Here’s the latest in our “Meet the Candidates” series for District 5, in which we ask each candidate to answer one question per week leading up to the election. Four candidates are challenging incumbent Supervisor Dean Preston to represent District 5, which spans from the east end of Golden Gate Park through Haight-Ashbury, Japantown and the Western Addition, the Lower Haight and Hayes Valley, and most of the Tenderloin.
First we had school closures, and talks of a city intervention and a state takeover. Then we had the superintendent resign, and school closures were off the table. For our last week of questions, we asked our candidates what they think of the whole situation at San Francisco Unified School District.
Bilal Mahmood
- Job: Founder of private and philanthropic organizations
- Age: 37
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since May 2023
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, master’s degree from University of Cambridge
- Languages: English, Urdu
As I’m sure many residents feel, it’s been frustrating to watch the issues with SFUSD snowball during the past years, further exacerbated by mismanaged finances for years.
While school closures will be needed over time, it’s clear this process was hastily conducted by the previous superintendent, and it is welcome news that there is now new leadership to better manage the process into the future. Ultimately, it’s critical to focus efforts on this to ensure students are adequately supported and families can trust there is stability in our education system.
Endorsed by: Mayor London Breed, TogetherSF Action, San Francisco YIMBY, State Sen. Scott Wiener and DCCC Chair Honey Mahogany … read more.
Dean Preston
- Job: Incumbent, tenant attorney
- Age: 54
- Residency: Homeowner, in District 5 since 1996
- Transportation: Public transit
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College, juris doctor degree from University of California Law, San Francisco
- Languages: English
As a public school parent and D5 supervisor, I’m proud of our students, families, educators and school staff who, despite years of underfunding and leadership transitions, continue to push forward.
I opposed the school closure plan. Here is the statement I issued. I am relieved that the district has now abandoned this misguided effort to shutter so many schools in 2025.
Our city needs to come together to address the severe challenges that our students, families, and educators face, including understaffing, student mental health challenges, bullying, racism, and more. I hope the change of Superintendent brings positive change to SFUSD.
Endorsed by: Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Public Defender Mano Raju, United Educators of San Francisco, San Francisco Labor Council, San Francisco Tenants Union, National Union of Healthcare Workers … read more.
Scotty Jacobs
- Job: Marketing
- Age: 30
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since November 2022, homeowner
- Transportation: Public bicycle
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from Washington University
- Languages: English
The gross mismanagement of our school district is inexcusable. Families rely upon our public education system — and the state of current affairs further sows the question for families: Is San Francisco somewhere I can raise my family?
Our city is in need of a reset — one where we put pragmatic solutions on the table to address our most pressing issues, from homelessness to housing to transit. We need leaders who will break from the status quo and bring new vision, ideas, and perspectives to the table. It’s time to vote out the incumbent supervisors and get our city back on track.
Endorsed by: Mark Farrell, TogetherSF Action, Marina Times, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, Raoul Wallenberg Jewish Democratic Club, Connected SF, and UA Local 38.
Allen Jones
- Job: Activist
- Age: 67
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since November 2021
- Transportation: Wheelchair
- Education: Teaching Bible studies at juvenile hall
- Languages: English
What a mess. However, I am more outraged reading the Mission Local report of “well-connected Asian political organizer,” Josephine Zhao, being hired as the “Black family liaison” at James Lick Middle School. This hire is the ultimate and continued disrespect of Black students in our public schools. And people wonder why Black students here are struggling.
Way past the risk of sounding racist, if James Lick Middle School can’t hire a Black liaison for its troubled Black students and their families, I have no faith that SFUSD will ever get its act together.
Autumn Looijen
- Job: School board recall co-founder
- Age: 46
- Residency: Tenant in District 5 since December 2020, landowner
- Transportation: Public transit
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from California Institute of Technology
- Languages: English
When school closures are done right, kids benefit — in Denver, kids got better test scores after their schools were closed.
But it’s critical to do it right. We did not.
To rebuild trust, we must be fully transparent about which schools are at risk and why. Put families at the table from the start. Ask them for real input (not distributing coins in a weird process). Listen.
And when a school must be closed, we should mourn with the families… then work with them to keep their communities together even as their campus changes.
Endorsed by: San Francisco police union, Marina Times, Chinese American Democratic Club.
The order of candidates is rotated each week. Answers are capped at 100 words, and may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at eleni@missionlocal.com.
Read all of the District 5 candidates’ answers here, and the entire “Meet the Candidates” series here. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
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