The front-runners to lead City Hall will discuss their ideas for San Francisco’s most pressing challenges on Sept. 19
\nBy Sarah Feldberg\,Editor for Emerging Products an d AudioJune 6\, 2024
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/figure>\nThe Chronicle and KQED will co-present a 2024 San Francisco m ayoral debate on Sept. 19.KQED
\nOn Nov. 5\, San Francisco voters wi ll head to the polls to choose their next mayor.
\nThe race pits current Mayor Lo ndon Breed against a field of challengers\, including Mark Farrell\, forme r appointed mayor\; Aaron Peskin\, president of the Board of Supervisors\; Daniel Lurie\, Levi’s heir and non-profit leader\; and Ahsha Safaí\, city supervisor.
\nTo help voters make an informed decision on Election Day\, the San Francisco Chronicle is partnering with KQED to co-present a 2024 mayoral debate.
\nAt 7 p.m. on Sept. 19\, Chronicle senior poli tical writer Joe Garofoli and KQED political reporters Scott Shafer and Ma risa Lagos will moderate a debate at KQED’s Mission District event space. The five front-runners in the Chronicle’s polling this summer will be invi ted to participate in the debate\, which will be broadcast live on both KQ ED Public Television 9 and KQED Public Radio 88.5 FM and available to live stream with free regist ration.
\n“This is a critical election for San Francisco voters\ ,” said Shafer. “There’s nothing like seeing the top candidates together o n stage at the same time to compare their positions\, personalities and pl ans for San Francisco. We hope their answers to our questions and interact ions with each other give voters the information they need to decide who t o support and how to rank their choices.”
\nCandidates will be asked to discuss their policies and ideas on a range of the most pressing issue s facing San Francisco\, such as homelessness\, public safety\, the city’s post-pandemic recovery and the enduring plague of drug overdoses.
\n“San Francisco is facing numerous challenges and opportunities — and as l ongtime reporters in this city\, we know how important it is for all the t op candidates to face questions from independent\, seasoned journalists wh o understand both politics and policy\,” said Lagos.
\nWith a conten tious election cycle already well underway\, the debate will be an opportu nity for voters to cut through the noise and hear directly from the front- runners.
\n“San Francisco voters will be inundated with unprecedente d amounts of political advertising in this mayoral campaign\,” said Garofo li. “This will be a chance to see the candidates go toe-to-toe in person a nd see who soars\, who wilts and who just regurgitates their talking point s.”
\nTo register for the free livestream of the debate\, click here.
\nA bout the Moderators
\nJoe Garofoli is the Sa n Francisco Chronicle’s senior political writer\, covering national and st ate politics. He has worked at the Chronicle since 2000 and in Ba y Area journalism since 1992\, when he left the Milwaukee Journal. He was the host of It’s All Political\, the Chronicle’s political p odcast. He has won numerous awards including the Polk Award and a Webby Aw ard for Best Documentary Podcast\, and in addition to politics has covered everything from fashion to the Jeffrey Dahmer serial killings to two Olym pic Games.
\n< strong>Marisa Lagos is a correspondent for KQED’s Politics an d Government Desk and co-hosts Political Breakdown. Lagos conducts reporting\, analysis and investigations into state\, local and national po litics for KQED radio\, TV and online. Previously\, she worked for nine ye ars at the San Francisco Chronicle covering San Francisco City Hall and st ate politics\; and at the San Francisco Examiner and Los Angeles Times. Sh e has won awards for her work investigating the 2017 wildfires and her ong oing coverage of criminal justice issues in California.
\nScott Shafer came to KQED in 1998 to host The California Report. Prio r to that he had extended stints in politics and government. Usin g that inside experience\, he is now Senior Editor for KQED’s Politics and Government Desk where he provides reporting\, hosting and analysis while also overseeing the politics desk. Scott co-hosts the daily show and podca st Pol itical Breakdown with Marisa Lagos and he collaborated on The Political Mind of Jerr y Brown\, an eight-part series about the life and extraordina ry political career of the former governor.
\nAbout the San Francisco Chronicle
\nThe San Francisco Chronicle (www.sfchronicle.com) is the la rgest newspaper in Northern California and the second largest on the West Coast. Acquired by Hearst in 2000\, the San Francisco Chronicle was founde d in 1865 by Charles and Michael de Young and has been awarded six Pulitze r Prizes for journalistic excellence.
\nAbout KQED< br />\nKQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-support ed alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS affiliate based in San Francisco\, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stati ons in the nation\, one of the highest-rated public television services an d an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source and leader and innovato r in interactive technology\, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people\, places and ideas. kqed.org
\nJune 6\, 2024
\n< a href='https://www.sfchronicle.com/author/sarah-feldberg/'>Sarah Feldberg
\nEDITOR FOR EMERGING PRODUCTS AND AUDIO
\nSarah Feldberg is The San Francisco Chronicle’s deputy director of product and strategy. Previously\, she worked as the Culture Desk editor\, focused on the chang ing lifestyle of the Bay Area\, and the assistant travel editor. Before jo ining the Chronicle\, she was a contributing editor at Travel Weekly\, edi tor-in-chief of media and events startup A Beautiful Perspective\, and a f reelance writer\, contributing to Afar\, National Geographic\, Travel + Le isure\, NPR and the BBC. Feldberg also lived in Las Vegas for seven years\ , where she worked as editor-in-chief of Las Vegas Weekly\, covering the d esert’s odd corners and reminding readers that there’s more to Las Vegas t han four miles of casinos and neon. A Boston native\, Feldberg misses the seasons\, but not shoveling snow. Follow her on Twitter @sarahfeldberg.
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