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.
Six of the candidates gathered last Thursday for their first forum at the Italian American Social Club in the Excelsior. The forum was co-hosted by Mike Juan, president of Advocates 11, a community group in the district, and John Rothmann, a former talk radio host on San Francisco station KGO.
About two months ago, we asked the four candidates at the time — Adlah Chisti, Ernest “E.J.” Jones, Chyanne Chen and Roger Marenco —to say who they supported in the mayoral race, but all declined.
But at this forum, for the first time, five out of six candidates — including Michael Lai and Jose Morales, the two new contenders — revealed their pick for mayor. So, this week, we are following up and asking: Who do you support in the mayoral race, and why?
In the ranked-choice voting race, Chisti said her picks would be incumbent Mayor London Breed in the first place, Board of Supervisor President Aaron Peskin in the second, and District 11 supervisor Ahsha Safaí in the third place. Chisti placed Daniel Lurie at the bottom of her list.
Morales, who said he is only supporting Lurie during the forum, added in this week’s answer that his “attention is now on” both Lurie and former Mayor Mark Farrell.
Jones said he is supporting incumbent District 11 supervisor Safaí, adding that he is in a more “unique situation.” Jones worked as a legislative aide to Safaí for about two years, and Safaí is also endorsing Jones.
Marenco said he is backing “whoever is running as a third-party” candidate because he believes that the two-party system is “crippling.”
Michael Lai didn’t say which mayoral candidate he supports and said that he will be “heads down focused on District 11 between now and November” in week’s question. However, he said during the forum that the only mayoral contender he would not support is Peskin.
And Chen, who didn’t reveal a choice back in March, remains the only candidate to refrain from picking anyone.
You can read their more detailed responses below.
Note: Next week, I will be back at Claddagh Coffee, 951 Geneva Ave, Wednesday, May 22, at 10 a.m. Drop by and share your thoughts! You can also reach me at xueer@missionlocal.com.
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
I’m supporting whoever will treat students like students, workers like workers and criminals like criminals.
I’m supporting whoever is running as a third-party candidate, because Democrats and Republicans have proven that their never-ending bickering will not allow us to move forward.
This two-party system is crippling and limiting our potential. It’s time to establish a new political party of new ideas, so that we can finally fix old problems. New ideas that focus on protecting our families, not criminals; supporting workers, not criminals; helping students, not criminals; providing assistance for children, elderly and people with disabilities, not criminals.
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
I have ruled out voting for Mayor London Breed, Aaron Peskin or Ahsha Safaí.
My attention is now on Daniel Lurie and Mark Farrell.
I appreciate Farrell’s stance on replacing police chief Bill Scott, and his proposal for tax exemptions for small businesses.
On the other hand, Lurie’s dedication to accountability and anti-corruption measures is appealing. We need to do a better job holding ourselves accountable and making sure we aren’t wasting taxpayer money on mediocre services.
It’s too early for me to finalize my decision.
Chyanne Chen
- Job: Worker organizer, community facilitator & 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
I am still carefully evaluating all the mayoral candidates.
As I am deeply committed to addressing the long-standing disinvestment in District 11, I will support a candidate who shares my values and is dedicated to uplifting this part of the city.
It’s crucial for me to see a candidate with a clear and actionable plan for investing in our communities, improving public services, and ensuring equitable opportunities for all residents in District 11.
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 dnvironmental 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
I’m open to collaborating with any of the mayoral candidates who align with revitalizing the city for our children, seniors, parents, immigrants and working class.
It’s crucial to grow San Francisco’s vibrancy for residents, newcomers and visitors alike, especially given our current challenges. I’ve also run multiple successful campaigns including current Supervisor Myrna Melgar and understand that candidates need to run campaigns that incorporate collaboration amongst different electeds.
And the voters of District 11, like myself, care about community ties to the district and ensuring we have a say in the decision making process. Rank choice voting, so for me:
- London Breed — experience
- Aaron Peskin — experience
- Ahsha Safaí — resources to District 11
- Mark Farrell — experience
- Daniel Lurie — San Franciscan
Ernest “E.J.” Jones
- Job: Community advocate
- Age: 38
- Residency: Living in District 11 since November 1985 and has lived here always, except for time away at college
I have the unique situation of working for one of the mayoral candidates.
I worked for Supervisor Ahsha Safaí as a legislative aide. He listened to the community and added me to his staff.
While I am prepared to collaborate and work with everyone, I support him.
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
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 will be heads down focused on District 11 between now and November, and will vote for the mayor that can best deliver for the district and our top issues of public safety, childcare and good schools, and affordability. As a newly elected member of the SF DCCC, I will vote for mayoral endorsements in the summer.
Note: As mentioned above, Lai said Thursday that he prefers anyone but Peskin.
Endorsed by: Attorney General Rob Bonta, Senator Scott Wiener, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Supervisors Joel Engardio and Matt Dorsey, NorCal Carpenters Union… 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.
