Get to know SF's District 3 supervisor candidates
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Six people are running to represent District 3 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors after incumbent Aaron Peskin terms out this year.
State of play: District 3 includes North Beach, Chinatown and Russian, Nob and Telegraph hills.
- Its residents are more likely to live below the poverty line compared to the citywide average.
By the numbers: Sharon Lai, whom Peskin has endorsed alongside Moe Jamil, currently leads the fundraising race with over $146,000 raised (about $60,000 in public financing), campaign filings show.
- Danny Sauter is second with more than $134,000 raised (also $60,000 in public financing).
Meet the candidates: Axios San Francisco asked each candidate the same question: What is the first policy you'd enact or change if elected and why?
- Here's what they had to say.
Sharon Lai, economic nonprofit director
Background: Lai served as an urban planner for San Francisco and helped build the city's first interim tiny homes community.
- Prior to running for office, she led an initiative to help revitalize downtown.
If elected, Lai said she'd create a District 3 community safety liaison position that would "coordinate across city departments ... conduct enforcement and perform community work."
- "This single point of contact would be based in-district and would work preventatively to spot issues as they develop and ... mitigate small problems before they take hold and escalate."
Moe Jamil, deputy city attorney
Background: Jamil's career started in the California attorney general's office, where he prosecuted criminal appeals.
If elected, Jamil said his plan of action would include cleaning up streets, investing in small businesses and protecting tenants.
- "We deserve clean and safe streets every day, protected by fully funded and fully staffed departments throughout the public safety umbrella."
Eduard Navarro, urban designer and entrepreneur
Background: Navarro's career in finance, tech and socioeconomic development spanned international markets.
If elected, Navarro said his first policy action would focus on homelessness in public spaces.
- That means addressing mental health and substance abuse while building "agile, fast-deployment, scalable shelter facilities to meet immediate needs."
Danny Sauter, neighborhood services director
Background: Sauter worked with the nonprofit Neighborhood Centers Together and helped create the North Beach Farmers Market.
If elected, Sauter said one of his first actions would be to target "outdated restrictions that make it so hard for small businesses to open," such as current policy that prevents "flexible retail" in the district.
- That means it's illegal to open a coffee shop and bookstore under one roof, Sauter noted. "This makes no sense and I'll get this policy changed immediately."
Matthew Susk, businessman
Background: Susk has advised government pension plans, founded a laundry business and worked in real estate.
If elected, Susk said he'd advocate for increasing the frequency of drug enforcement operations.
- "Currently, we are arresting 40-60 drug dealers per sweep, but this is not enough to tackle the pervasive issue of open air drug use."
Wendy Ha Chau, civil rights attorney
Background: Chau, born in Vietnam, got involved in politics through the Chinese American Democratic Club.
- Her legal caseload covers issues like personal injury, disabilities and employment discrimination.
Chau did not respond to Axios' question but previously said she would have all government employees wear body cams at work if elected.
- She also said she'd give 300 small businesses $800,000 each on an annual basis.
What's next: The election is Nov. 5, with vote-by-mail ballots expected to arrive by early October.