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.
In terms of political happenings this week in the district, District 9 candidate Jaime Gutierrez will host a meet-and-greet event at the garden located at the intersection of Burrows and Gambier streets on Saturday, June 22, between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you know of other political events, let me know and I will add them to the post.
I will be at Progressive Grounds on Thursday, June 20, at 4:30 p.m. to say hello and talk about the district, or you can email me at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com.
This week’s question: If you were elected to represent District 9, how would you have voted on the reappointment of Debra Walker, and the appointment of C. Don Clay, to the police commission?ย
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
The Police Commission helps provide critical citizen oversight, and ensures that we continue our progress to implement essential reforms. Debra Walker has a long track record of community advocacy in the Mission and beyond, and she has been an important and committed voice for the people as a member of the Commission.
I support her, and I’m glad she was reappointed. I do not know Mr. Clay, but from what I understand from his work, he appears to have strong qualifications to serve, which I believe is why he was unanimously appointed.
Endorsed by: Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, Supervisor Shamann Walton, State Senator Scott Wiener… 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
As a District 9 resident, Debra Walker is a voice for our neighborhoods and the LGBTQ community. I support her reappointment.
Commissioner Walker takes safety seriously, ensuring SFPD is held accountable and has the tools it needs to effectively address crime. She strongly supported SFPD completing the 272 reforms laid out by the U.S. Department of Justice through the Collaborative Reform Initiative.
Sheโs also been present in the community doing site visits, meeting department staff, SFPD stations, conducting neighborhood walks and ride-alongs with officers. We need more civil servants like her who get out from behind the desk and do the work.
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
Supervisor Shamman Walton put it best: โShe also advocated to decrease the role of the police commission โ the very body she wants to serve on.โ Iโm a woman in the LGBTQ community. With all due respect to her service on the commission, I would rather someone serve on the police commission who believes the body serves an important purpose, over someone who checks a box.
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.
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
If I were representing District 9, I’d vote for Judge Clay. My opinion of Judge Clay is based on his extensive knowledge of criminal law and experience as a Bay Area judge. He also has no previous political influence, so he remains very neutral, in my opinion. My vote against Ms. Walker is primarily motivated by her views on reduced oversight of the police commission. This can exacerbate the problem of police officers lacking the necessary structure to address the issue of power abuse.
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed … read more here
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
As a former commissioner, I believe representation is important in tandem with qualifications. These are important to assess in how they will inform policy that impacts our Cityโs most vulnerable.
In that spirit, I would have met with both candidates to assess their qualifications and to make sure they would exercise judgment in furtherance of the publicโs best interest and, most important, independent of their appointing authority.
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
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
I am not a phony.
I’m not pretending to be something I’m not just to get a Favorable Ballot Designation.
I was the only District 9 candidate present at that early Monday morning session of Chair Ronan’s Rules Committee.
I testified passionately against a woman who was a friend.
Because, over the last quarter century, I’ve watched Walker evolve from an Iron Butterfly into a Stuka Bomber.
I know that unregulated cops are Hell on students (see Hill Bomb) and I know that Commissioner Walker is their champion and the enemy of the commission’s reformers.
Judge Clay rocked at his first meeting.
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed.
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
Yes and Yes. The commission serves as the warden for the SFPD.ย Our police department is understaffed.ย Tech jobs may be more appealing than public safety.ย The police commissionโs principal responsibilities are overseeing the department and its accountability;ย the members that make up the commission are assuring the safety of officers and holding them to a professional protective service standard. Recruitment and retention are a major part of this.ย Policing is a worthwhile endeavor. Walker and Clay are sympathetic to this cause. If the City shall return from the pandemic, then the SFPD must be held to a higher standard.
Endorsed by: Transportation Workers Union Local 200 … 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.