Because Supervisor Aaron Peskin terms out next January, five candidates have filed to run for the seat to lead District 3, which includes North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, the Financial District, Russian Hill and Nob Hill.
Between now and the November election, Mission Local will ask each District 3 candidate one question per week, and candidates will get 100 words to respond. We will compile all responses to the 40-odd questions on a “Meet the Candidates” page, so that voters can get a full picture of their stances.
Question four: Do you support Proposition F? Why or why not?
Moe Jamil
- Job: Deputy city attorney, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office
- Age: 46
- Residency: Owner-occupied condo owner, living in District 3 since May 2014
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: University of California, Berkeley, and law school at Santa Clara University, K-12 public school
- Languages: English, Cantonese
Due to a lack of strong leadership, our city departments have sat idly by while the city’s drug crisis has grown out of control. There’s no denying that something needs to change. Proposition F presents an opportunity to identify individuals who are struggling with substance abuse and addiction and connect them to treatment. While I see this as a supportive approach to achieving our goal of a safer and healthier future, as District 3 supervisor, I will demand accountability from our Mayor and city department heads without wasting time and putting the responsibility on voters’ shoulders.
Endorsed by: San Francisco Tenants Union, Teamsters Joint Council 7, Retired Assistant Police Chief Garrett Tom, Board President Aaron Peskin … read more here
Sharon Lai
- Job: Economic recovery leader at the World Economic Forum, former board member at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
- Age: 41
- Residency: Tenant and owner, living in District 3 since 2023, first moved to SF in 2005
- Transportation: Walk and Muni when solo, drive when with kids
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from University of California, Berkeley, development studies and city and regional planning; master’s degree in public administration, Harvard Kennedy School
- Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese
Continued smart investments in treatment capacity and long-term recovery are necessary; evidence shows programs like Care Not Cash have led to better outcomes. Although Proposition F attempts to improve the return on homelessness investments, it’s at risk to have the opposite effect, and instead displace more people from their stability and housing. This measure creates more reporting and bureaucracy for people who are busy trying to get better; if we make things harder, we will see more people back on the streets.
As supervisor, I will improve department coordination and efficiency to get us out of this public health crisis.
Endorsed by: Community Tenants Association, Teamsters Joint Council 7, 7 of the current Board of Supervisors … read more here
JConr B. Ortega
- Job: Self-described formerly homeless, leatherman, boxer
Team JConr endorses Proposition F as a much necessary step in ensuring the city funds and resources are not used to increase drug use and further one’s addiction. Our streets have been turned into a drug den, where drug use and overdoses run rampant. As a result, all the money that the city takes from taxpayers, pays it out to users, which is then used on the same drugs that cause the overdose numbers to climb year after year. This is another much needed step to incentivize users to get clean. We can no longer pay for someone’s drug use.
Danny Sauter
- Job: Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers Together
- Age: 35
- Residency: Tenant in District 3 since 2014
- Transportation: Public transportation
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Miami University
- Languages: English, Cantonese
I believe we need to expand access to substance use disorder treatment and, in certain circumstances, mandate these services. However, I am not convinced that Proposition F, as designed, will be effective in reducing drug overdoses and increasing pathways to recovery. Details of how the program will work are scarce, and I fear this may actually result in more people pushed onto the streets and exacerbate food security and homelessness.
Endorsed by: Nor Cal Carpenters Union, Senator Scott Wiener, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Operating Engineers Local 3 … read more here
Matthew Susk
- Job: Former lead with Divvy Homes
- Age: 32
- Residency: TIC owner, first moved to District 3 in 2007. 2007-2009 while in high school, 2014-2016 after college, 2023-present with his wife.
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University, master’s in business from Georgetown University
- Languages: English
I support Proposition F.
It is inhumane to watch two people die, per day, from drug overdoses in San Francisco. San Francisans are the most compassionate people in the world, but we have lost sight of the ball. Compassion is not letting our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and sons and daughters, die on the street.
The current strategy is not working. Proposition F is a small step in the right direction. We must utilize all available resources to help treat, but not perpetuate, addiction. We must have accountability.
Money raised and spent in the District 3 supervisor race
Money spent
Money raised
Sharon Lai
$9,493
$86,241
Danny Sauter
$7,904
$74,566
Moe Jamil
$16,015
$71,672
JConr B. Ortega
$0
Matthew Susk
$0
Eduard Navarro
$0
$0
$50,000
$100,000
$150,000
$200,000
Money raised
Money spent
Sharon Lai
$9,493
$86,241
Danny Sauter
$7,904
$74,566
Moe Jamil
$16,015
$71,672
JConr B. Ortega
$0
Matthew Susk
$0
Eduard Navarro
$0
$0
$50K
$100K
$150K
$200K
Source: San Francisco Ethics Commission, as of April 3, 2024. Chart by Junyao Yang.
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 yujie@missionlocal.com.
Read the rest of the series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
