John Nulty Launches Campaign for District #8 Supervisor

Updated on Saturday · Taken in San Francisco, California

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (6/14)- District 8 is currently the district which includes the Castro, Eureka Valley, Upper Market, Noe Valley, Duboce Triangle, Diamond Heights, Glen Park, College Hill, Corona Heights, Buena Vista, Twin Peaks, Mission-Dolores, and parts of the Inner Mission. Already, community activist John Nulty has entered into the November 2014 race, challenging incumbent Scott Wiener. SFNewsfeed.us had a few minutes to speak with the candidate about his campaign, the issue of gentrification, the rise of the dot.coms, CCSF, and other issues that affect members of the district.

SFN: First, why do you want to be elected to the Board of Supervisors?

JN: Because I feel the middle class and small businesses in this city don't have a voice at city hall and don't have time to be there for all the issues that impact them....

SFN: Second, considering your work in the District #6 community, what steps will you take to insure that your campaign reaches out to the African-American and Asian-American communities in the district?

JN: My work over 20 years in district 6 but I also was working on issues before moving to district6 and working on city wide issues... My reach is to out to all the voters in district 8.

SFN: Third, one of the issues that Board of Supervisors is dealing with is the gentrification of neighborhoods caused by the rise of dot.coms and IT companies? What should be done about this issue?

JN: That complex social economical issue that I don't have room here to go into detail. As a community activist, I been working on this issue for decades.

SFN: Fourth, after the Newtown, CT shootings one of the first pieces of legislation to be considered will be measures on gun control proposed by Mayor Ed Lee, which would limit ammo size and amount which private citizens could purchase, what are your thoughts?

JN: Gun control is major issue and has to be legislated in way that the laws are enforceable.

SFN: Fifth, there are concerns that members of the Filipino-American and African-American community are being "priced out" of San Francisco. How would you respond, and what will you do to address this issue?

JN: The middle, lower, and seniors are being price out by rising cost of living in San Francisco. The cost to do business and live should be the same as the surround countries!

SFN: Sixth, one of the most divisive issues within the community has been the issue of neighborhood schooling, as to whether or not parents should be allowed to send their children to schools in their neighborhoods. What are your thoughts on the issue?

JN: Not clear on what the board of supervisors can pass regarding children going to school in there neighborhoods....

SFN: Seventh, what are your thoughts on the current policies imposed by City College of San Francisco (CCSF) Chancellor and Special Trustee? Are there steps that can be taken by local government?

JN: The Community college district and school are big asset to the children and adult in San Francisco and would do every resource of the city and county to protect the certification and continuation of all the CCSF program over this difficult time..."

SFN: Finally, another contentious issue is police relations, especially in the aftermath of the Alejandro Nieto case in Bernal Heights? What are your thoughts?

JN: As new policing methods are enforced and background information to the officers when sent on a call is given then maybe police would held to high level of accountable for the officers action....

- Jose Ricardo G. Bondoc
Pictures by Luke Thomas

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Few challenge Wiener for D8 seat

NEWS

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Published 06/12/2014

by Matthew S. Bajko

m.bajko@ebar.com

Practically from the moment he was elected four years ago, critics of gay District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener have sought to find someone to run against him this fall who could conceivably oust him from office.
Over the years half a dozen potential high-profile progressive candidates were rumored to be thinking about jumping into the race against the moderate Wiener. Yet none announced they would in fact seek to represent the gay Castro district, Noe Valley, Diamond Heights and Glen Park at City Hall.
In recent weeks pressure had mounted on two LGBT community leaders to enter the race: gay attorney David Waggoner and Sara Shortt, a lesbian and executive director of the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco. Shortt announced last week that after seriously considering it, she had decided "that being a city supervisor is not for me, at least not at this time."
Waggoner, as of last week, had appeared ready to announce his candidacy. Yet on Tuesday, June 10, the deadline to file paperwork with city elections officials, he informed the Bay Area Reporter that, "after much thought, I've decided not to run for a variety of reasons. I'm very grateful for those who have supported me and who believe in a more just District 8 for everyone."
According to the unofficial candidates list the city's Department of Elections posted Wednesday, four people filed to run against Wiener, including nude activist George Davis and gay blogger and LGBT global rights activist Michael Petrelis. The other two challengers are Tom Wayne Basso and John Nulty.

Board of Supervisors District 8 candidate Michael Petrelis enjoys his moment as he files the official papers for his candidacy. His partner, Mike Merrigan, holds a campaign sign while Department of Elections clerk Savier Fong prepares to accept the paperwork. Photo: Rick Gerharter

Petrelis readily admits he is "an honorable protest candidate in the tradition of" Jack Fertig, who in 1982 ran citywide for supervisor as Sister Boom Boom, the name given him by the drag nun group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
"I am more running to give people a way to register a protest against Castro gentrification and development greed," said Petrelis.
As for Wiener, he kicked off his re-election bid last fall and has been campaigning ever since. By the end of 2013, he reported having nearly $143,000 in cash on hand in his campaign account. The Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club has already endorsed his re-election bid.
"It is a democracy and no one owns their seat on the Board of Supervisors," Wiener said. "We are all in these positions because the voters have elected us to four-year terms. It is my responsibility to talk to the voters about the work that I have done around housing, transportation, and infrastructure work in the district. I look forward to having that conversation."
Even before it became clear he would not be facing a high-profile progressive opponent, Wiener had told the B.A.R. that he felt "very good about my support level in the district."
Pointing to his championing such projects as the Castro Street sidewalk widening now under construction and the purchase of a parking lot on 24th Street in Noe Valley to turn into a parklet, Wiener said, "We have worked with people all over the district and have delivered very positive results for the district."
Petrelis's candidacy brings a unique predicament to the District 8 supervisor race since he is under court order to remain at least 150 feet away from Wiener. The stay-away order stems from his photographing the lawmaker in a City Hall restroom in 2012.
Later this month Petrelis is expected to file a motion in superior court to request a modification to his restraining order so that he can participate in candidate forums. In order for him to qualify for public campaign financing, Petrelis is required to take part in at least three debates.
"The details are to be decided," Petrelis said this week when asked what specific changes to the restraining order he would seek.
Asked if he planned to take part in candidate forums, Wiener told the B.A.R. that he "will participate in debates." But he declined to address if he would support changing the conditions of Petrelis's restraining order so that he could also participate.
"I don't want to comment on his restraining order, that is between him, his lawyer, and the police," said Wiener.

Other SF supervisor races

Like with Wiener, several other supervisors seeking re-election this year also appear the heavy favorites to win their races. Fellow moderate District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell, who represents the Marina and Cow Hollow neighborhoods, has one opponent, Juan-Antonio Carballo.
The board's most freshman member, District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang, is running unopposed to represent the Outer Sunset and Parkside neighborhoods. Tang was tapped by Mayor Ed Lee to replace her former boss, Carmen Chu, when she became the city's assessor recorder last year. In November Tang easily won election to fill the remainder of Chu's supervisor term and is now all but assured of a full four-year term.
In District 6, which covers South of Market and the Tenderloin, Supervisor Jane Kim is up against three men, including gay Rincon Hill resident Jamie Whitaker. Another neighborhood activist, Michael Nulty, who is the identical twin of District 8 candidate John Nulty, and David Carlos Salaverry, a Republican who placed third in the June primary for the 17th Assembly District seat, are also running.
District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen faces the most serious challenge this fall. Well-known progressive Tony Kelly, who came close to winning the seat four years ago, is once again seeking to represent the Potrero Hill, Bayview, and Hunter's Point neighborhoods.
The District 10 contest, with six candidates, is the most crowded field for supervisor this year. Two other challengers, Ed Donaldson and Marlene Tran, also ran for the seat in 2010.
The other candidates are neighborhood activists Shawn M. Richard and DeBray Carpenter, who is also known as Fly Benzo. A rapper and activist against police harassment in the Bayview, Carpenter gained media attention three years ago when he filmed police officers during a rally and was subsequently arrested for allegedly assaulting one of the officers. A jury convicted him on lesser misdemeanor charges, according to press reports at the time.
UPDATE: After the B.A.R. went to press Wednesday afternoon, the elections department posted the official candidate list online, showing that Carpenter had been disqualified as a candidate. With the field down to five candidates, the District 10 race now has the same number of candidates as the District 8 race.

Neighborhoods of District 8

The Castro, Noe Valley, Diamond Heights, Glen Park, Corona Heights, Eureka Valley, Dolores Heights, Mission Dolores, Duboce Triangle, and Buena Vista Park

http://www.sfelections.org/demo/english/

http://www.sfethics.org/ethics/2013/12/board-of-supervisors-district-8-dashboard-november-4-2014-election.html

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