With his girlfriend, Candice Chen, by his side, Board of Supervisors President David Chiu filed paperwork with the San Francisco Department of Elections Thursday officially declaring his bid for re-election. Photos by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
March 31, 2012
Board of Supervisors President David Chiu filed papers with the San Francisco Department of Elections Thursday officially declaring his bid for re-election to the District 3 seat.
Chiu, an attorney, was elected to the Board in 2008 with substantial support from progressive groups.
“I’m proud of my record for the last three-plus years fighting for small businesses, for public transit, for public safety, for housing and for our neighborhoods,” Chiu said to reporters, accompanied by his girlfriend, Candice Chen, and a small gathering of supporters.
Chiu, 42, was elevated to the Board presidency in January 2009 – the first Taiwanese-American to serve in this capacity – due in large part to an unresolved grudge match between former Supervisors Chris Daly and Ross Mirkarimi. He later drew the ire of Daly and progressives when Chiu voted for then-City Administrator Ed Lee, an establishment pick, over former Sheriff Michael Hennessey, an independent, for interim mayor last year.
Asked what are the greatest challenges facing his District, Chiu said, “As we come out of the tail-end of the great recession, we have to continue to do more to help our small businesses to create jobs. I do think that while we’ve done a lot of work to move forward different modes of transit – Muni, car-sharing, pedestrian bike safety measures – we have a lot more to do to make sure that we have, and live, in a truly Transit First city.”
Chiu, who bills himself as an independent consensus builder who “listens to everyone,” said, “I think I reflect our city’s shared progressive values” in response to a question about whether he considers himself a progressive, a centrist, or moderate/conservative.
Asked to comment on Chinatown powerbroker Rose Pak’s threat to enter the D3 contest, Chiu said, “We live in America. This is a free country. Anyone can decide to do what they want to do.” Pak backed Lee over Chiu in last year’s race for mayor.
And former District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin? “I would give the same answer there, too,” Chiu responded.
Chiu has not been early endorsed by any groups, organizations or elected officials. “We have just launched the campaign. I have had an opportunity to talk to many of my colleagues who are supporting me and we’re just starting the conversations right now with organizations for endorsements,” he said.
Asked to comment on an expected Board vote that will determine the fate of suspended Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, Chiu said, “The city attorney’s office has advised us on several occasions that we really, truly, cannot comment on our perspectives on this matter. It is a very a serious matter. We, of course, as a body, will remain impartial and review the record and the facts and the law as we proceed into this, but we can’t do that until the Ethics Commission has acted.”
Chiu said he will run “a real grassroots campaign in every single neighborhood” to ensure his re-election. No incumbent supervisor has lost a re-election bid under the city’s Ranked Choice Voting system, first implemented in 2004.
50+1 Strategies founder Nicole Derse, who managed Chiu’s mayoral campaign, is also managing his re-election campaign.
More Photos
Chiu takes questions from reporters.
Chiu signs the required paperwork.
Chiu poses for a photo on the steps of City Hall.
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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The Hunger Site
April 1, 2012 at 8:36 am
Luke,
Your skill with a camera is unmatched. Love the opening shot where you were actually able to make David look taller than his girlfriend even tho she was wearing heels. Plus, you captured the genuine joy on his and her face which is something we all love to see, even in our political foes. Congrats to the good supe but I doubt he’ll win another term as BOS top gun.
Why?
Not a single supe showed up for his filing.
Not even Olague who was his first major endorsement for Mayor.
Go Giants!
h.
March 31, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Has Rose Pak declared her run against him yet?