Welcome back to our “Meet the candidates” series, in which District 9 supervisorial hopefuls respond to a question in 100 words or fewer. The question for week three: Which current supervisor do you admire the most, and why?
Julian Bermudez
Currently, I don’t have anyone specifically that I admire. I haven’t really had a chance to connect with our current supervisors on a personal level.
However, I do admire Shamann Walton’s love for the city, sporting his 49er suit after our win. That is definitely something I’d sport as well. I have a lot of pride for my city.
Trevor Chandler
As Supervisor, I will prioritize getting it right over being right and I will be willing to work across ideological differences to make changes that will have a real, positive impact on the everyday lives of D9 residents.
D9 deserves a supervisor focused on ensuring their city works for them by getting the basics done right ensuring safe, clean streets. Supervisor Mandelman demonstrates a similar commitment to collaboration and results.
Jackie Fielder
I admire a handful for different reasons.
Ronen for her get-it-done work ethic and years and years of service to the residents of District 9. Preston for his advocacy for tenants, a public bank, and safe streets; Peskin for his immense knowledge of how the City works; Chan for her fierce advocacy for working families as Budget chair; Walton for his commitment to justice and professionalism; and Melgar for her years of work uplifting and protecting Latino, immigrant, and low income communities.
I would be honored to work alongside them as Supervisor.
Jaime Gutierrez
Myrna Melgar: a woman that was born in El Salvador, came to the United States, and through hard work and dedication she created a chance for herself to matter. Her work ethic must be impeccable.
I was raised by a Salvadoran woman just like her. My grandmother raised me with a tough loving hand. She relieved my mentally ill mother of a boy who at times was incorrigible. My grandmother gave me a work ethic. I am truly lucky to have had the upbringing she provided for me. Myrna appears to live by the values that were instilled in me.
Roberto Hernandez
Anyone who aspires to be on the Board of Supervisors should be admired. Community needs are significant and the work is often thankless.
Like me, Supervisor Shamann Walton grew up here and has remained true to his progressive values. I admire how he has delivered for his district and beyond. During COVID, he secured essential resources for residents of his district, District 9 and the entire City. I’m honored to have his endorsement.
I admire mi hermana Supervisor Myrna Melgar for her housing leadership and her inspiring career evolution from activist to planner to Commission President to Supervisor.
Michael Petrelis
Generally, I don’t admire supervisors but on a single vital cultural and fiscal issue, saving the Castro Theatre and curbing the greed of Another Planet Entertainment executives taking over management of it, I respect Aaron Peskin for casting the lone vote against ruining its magnificent interior integrity.
Peskin disclosed APE broke promises to spend millions upgrading the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. I expect him to closely watchdog APE renovating the Castro, keeping us informed if all promises are totally fulfilled every step of the way, something Rafael Mandelman certainly won’t because he showed himself to be a shill for APE.
Stephen Torres
This is a difficult question, in a way, because I have good relationships, have worked with, and very much admire a number of the currently serving supervisors. Indeed, I cannot decide on one and would have to say I greatly admire both Supervisors Peskin and Walton.
For me, their dedication to centering their respective districts and the communities that make them up as well as skills in finding consensus with, and collaborating with their fellow colleagues are notable in the history of their leadership.
Note: Eight candidates have officially declared their candidacy for the District 9 race. However, Rafael Gutierrez told Mission Local that he is withdrawing from the race, so he is not included in these questions.
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 will@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.
Michael Petrelis should have gone to see more movies at the Castro. But with uncomfortable seating and ancient design (all beautiful, but not comfortable), he probably did as most folks and went to Daly City. I don’t give two plugs for APE, but they took the space with the intent of making something vibrant out of it. Mandelman recognized the greater good and supported it. Peskin just showed off his plumage – as usual.
Sean,
I remember once watching in amazement as Mayor Newsom got down on his knees like Jesus almost except Jesus was a Jew and Gavin’s a Catholic …
got down on his knees at his wildly successful ‘Homeless Connect’ (idea was thru Alex Tourk) and …
he washed the feet of a really really amazed old Homeless man.
So, when he signed the SF Civic Auditorium over to Bill Graham he made certain they’d keep the Program alive in that location.
Maybe I oversold, ‘made certain’ cause APE tossed the Pulsing Homeless Connect out onto the streets and I never heard the Gavster complain.
Hard to read all this Hilary Ronen praise with a straight face.
Especially when her DSA supporters have been swarming community meetings and viciously attacking local residents, to protect the status quo on crime and homelessness.
Voters,
Also, I wanted to be certain again that those of you who like working with Hillary’s staff can expect that if by some crazy luck (or this is a simulation) and I win the race that I again commit …
Let me repeat myself as old people often do … I will offer Supervisor Ronen’s Staff entirety continued employment for 8 years if I live that long
Voters,
I admire Dean Preston most.
Land is always the most important possession of any tribe and he knows land and face it, we are a tribe who took this land from another tribe whom Peskin hypocritically acknowledges as the truly indigenous people of this land much the same as the Tartars are the truly indigenous people of Crimea and the Cherokee Indians had enough hanging around St. Louis for my big sis to marry one in the early 50’s.
What was I saying before I interrupted myself ?
Yeah, Preston knows Land better than anyone on the Board for certain.