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Joel Engardio, a San Francisco resident for 18 years, describes himself as a “journalist/business manager” who has reported on local issues for San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Examiner, where he has written a column since 2013. Engardio said that his work has also appeared in USA Today, PBS and the Los Angeles Times, and that he has won multiple awards over the years. Engardio later brought his journalism experience to the ACLU, where he produced videos on LGBT, immigrant and women’s rights. Holder of a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Engardio serves on the boards of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and SF Moderates.
“We need to take a stand against the Westside crime wave and address homelessness by focusing on underlying issues like mental illness,” Engardio says in his candidate statement. “We must invest in housing so that we can revitalize our commercial districts and create space for our kids and grandkids to stay in San Francisco.”
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John Farrell, District 7 native, began his career in local government at the age of 20, serving for three years as the Recreation and Park Director at Midtown Terrace Playground. Since then, Farrell spent four years as a senior analyst for the budget analyst for the Board of Supervisors, and he worked for 12 years in the Assessor’s Office. Farrell has also served as a budget analyst for the mayor, the senior management assistant for Port and the financial director for Treasure Island Development Authority.
Farrell holds an MBA in real estate from Golden Gate University, and has been a real estate broker for nearly 30 years. He owns Farrell Real Estate Investments, and is a member of the National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors and San Francisco Association of Realtors.
He has been a guest columnist for the neighborhood newspaper, the Westside Observer.
Farrell prioritizes neighborhood safety through increased police patrols and emergency public housing for the homeless, and preserving neighborhood character by supporting middle-income families with housing, senior services and after-school activities. He also focuses on supporting local businesses, improving transportation and holding City Hall accountable to “identify current revenue sources that have not been addressed.”
“My family has served the public for nearly a century,” said Farrell, father of two noting that his father served as San Francisco controller under Mayor Joe Alioto. “I will make City Hall accountable to District 7, and to all of San Francisco.”
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Ben Matranga, born and raised in District 7, is a fifth-generation San Franciscan whose experience in local government began with internships at the San Francisco Ethics Commission and Gavin Newsom’s office when he was a supervisor. Matranga was later appointed to the San Francisco Youth Commission by then-Supervisor Barbara Kaufman, serving from 1999 through 2001. Matranga has also worked in finance for nearly a decade. He has served on the board of directors of four companies, and was an investment officer with the Soros Economic Development Fund and a consultant with EA Consultants. In 2014, Matranga returned to local government as a senior adviser in Mayor Ed Lee’s office, where he oversaw safety and transportation initiatives. He holds a BA in economics and political science and an MPA in public policy and finance from New York University.
Matranga said in his candidate statement that he “worked with entrepreneurs rebuilding infrastructure in war-torn countries” and oversaw the city’s Vision Zero street-safety plan, “delivering over 13 miles of improvements on time and under budget.”
Matranga continues to focus on public safety with greater police presence and addressing homelessness by “enforcing laws against camping and aggressive panhandling.” He also prioritizes preserving neighborhood character and “demand(ing) the Planning Department serve neighborhoods, not just developers.”
He stresses fiscal discipline.
“I will use my experience in finance to root out waste, fraud and abuse to ensure that vital City services are funded,” Matranga said on his website.
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Norman Yee is running to retain his seat as District 7 supervisor. A fourth-generation San Franciscan (his website says third), Yee has worked in education and social services in San Francisco for 35 years. Before joining the Board of Supervisors in 2013, Yee was elected to the Board of Education in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, during which time he served as president and as vice president. Holder of a master’s degree in elementary education from San Francisco State University, he has taught K-12 and community college in San Francisco. In addition to teaching, Yee was executive director of Wu Yee Children’s Services for more than 15 years.
As supervisor, Yee may be best known for addressing pedestrian safety, and in 2014 he co-authored the Vision Zero legislation, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2024.
In pursuing a second term, Yee said his focus would be to “improve our parks, increase access to childcare, expand senior services, continue to safeguard Westside neighborhood characteristics and create more family-friendly housing.”
He opposes illegal short-term rentals through Airbnb and similar online services; opposes secondary units in RH1-D neighborhoods zoned only for detached single-family homes with side yards; seeks to block “clustering” of medical cannabis dispensaries on Ocean Avenue; and wants stronger regulations for tobacco and electronic cigarettes.
Yee said that during his four years on the board he has been “making sure District 7 residents receive our fair share of city funding. I pioneered a Participatory Budgeting process so you can tell City Hall where your tax dollars should go.”
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Michael Young, a San Francisco native, began his public service career as a fiscal and policy analyst during Mayor Willie Brown’s tenure. Young spent a decade as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, serving in South Korea, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Pakistan and the Bureau of Counterterrorism in Washington, D.C. Young enlisted in 2001 and served 10 years as a U.S. Army Reserve officer, attaining the rank of captain in the infantry. He holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley and a master’s in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Young prioritizes public safety through greater police presence and community policing; managed growth for affordable housing; and fiscal discipline for “no new property taxes, minimize expenses, maximize non-tax revenues.”
“District 7 residents are experiencing car break-ins and burglaries; the condition of our streets are deteriorating from heavy congestion, affecting adversely the quality of our lives,” Young said in his candidate statement. “I will ensure adequate police protection in our district and that growth doesn’t occur at the expense of neighbors in San Francisco’s historic Westside while enforcing fiscal discipline on our City’s already swollen budget.”
Ranked-choice voting
Under the city’s ranked-choice voting, if no candidate initially receives 50 percent plus one, the top three candidates according to voters’ preferences face instant runoffs to determine the winner.
Our methodology
The Public Press chose to count endorsements from organizations that backed multiple candidates or ballot measures, and that made those endorsements available online. We did not count endorsements from individuals.
Some organizations endorsed a first and second choice for candidates in some races. Those preferences are not represented here.
If you think we missed an important organization, please tell us. We’d love to hear from you.
Tracked Endorsements by Organization
Published: Oct. 14, 2016
