director, Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. Policy director, Brownstein, public affairs director for the Golden State Warriors and the first director of homelessness initiatives and community development for The Salvation Army San Francisco.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Renter and former homeowner, lifelong San Franciscan and third-generation resident, born and raised in Bayview near Third and Palou streets, has lived in the Hunters Point Shipyard in District 10 since 2016
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in political science, Notre Dame de Namur University; masterโs degree in urban affairs from the University of San Francisco.
Yes. I was the first candidate in this race to call for a moratorium on new data centers in District 10. We need our own regulations that include: full community input, environmental review, companies paying the full cost of the power upgrades they require, ratepayer and anti-displacement protections, and public disclosure of water and energy use.
This district already carries a disproportionate share of the city’s pollution and heavy industrial use that needs to be modernized. We need uses that promote new economic jobs centers. Within my first 30-days, I will jumpstart a community and economic development planning process.
J.R. Eppler
- Job: Small business attorney
- Age: 46
- Residency: Homeowner, lived in San Francisco since 2007 and Potrero Hill since 2010
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking, biking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, law degree from University of California, Los Angeles, MBA from University of California, Los Angeles
- Languages: English
I support a moratorium on new data centers in District 10 while the City establishes clear standards for their locations and cumulative impacts. Bayview-Hunters Point already bears a disproportionate share of San Franciscoโs industrial infrastructure and pollution. We canโt approve more facilities without assessing the implications on the electrical grid, our water supply, backup diesel generation, air quality, noise, and neighborhood health.
Counting megawatts is not enough; several smaller facilities can impose the same burden as one large project. Future proposals must undergo rigorous environmental and community review, provide meaningful benefit, and justify why District 10 should bear the impact.
Dion-Jay “DJ” Brookter
- Job: No current job, formerly chief executive officer at Young Community Developers
- Age: 43
- Residency: Homeowner in Candlestick Point/Little Hollywood area since 2021, moved to San Francisco in 2014
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in speech communication, Utah State University, masterโs degree in business administration, University of Phoenix
- Languages: English, some Spanish
I would vote yes on a comprehensive moratorium on data centers, as well as an outright permanent ban, regardless of size.
Data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity, water, land, and infrastructure while creating relatively few permanent jobs. In a dense, built-out city like San Francisco, they can also compound environmental burdens. We have limited industrial land that should be used to create quality jobs, build community wealth, and expand opportunity โ not facilitate an extractive use that places new burdens on our communities while primarily benefiting investors and technology companies.
D10 residents are clear: They do not welcome data centers.
Week 5: Would you expand police surveillance tech?
J.R. Eppler
- Job: Small business attorney
- Age: 46
- Residency: Homeowner, lived in San Francisco since 2007 and Potrero Hill since 2010
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking, biking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, law degree from University of California, Los Angeles, MBA from University of California, Los Angeles
- Languages: English
I would vote no on expanding surveillance tools in District 10.
License-plate readers and drones can be useful investigative tools, but Flock has already failed basic tests of trust and efficacy: San Francisco found 299 improper searches of Flock data by federal and out-of-state agencies, and other jurisdictions report high misidentification rates.
The Police Commission should independently review effectiveness, vendor selection, privacy protections, data-sharing rules, and compliance with locally approved procedures before we consider any expansion. The city should prove these tools are effective, lawful, and properly controlled before expanding them.
Dion-Jay “DJ” Brookter
- Job: No current job, formerly chief executive officer at Young Community Developers
- Age: 43
- Residency: Homeowner in Candlestick Point/Little Hollywood area since 2021, moved to San Francisco in 2014
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in speech communication, Utah State University, masterโs degree in business administration, University of Phoenix
- Languages: English, some Spanish
I would oppose expanding Flock and other mass-surveillance technology in District 10.
We should not create systems that track residentsโ movements or collect information on people who are not suspected of a crime. Reporting has documented misuse of Flock and similar systems, underscoring the need for strong oversight and auditing.
These risks are especially serious for immigrant communities, communities of color, and other vulnerable residents.
I support accountable community policing, violence prevention, safe streets, and investments that make District 10 safer, not surveillance infrastructure that puts privacy and civil liberties at risk.
Theo Ellington
- Job: Executive director, Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. Policy director, Brownstein, public affairs director for the Golden State Warriors and the first director of homelessness initiatives and community development for The Salvation Army San Francisco.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Renter and former homeowner, lifelong San Franciscan and third-generation resident, born and raised in Bayview near Third and Palou streets, has lived in the Hunters Point Shipyard in District 10 since 2016
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in political science, Notre Dame de Namur University; masterโs degree in urban affairs from the University of San Francisco.
- Languages: English
As it relates specifically to Flock, my vote would depend on the guardrails, and I will be specific about what earns it. I support the safety tools neighbors ask for at every door; cameras and license plate readers help solve break-ins and illegal dumping.
At 24, I organized the petition drive that kept Stop-and-Frisk out of San Francisco, and I will not vote to expand surveillance of this district without strict retention limits, independent audits, public transparency reports, and an absolute bar on sharing data with federal immigration enforcement. Bring me an expansion built on those terms and it has my vote.
Week 4: How would you hold the Navy accountable?
Theo Ellington
- Job: Executive director, Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. Policy director, Brownstein, public affairs director for the Golden State Warriors and the first director of homelessness initiatives and community development for The Salvation Army San Francisco.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Renter and former homeowner, lifelong San Franciscan and third-generation resident, born and raised in Bayview near Third and Palou streets, has lived in the Hunters Point Shipyard in District 10 since 2016
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking, biking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in political science, Notre Dame de Namur University; master’s degree in urban affairs from the University of San Francisco.
- Languages: English
I live at the shipyard, I grew up downwind of it, and I was one of the lead plaintiffs in the environmental justice litigation there that garnered a $6.3 million settlement.
Eleven months of silence about plutonium is unacceptable. As supervisor, I will demand the Navy reinstate the Restoration Advisory Board it dissolved and expand capacity for the Citizenโs Advisory Committee, so residents hear findings directly; insist on independent verification of testing before any land transfer; and put every delay on public record through city hearings, with our congressional delegation at the table.
Nobody handed us the truth here. We fought for it, and I will keep fighting against environmental racism.
J.R. Eppler
- Job: Small business attorney
- Age: 46
- Residency: Homeowner in Potrero Hill, living there since 2010 after moving to San Francisco in 2007
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking and biking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in economics and history from Stanford University; Juris doctor and MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles
- Languages: English
The Navy, Tetra Tech, and the City have failed Hunters Point residents for decades.
We need independent testing, transparent reporting, and enforceable cleanup milestones before anyone talks about accelerating development. There is no reason to rush the Shipyard when we have other waterfront sites that can absorb growth while this work is done properly.
As supervisor, I would use every tool available: Oversight, public pressure and coordination with state and federal officials to hold the Navy accountable. District 10 has waited too long for promises. This time, the standard has to be simple: Show the cleanup is safe before moving forward.
Dion-Jay “DJ” Brookter
- Job: No current job, formerly chief executive officer at Young Community Developers
- Age: 43
- Residency: Homeowner in Candlestick Point/Little Hollywood area since 2021, moved to San Francisco in 2014
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in speech communication, Utah State University, masterโs degree in business administration, University of Phoenix
- Languages: English, some Spanish
I would demand immediate accountability, independent community-supervised verification, and full transparency.
The Navyโs 11-month delay in reporting dangerous plutonium contamination, along with the $57 million Tetra Tech settlement, shows why residents need an independent cleanup process they can trust.
I would oppose residential development or land transfer until cleanup is independently verified to the highest public-health standards. That means real-time monitoring, independent scientists with full site access, and long-term health monitoring. Cleanup must also account for sea-level and groundwater rise, which could mobilize contamination.
Bayview-Hunters Point has endured disproportionate harm for generations. This community deserves action now.
Week 3: How would you vote on the RV ban?
J.R. Eppler
- Job: Small business attorney
- Age: 46
- Residency: Homeowner, lived in San Francisco since 2007 and Potrero Hill since 2010
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking, biking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, law degree from University of California, Los Angeles, MBA from University of California, Los Angeles
- Languages: English
Iโd support this measure IF people displaced from their vehicles had somewhere safe to go.
I want clean streets and safe neighborhoods, but enforcement without alternatives isnโt a solution. It moves people from RVs to sidewalks. Supervisor Waltonโs Candlestick site was a step in the right direction; the City failed on execution.
As Supervisor, Iโll fight for low-cost temporary housing options, including small-site programs and safe-sleeping sites, so those who live in their RV have a safe, sanctioned place to go. We should enforce the rules, but we need a plan that keeps people off the streets.
Dion-Jay โDJโ Brookter
- Job: No current job, formerly chief executive officer at Young Community Developers
- Age: 43
- Residency: Homeowner in Candlestick Point/Little Hollywood area since 2021, moved to San Francisco in 2014
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in speech communication, Utah State University, masterโs degree in business administration, University of Phoenix
- Languages: English, some Spanish
If elected, Iโd start by keeping people housed first by fully funding eviction defense and tenant legal services, enforcing just-cause protections, and cracking down on landlords who harass or coerce longtime residents out of their homes.
For RV residents already on the street, that means city-funded storage instead of mass towing, triage through community ambassadors, and quick housing options paired with real pathways to permanent housing. Iโd also push departments for accurate counts and fair placement of services, so no district carries a disproportionate share.
Keeping the two-hour restriction wasnโt the answer.
Theo Ellington
- Job: Executive director, Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. Policy director, Brownstein, public affairs director for the Golden State Warriors and the first director of homelessness initiatives and community development for The Salvation Army San Francisco.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Renter and former homeowner, lifelong San Franciscan and third-generation resident, born and raised in Bayview near Third and Palou streets, has lived in the Hunters Point Shipyard in District 10 since 2016
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in political science, Notre Dame de Namur University; masterโs degree in urban affairs from the University of San Francisco.
- Languages: English
District 10 should not carry the burden of citywide problems alone. For years, other neighborhoods banned RVs and pushed them into our neighborhoods.
On homelessness, when a person is ready to change their life, we should have services readily available. At The Salvation Army, we provided a full continuum of care, with mental health respite centers, shelters, and drug-free housing.
As Supervisor, I will fight for a fair approach centered around services with measured success that moves people off the streets, out of RVs and into housing.
Week 2: How would you revitalize the Third Street corridor?
Theo Ellington
- Job: Executive director, Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. Policy director, Brownstein, public affairs director for the Golden State Warriors and the first director of homelessness initiatives and community development for The Salvation Army San Francisco.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Renter and former homeowner, lifelong San Franciscan and third-generation resident, born and raised in Bayview near Third and Palou streets, has lived in the Hunters Point Shipyard in District 10 since 2016
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in political science, Notre Dame de Namur University; masterโs degree in urban affairs from the University of San Francisco.
- Languages: English
I grew up on Third and Newcomb above the liquor store, and I serve as Executive Director of the Bayview Opera House, so this is personal. Within my [first] 30 days in office, I will jump-start a Community & Economic Development planning process that will focus on increasing housing and identifying anchor tenants along Third Street.
Our corridor will be successful when we have more people. Weโll bring back beat cops and ambassadors, make additional investments in arts & community events, make the T-train reliable, and bring successful programs like Vacant-to-Vibrant pop-ups, plus grants and fee waivers for small businesses.
J.R. Eppler
- Job: Small business attorney
- Age: 46
- Residency: Homeowner in Potrero Hill, living there since 2010 after moving to San Francisco in 2007
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking and biking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in economics and history from Stanford University; Juris doctor and MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles
- Languages: English
Short term, Iโd work with Third Street stakeholders to build an actionable branding and development plan, paired with easy wins: Cleaner T stops, more frequent street cleaning, storefront activation, and targeted safety improvements.
Longer term, Iโd expand storefront opportunity grants and support a community benefit district model for sustained maintenance and programming of public spaces.
Iโd also push to improve speed and reliability on the T Muni line, and tackle vacant and underused parcels along Third with mixed-use housing and neighborhood-serving retail, including grocery stores and pharmacies, growing foot traffic while ensuring existing merchants share in the corridorโs growth.
Dion-Jay โDJโ Brookter
- Job: No current job, formerly chief executive officer at Young Community Developers
- Age: 43
- Residency: Homeowner in Candlestick Point/Little Hollywood area since 2021, moved to San Francisco in 2014
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in speech communication, Utah State University, masterโs degree in business administration, University of Phoenix
- Languages: English, some Spanish
I will take a coordinated approach to revitalizing Third Street: support small businesses, strengthen the public realm, and grow the customer base. We will help businesses succeed for the long-term by expanding access to capital, technical assistance, workforce support, and growth programs, not just one-time grants.
We will market Third Street beyond the Bayview in collaboration with OEWD [the cityโs Office of Economic and Workforce Development] & OSB [the Office of Small Business] by showcasing its food, culture, and businesses, including the nine new businesses opening.
We will improve cleanliness, lighting, safety, transit, and street activation, while building affordable housing along Third Street to bring more foot traffic and support a thriving local economy.
Week 1: What is your No. 1 priority?
Dion-Jay โDJโ Brookter
- Job: No current job, formerly chief executive officer at Young Community Developers
- Age: 43
- Residency: Homeowner in Candlestick Point/Little Hollywood area since 2021, moved to San Francisco in 2014
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in speech communication, Utah State University, masterโs degree in business administration, University of Phoenix
- Languages: English, some Spanish
My top priority is addressing San Franciscoโs affordability crisis so the people who built our communities can afford to remain, succeed, and thrive here.
Iโve watched working families, seniors, small businesses and longtime residents struggle to keep up with rising costs in one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Housing, groceries, childcare, transportation, utilities, and healthcare keep getting more expensive while too many people fall further behind.
I will fight to expand affordable housing, prevent displacement, create family-sustaining careers, and lower the overall cost of living for working people, so San Francisco remains a city where we can stay.
Theo Ellington
- Theo Ellington
- Job: Executive director, Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House. Policy director, Brownstein, public affairs director for the Golden State Warriors and the first director of homelessness initiatives and community development for The Salvation Army San Francisco.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Renter and former homeowner, lifelong San Franciscan and third-generation resident, born and raised in Bayview near Third and Palou streets, has lived in the Hunters Point Shipyard in District 10 since 2016
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in political science, Notre Dame de Namur University; masterโs degree in urban affairs from the University of San Francisco.
- Languages: English
Housing, at every income level, without displacement.
District 10 has 20,000 homes in the pipeline at Pier 70, Power Station, India Basin, the Shipyard, Candlestick, and Schlage Lock. We also have Third Street, a transit corridor in desperate need of more housing.
My grandfather bought a home in Bayview on a laborerโs salary. My mother raised us on $18,000 a year. That San Francisco disappears if we donโt build more housing that working-class families can afford.
J.R. Eppler
- Job: Small business attorney
- Age: 46
- Residency: Homeowner in Potrero Hill, living there since 2010 after moving to San Francisco in 2007
- Transportation: Driving, public transit, walking and biking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree in economics and history from Stanford University; Juris doctor and MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles
- Languages: English
My top priority is changing how District 10 experiences City Hall.
Our neighborhoods have been promised much and forced to fight for nearly every improvement. I know, because I have spent more than a decade in those fights. District 10 has carried an unfair environmental burden, endured unreliable transit, and gone without investments other neighborhoods take for granted.
I am running so every resident can say with confidence that they live in a complete neighborhood, belong to a vibrant community, and are connected to opportunity across the district and the city.
This electoral season, Mission Local made the decision to only include the answers of candidates who have won a major endorsement or have publicly reported campaign contributions. That narrows down the candidates from 10 to three: Theo Ellington, Dion-Jay Brookter, and J.R. Eppler. Candidates may be added to this series if they later meet this criteria.
Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, grammar, and to meet the word limit requirement. Do you have questions youโd like to ask the candidates? Email marina@missionlocal.com.
You can register to vote here.
