PHDC’s Endorsemments for the November 8, 2011 Municipal Election

Mayor
DENNIS HERRERA

District Attorney
DAVID ONEK

Sheriff
CHRIS CUNNIE

San Francisco Propositions

A – YES School Bonds
B – YES Road Paving and Street Safety Bonds
C – No position City Pension and Health Care Benefits
D – NO City Pension Benefits
E – No position Amending or Repealing Legislative Initiative Ordinances and Declarations of Policy
F – No position Campaign Consultant Ordinance
G – YES Sales Tax
H – NO School District Student Assignment

TWO (2) September endorsement meetings

DistrictAttorneySEPT 6th at 6:30pm: CANDIDATES. The District Attorney candidate forum featured (above, left to right) George Gascón, Sharmin Bock, Bill Fazio, and David Onek. Their submitted questionnaires are here. PHDC Secretary, attorney J.R. Eppler, moderated. Photo by Jean Bogiages. There were then separate presentations, each followed by Q&A, from candidates for Sheriff, Chris Cunnie, Ross Mirkarimi, and Paul Miyamoto. Members in good standing voted that night on endorsements for Mayor, District Attorney, and Sheriff. All qualified candidates were on the ballot. To be endorsed, a candidate had to get 60% of the votes cast. As we have done since the Club formed in 2007, we used ranked-choice voting.

PHDC’s endorsed candidates are:

Mayor – DENNIS HERRERA
District Attorney – DAVID ONEK
Sheriff – CHRIS CUNNIE

TUES. SEPT 13th at 6:30pm: PROPOSITIONS. Speakers pro and con, plus Q&A, for the eight measures appearing on the November 8th ballot. Members in good standing voted on endorsing them that night. To be endorsed, a ballot measure had to get 60% of the votes cast.

The location of both meetings was the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St.

August 30th: Potrero Hill Mayoral Candidate Debate + straw poll

MayoralDebateIt really was a lively and informative evening! All seven candidates were in top form. There were four rounds of candidates asking questions of other candidates, plus opening and closing statements. Each round had a particular subject:
• Creating Careers for San Franciscans (Jobs, the Economy)
• Preventing Cuts to Our Services (Budget, Transit, Parks)
• Keeping Families Here (Housing, Schools)
• Supporting Livable Neighborhoods (Health, Safety)
Candidates had 3 bonus minutes each, which they used when they felt compelled to give a longer answer, to rebut someone else’s words, or to lengthen a closing statement. The debate was co-sponsored with Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association. Both Linda Post and Cris Rys shot videos of the proceedings. Find Linda’s here, and Cris’s here.

Participating candidates were (above, left to right) Terry Baum, Bevan Dufty, Michela Alioto-Pier, Dennis Herrera, David Chiu, Joanna Rees, John Avalos. Photo by Linda Post. Boosters President Tony Kelly moderated. Find out more about the candidates:
Candidate questionnaires as submitted
Candidates’ responses to each question side-by-side (recommend opening in Firefox).

At the end of the evening, audience members who thought they could answer the question, “Who won the debate?” voted in a straw poll. Here are the the results:
Dennis Herrera – 30%
Terry Baum – 17%
David Chiu – 17%
John Avalos – 16%
Bevan Dufty – 10%
Joanna Rees – 6%
Michela Alioto-Pier – 4%

When: Tuesday, August 30, 6:30 – 9pm.
Where: International Studies Academy, 655 De Haro St