Welcome back to our “Meet the Candidates” series, where we ask the District 9 supervisorial hopefuls in the November 2024 election one question each week. Candidates are asked to answer questions on policy, ideology and more in 100 words or fewer.
Answers are being published individually each week, but we are also archiving the weekly series here.
If you know of other political events, let me know and I will add them to the post.
We will not post a question next week, but we will be back the week after.
I will be at Venga Empanadas (443 Valencia St.) at 5. p.m. on Wednesday September 11, to say hello and talk about the district, or you can email me at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com.
This week’s question: Who are you supporting for the Community College Board? How important is this race? Why?
Stephen Torres
- Job: Bartender at Twin Peaks Tavern, customer service at Flowercraft Nursery and freelance writer
- Age: 46
- Residency: Tenant, lived in District 9 summer 2001 to fall 2003, and returned in the summer 2010
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Moorpark Community College and San Francisco City College as work has permitted
- Languages: English and Spanish
At this time I have only endorsed Alan Wong for re-election to the CCSF Board of Trustees. I feel that he has the lived experience as to why CCSF is such an important resource to D9 residents and San Franciscans citywide. CCSF is unusual among higher education institutions in how it provides continuing education, occupational training, and certification and university matriculation to all San Franciscans equitably and is committed to ensuring it remains so sustainably. I look forward, with interest, to having other conversations with other candidates to understand if they share the same commitments.
Endorsed by: Former state Senator Mark Leno, District 9 supervisor Hillary Ronen, District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Harvey Milk Democratic Club (#2), National Union of Healthcare Workers… read more here
Trevor Chandler
- Job: Public school teacher since 2023. Former director of government and public policy at Citizen, a public safety app.
- Age: 37
- Residency: Tenant, living in District 9 since July 2021
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Plymouth State University
- Languages: English
City College is an essential institution that has been put at risk of deaccrediation yet again because an unfocused Board of Trustees is paying more attention to politics than good governance.
I am supporting Luis Zamora, Aliya Chisti, Ruth Ferguson, and Heather McCarty for City College because they have demonstrated the seriousness and competence that City College needs at this pivotal time. I also believe Ben Kaplan is worthy of consideration.
Endorsed by: San Francisco DCCC (#1), Latino LGBTQ political organization HONOR PAC, Chinese American Democratic Club, SF League of Conservation Voters, LIUNA Local 261… read more here
Jaime Gutierrez
- Job: Transit supervisor for SFMTA/Muni
- Age: 57
- Residency: Tenant, born in District 9 in 1967 and, except for three years spent in the Army, has resided here ever since
- Transportation: Bike
- Education: U.S. Army, City College of San Francisco, University of California, Berkeley
- Languages: English and Spanish
Aliya Chisti is who I am supporting for the Community College Board. The race is important because the Board holds a fiduciary responsibility. It is a major responsibility, but not a full time job! Aliya has a background in education policy at the local and federal level. Most of all she has integrity, and is a current member of the board. The decisions made by the board will affect future educators and students. Election on this board has always been a political stepping stone, and not much else. Aliya is in my opinion not a person of that ilk.
Endorsed by: Transportation Workers Union Local 200 … read more here
Jackie Fielder
- Job: Nonprofit co-director at Stop the Money Pipeline. Former educator at San Francisco State University, co-founder of the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition. Democratic Socialist
- Age: 29
- Residency: Tenant, lived in District 9 September 2017 to June 2018, October 2019 to August 2020 ,and April 2021 to present
- Transportation: Public
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in public policy and master’s degree in sociology from Stanford University
- Languages: English and Spanish
I’m supporting Alan Wong, the current president of the Board of Trustees. The City College Board race is important this November because whoever wins the four seats can tip the scales for the future of City College. The future Board members will decide whether:
1. Free City College is protected from downsizing
2. City College takes proactive actions to grow enrollment and move towards a more sustainable future to address long term fiscal concerns
3. City College moves towards a junior college or real community college model
4. Closes opportunity gaps for our most marginalized communities with wraparound services
Endorsed by United Educators of SF (#1), Small Business Forward, SF Women’s Political Committee (#1), Bernal Heights Democratic Club, California Nurses Association… read more here.
Julian Bermudez
- Job: Works in and directs his family business, Rancho Grande Appliance
- Age: 27
- Residency: Born San Francisco in 1996, raised on and off in District 9 until he left for college in 2015, then the army in 2019 and now back, living in the Mission
- Transportation: Carpool/catch a ride
- Education: City College of San Francisco, Chico State University
- Languages: English and Spanish
I am voting for Alan Wong. The race is significant because City College is a vital school serving thousands of San Francisco residents and the larger Bay Area. I’ve been attending City College on and off since 2015, and I believe it’s underappreciated and undervalued. Leadership that prioritizes students is essential, especially in today’s world when education is required for the majority of professions.
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed… read more here
Roberto Hernandez
- Job: CEO, Cultura y Arte Nativa de Las Americas (CANA).
- Age: 67
- Residency: Homeowner, born in the Mission in June 1956 and has not left
- Transportation: Car and bicycle
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of San Francisco
- Languages: English and Spanish
It’s a critical time for City College. We need all hands on deck to increase enrollment, develop more pathways for high school students, provide opportunities for people in recovery and in San Bruno jail, and support faculty and staff.
I support Luis Zamora for the board because he plans to expand enrollment by recruiting students from disadvantaged communities. I support Ruth Ferguson because she’s a community college graduate with the policy chops to help navigate the accreditation process.
I also want to thank outgoing Trustee Shanell Williams for her leadership during some of the College’s biggest challenges, including the pandemic.
Endorsed by: Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ+ Democratic Club, Firefighters Union, United Educators of SF (#2), San Francisco DCCC (#2), Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta… read more here.
h brown
- Job: Retired special education teacher
- Age: 80
- Residency: Tenant, at current address for nine years, redistricted into District 9 in April 2022
- Transportation: Walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in special education from Clemson University
- Languages: English
First, Alan Wong cause League of Pissed Off Voters likes him.
Second Aliya Chisti cause, like myself, she went back for Masters in Education field.
Third, Luis Zamora cause he’s a gay, union guy with nice B.A.R. endorsement.
Fourth, Dr. Heather McCarty because 18 years at Ohlone College and Guardsman interview matter
I think that pretty much all work not directly involved with Human Entertainment will be done by AI within the next decade or so which will make these Trustee positions ceremonial.
Trust me, having no job to go to or boss to answer to is not a bad thing.
Go Niners !
Endorsed by: No endorsements listed.
District 9 contributions
Candidates are rotated alphabetically. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at oscar.palma@missionlocal.com
Read the rest of the District 9 questions here, and the entire “Meet the Candidates” series here.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website. Illustrations for the series by Neil Ballard.
About the author
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