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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.
This week, we asked candidates about another election that’s coming up, for district attorney. After a heated recall of DA Chesa Boudin in 2022 and his replacement by his former employee, now-DA Brooke Jenkins, another former employee, Ryan Khojasteh, has stepped up to challenge Jenkins.
Some favor Jenkins while others like Khojasteh. But for all the talk of different public safety approaches to crime this election cycle, a couple District 5 candidates refused to make a choice.
Who do you support for District Attorney and why?
Note: I will be at Patricia’s Green (50 Fell St.) at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28. Come say hi and share your thoughts about the election or District 5.
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
I have endorsed Ryan Khojasteh for district attorney. Over the past two years, I have been concerned with the hyper-partisanship of the current district attorney, the over-charging of peaceful protestors, and other highly problematic decisions of the city’s top prosecutor.
I believe Ryan would lead the District Attorney’s office with integrity, professionalism, and a spirit of collaboration. I also appreciate that Ryan is deeply committed to implementing policies that will address recidivism and prioritize violence prevention, which will help make us safer.
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
I support Brooke Jenkins for District Attorney. The City is still unwinding from the damage caused by Ryan Khojasteh’s disastrous former boss Chesa Boudin.
We cannot regress; we need a DA that will fully enforce the law. Since July of 2022 since Jenkins took office, she has filed charges in over 1,700 of the roughly 1,900 felony narcotics cases that have come before her. We must fully use the judicial system to combat open-air drug markets, hold drug dealers accountable, and prosecute crime. I look forward to supporting Brooke Jenkins in her re-election bid this November.
*Note: Chesa Boudin was both Brooke Jenkins’ and Ryan Khojasteh’s boss.
Endorsed by: Mark Farrell, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club.
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
I do not support either candidate.
Ryan Khojasteh criticism of current conditions is easy. However, I do not support his proposed approach to deal with criminal activity.
My criticism of Brooke Jenkins is simple: We dumped Chesa Boudin for this?
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
I support Brooke Jenkins.
Our #1 problem in District 5 is the open drug markets in the Tenderloin. As we work to get drug dealers off the street and drug users into treatment, I trust her to have a tough but fair approach.
Endorsed by: San Francisco police union, Marina Times, Chinese American Democratic Club.
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
I will personally be abstaining from the District Attorney’s race.
I have however appreciated the recent progress made in increasing the prosecutions of fentanyl dealers, and recognize the importance of having a collaborative relationship and building consensus even with differences of opinion, between the supervisor and district attorney’s office in making continued progress for safe streets.
Endorsed by: Mayor London Breed, TogetherSF Action, San Francisco YIMBY, State Sen. Scott Wiener and DCCC Chair Honey Mahogany … read more.
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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Source: missionlocal.org