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 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 two: Tell us a little bit about your background and what makes you qualified to lead this district?
Moe Jamil
Deputy City Attorney, San Francisco City Attorney’s Office
My father immigrated to the city from Jordan with a dream for a better life. He and my mother, both lifelong tenants and small-business owners, are the reason I’m here today. A father of two, I’ve served on the boards of Russian Hill Neighbors, San Francisco Heritage, Union Square Foundation, Middle Polk Neighborhood Association and co-founded the Van Ness Corridor Neighborhoods Council. As Deputy City Attorney, I’ve seen how the city works, and know how to get things done. I have the institutional knowledge and community understanding necessary to hit the ground running and make real change for San Francisco.
Sharon Lai
Economic recovery leader at the World Economic Forum, former board member at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
As an important cultural and financial hub, we need leadership that can deliver.
- Leading outreach, small business and housing development as city staff and in the private sector
- On SFMTA Board, tripled public-safety budget and brought back service like 8AX/BX
- On TIDA Board, shepherded 8,000 housing units and public infrastructure
- Homeless housing non-profit ED, delivering units in record low cost and speed
- Currently, working on downtown’s recovery by diversifying the economic base
My track record across sectors, and as the sole Asian-American and female candidate, uniquely positions me to serve and fight for our district’s diverse needs.
JConr B. Ortega
Self-described formerly homeless, DAD democrat, leatherman, boxer
I carry experience from the same lives led by those we need to fix. I’ve been homeless. I understand the struggling and the fear calling the streets home. Through hard work, I now live in a home and run a business. I understand the fear business owners feel when it comes to trying to keep employees safe [and] trying to keep one’s livelihood thriving. The experience I shared gives me a clear understanding on how policy is supposed to be made, not crafted by politicians.
Danny Sauter
Executive Director, Neighborhood Centers Together
District 3 is a collection of incredible neighborhoods with unique challenges, and residents deserve someone who has a deep record of serving and delivering for this community.
From my time as president of my neighborhood association, to starting two small businesses in District 3, to serving low-income youths and seniors at our community centers in North Beach and Chinatown, I’m proud of my work to improve District 3.
I’ve rented an apartment in North Beach for 10 years, and would be a voice for tenants as one of the only renters on the Board.
Matthew Susk
Former lead with Divvy Homes
My background and previous experiences distinguish me as a candidate. I am a third generation San Franciscan, I started a small laundry business in San Francisco, and I’ve helped thousands of families achieve their dream of home ownership.
My firsthand experience as a small business owner, success turning thousands of renters into owners, and generational roots in San Francisco equip me to engage with the community and write effective legislation. I would be honored to represent District 3 and shake up the institutional thinking at City Hall.
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.
YUJIE ZHOU
REPORTER. Yujie Zhou is our newest reporter and came on as an intern after graduating from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. She is a full-time staff reporter as part of the Report for America program that helps put young journalists in newsrooms. Before falling in love with the Mission, Yujie covered New York City, studied politics through the “street clashes” in Hong Kong, and earned a wine-tasting certificate in two days. She’s proud to be a bilingual journalist. Follow her on Twitter @Yujie_ZZ.More by Yujie Zhou
