Meet All 21 SF DCCC Candidates for District 19
There are an astonishing 21 candidates in the March 3 Primary ballot for the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) District 19. And that only covers half of San Francisco! In plain english: there are 21 people running for this somewhat obscure local Democratic party committee called the DCCC — we explain what the DCCC is here — and you as a voter pick 10 of them, a task made more difficult by the fact that you have never heard of most of these people. We reached out to all 21 DCCC AD-19 candidates, and their get-to-know-us responses are published below.
NOTE: These are only the choices for half of San Francisco. These are the ‘west side of town’ candidates for District 19 of the committee. We’ll publish a list of the east side (District 17) candidates next week. If it makes it easier for you, most of the candidates are running on a certain “slate”— the Mobilize Organize slate is the more pragmatic, moderate, and centrist group, the Social Justice Democrats are the more progressive, DSA, Bernie-inspired wing.
Some of these people already hold elected office, others are relative newcomers. To be as fair as possible, we’ve listed the District 19 DCCC candidates in the order their Department of Elections documents were issued, and then implemented equal representation between the two slates.
Kat Anderson (Mobilize Organize)
“I am Kat Anderson, a 30-year resident of SF, a cafe owner, lawyer, union leader and mother, and I am running for the DCCC to bring to it my deep experience and practical perspective as well as my willingness to work with others on ideas that actually work for our party and for our fellow SF dwellers,” she tells us. “I join my slate mates in doing the work to unite our party, celebrate diversity and most importantly – register new Democrats and defeat Trump. The integrity of our democracy requires us to defeat Trump.”
A.J. Thomas (Social Justice)
According to A.J. Thomas’ website, he hopes “to be a voice for working people and a check against the wealthy corporate interests that have made our city so unaffordable. For too long, downtown and big business politicians have ignored the needs and priorities of west side families. As a workers’ rights attorney, economist, union organizer, and tenant counselor, I’m ready to take on the challenges we face — together.”
Keith Baraka (Social Justice)
A 22-year firefighter with the SF Fire Department and founder and president of the SFFD’s officially recognized LGBTQ+ employee group SF ResQ, Keith Baraka tells us he’s “always been drawn to the values that the Democratic Party espouses: human and civil rights, public education, social services, and universal, affordable, single-payer health care.” Currently the Second Vice-Chair of the DCCC in charge of Voter Registration, Baraka points out that he’s “up for reelection and would like to continue working on these critical issues for the Party.”
Jane Natoli (Mobilize Organize)
“I don’t see people like me engaged as much in the Democratic Party, speaking as a trans woman,” Jane Natoli tells BrokeAssStuart.com. “I’m hoping to bring my grassroots energy as a leader in organizations like the Bike Coalition, the SF LGBT Center, and YIMBY Action to doing the work of the party, engaging, educating, and activating more Democrats in San Francisco to get involved locally and nationally.”
Janice Li (Social Justice)
Perhaps best known for her role in organizing the BART McMuffin-Eating Protests, Janice Li was also a surprise, upstart winner in the BART 2018 Board of Directors elections. She tells us she’s been “leading advocacy work for over six years” at the SF Bicycle Coalition, and “proud of recently starting ‘Gay for Transit SF,’ a monthly meetup for all kinds of queers who like all kinds of transit.” Li adds that she was “born in Hong Kong, loves video games, and is allergic to cats (but enjoys petting them all the same.)”
Mary Jung (Mobilize Organize)
Another incumbent committee member running for reelection, Mary Jung’s campaign website notes that she’s helped register 28,000 new voters and “created a nonprofit that services formerly homeless veterans and individuals as they move into permanent and supportive housing.”
Kelly Akemi Groth (Social Justice)
Currently on the committee, Bay Area native Kelly Groth tells BrokeAssStuart.com that she’s “running for the San Francisco Democratic Party to fight back against corporate and real estate interests, while also working to provide space for our young, diverse progressive activists and organizers to have a voice in our city. I’m a seasoned organizer with experience running local campaigns, canvassing neighborhoods, and coalition-building. I will continue advocating for abolishing ICE, stopping homeless encampment sweeps, and strengthening tenant protections. I’m also endorsed by Chesa Boudin, Sandra Lee Fewer, League of Pissed Off Voters, and much more.”
Gordon Mar (Social Justice)
Gordon Mar already represents District 4 (The Sunset) on the SF Board of Supervisors, so you may be familiar with his work.
Abra Castle
Abra Castle grew up in San Francisco, but tells us that “Now, my kids watch their favorite local shops (Shaw’s & Ambassador Toys) shutter, and we navigate sidewalks of shattered glass and people who need homes. I have the time and determination to work for change in our city as a member of the DCCC.” She is not affiliated with either slate but is endorsed by Mayor London Breed and also Supervisor Aaron Peskin, a sign she can work with both sides at City Hall and endorsers of both DCCC slates.
Cyn Wang (Mobilize Organize)
Cyn Wang has a heck of a resume, telling BrokeAssStuart.com that she’s “a native San Franciscan, mom to a SFUSD kindergartner, small business owner, former assistant city attorney to 3 Bay Area cities, and a U.S. diplomat during the Obama Administration. I’m running to bring my experience in land use, municipal law, and public policy to tackle our affordability crisis.”
Faauuga Moliga (Social Justice)
San Francisco School Board member Faauuga Moliga describes himself as “a parent and mental health professional who grew up in San Francisco’s projects and graduated from Balboa High School. I am running to build access and opportunity in the Democratic party for underserved communities, endorse candidates and propositions that are committed to serving working people and families, work to get Democrats elected on the local, state and national level.”
Queena Chen (Social Justice)
According to Queena Chen’s website, she’s “a San Francisco Native, daughter to immigrant parents, and a first generation Chinese American,” and “I believe the Democratic Party can do better to reach out to all communities and bridge us together.”
Nadia Rahman (Mobilize Organize)
A Muslim American woman of color, Nadia Rahman tells us that she’s “running for DCCC because I believe that I can bring my background in communications to effectively connect the Party to San Franciscans by focusing on developing issue-based messaging and a marketing plan that connects with people where they are – not by waiting for them to come to the Party at election time. Our strength as a Party is in connecting with people who have been marginalized and ignored and collectively taking action to make life better across the board in an equitable way. We have not seen a significant uptick in Democratic Party registration in the era of activation brought on by Donald Trump and I will take an active role in fixing that.”
Li Miao Lovett (Social Justice)
Hey, Li Miao Lovett has written an award-winning novel! But in the DCCC context, she tells us she us “the fight for our city’s soul is about access and affordability. I want to serve in the San Francisco Democratic Party as a progressive who remains true to the needs of workers, families, immigrants, tenants, educators, and young graduates struggling to keep a foothold in this city. I will stand up to corporate interests and be a consistent vote for candidates and policies that support the needs of the people.”
Seeyew Mo (Mobilize Organize)
“I used to be undocumented,” says Malaysian immigrant Seeyew Mo, a 2012 Obama and 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign veteran and soon-to-be father of two. “I just want things to be better in San Francisco. I believe that we can fix the party and fix the city. If you think bigger and build bigger coalitions, we can solve the problems.” His campaign website says he hopes to “ensure prosperity is accessible by middle and low income folks, younger people, and native San Franciscans,” and that “The city must increase housing stock for all income levels. Not only should we provide affordable rental options, we must work towards making homeownership possible for the vast majority of San Franciscans.”
Leah LaCroix (Social Justice)
Leah LaCroix is a reform champion credited as the driving force behind Muni’s free low-income youth fare program. She currently sits on the DCCC as the Fourth Vice-Chair tasked with Outreach.
Ahsha Safai (Mobilize Organize)
Your District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai tells BrokeAssStuart.com that “I am running to help create a strong United Democratic Party against the forces of Trump. I have the experience, work ethic and desire to bring people together so we can continue to be the beacon of progressive policy for the nation. I will work hard to uplift new leadership and make sure our democratic values of inclusivity, diversity, and innovation continue to be at the forefront of our local party.”
Mano Raju (Social Justice)
Appointed San Francisco Public Defender after the untimely death of Jeff Adachi, Mano Raju points out that he’s also “a founding member of Public Defenders for Racial Justice.”
Paul Miyamoto (Mobilize Organize)
DCCC candidate and San Francisco County Sheriff Paul Miyamoto is “the first Asian American Sheriff in the state of California.
Mawuli Tugbenyoh (Mobilize Organize)
LGBTQ equality activist, criminal justice system reformer, and proud son of an immigrant Mawuli Tugbenyoh says on his campaign website that “I have fought against corporate interests trying to influence our elections with money, I am an advocate for gun safety. I have also fought for seniors, people with disabilities and people living with HIV/ AIDs to have access to funding that will allow them to stay in their communities. I have fought to make it easier for small businesses to open and thrive in San Francisco, and I have advocated for greater equity in our neighborhoods that are too often forgotten.”
Suzy Loftus (Mobilize Organize)
You may remember Suzy Loftus from the November DA race, but as a DCCC candidate she tells us, “”I am running because San Francisco needs leaders who will stand up for the most vulnerable, tackle the big issues we face and organize and mobilize voters to get engaged. Everything is on the line in our 2020 election and we must come together to fight with all that we have. As a mother of three and a public safety advocate, I have the heart and the hustle to lead our Party to victory in 2020 and beyond. Please vote for me on March 3, 2020.”
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