By Danielle Silva
The November 5 San Francisco District Attorney election is quickly approaching – here’s the rundown of what’s been happening up until now.
TIMELINE
July 19, 2018 – Deputy Attorney General of the State of California Leif Dautch announces his candidacy for the SF DA Race.
September 18, 2018 – Former Police Commission President Suzy Loftus announces her candidacy for the SF DA Race.
October 3, 2018 – George Gascón, District Attorney of San Francisco at the time, announces he will not be rerunning for San Francisco DA as he will be moving to Los Angeles to take care of his mother. He notes he will potentially run for District Attorney there. Jackie Lacey is the current LA DA. This also makes this the first open-seat DA Race in San Francisco for the last 110 years.
December 2018 – Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris endorse Suzy Loftus for San Francisco District Attorney.
January 12 – Deputy Public Defender Chesa Boudin announces his candidacy for the SF DA Race.
January 16 – Deputy District Attorney Nancy Tung officially launches her campaign for the SF DA Race.
February 22 – San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi passes away.
March 15 – Mayor London Breed appoints Manohar Raj as the next San Francisco Public Defender. He plans to run for his San Francisco Public Defender seat during the November elections.
March 28 – Sheriff of San Francisco Vicki Hennessy decides to retire after a four-decade career with the department. This has left the Sheriff’s seat without an incumbent. Paul Miyamoto is currently the only candidate running for the Sheriff position.
May 15 – The San Francisco Latino Democratic Club hosts a debate with Leif Dautch, Nancy Tung, Chesa Boudin, and Suzy Loftus, moderated by Police Commissioner Petra DeJesus. The San Francisco Latino Democratic Club endorses Leif Dautch.
June 4 – The San Francisco Board of Supervisors vote to close down the San Francisco Juvenile Hall by 2021, a facility that the city spends “$13 million a year on but is never more than a quarter full” according to SF Weekly.
July 17 – Planning Association for the Richmond hosts an SF DA candidate forum.
July 29 – Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club and GAPA-Gay Asian Pacific Alliance host a debate. Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club endorses Suzy Loftus.
August 6 – San Francisco Eastern Neighborhoods Democratic Club, ACLU of Northern California, Democratic Socialists of America, Willie B. Kennedy Democratic Club and Indivisible SF host a debate at UC Hastings College of Law. (1) (2) (3). Eastern Neighborhoods Democratic Club endorses Suzy Loftus. The President of Willie B. Kennedy Democratic Club endorses Leif Dautch.
August 7 – Stop Crime SF hosts an SF DA debate. Stop Crime SF President endorses Nancy Tung (#1) and Leif Dautch (#2).
August 22 – Reentry Council of the City and County of San Francisco hosts a debate featuring all four candidates. A San Francisco Reentry Council Member endorses Chesa Boudin.
August 27 – Potrero Hill Democratic Club hosts a debate. Potrero Hill Democratic Club endorses Suzy Loftus (#1) and Leif Dautch (#2).
September 9 – The Bar Association of San Francisco and the University of San Francisco School of Law host a debate.
September 11 – Interfaith Council hosts a debate.
September 27 – KRON4 hosts a debate.
September 30 – KQED News releases a recorded debate of all four candidates.
October 3 – Telegraph Hill Dwellers, Lower Polk Neighbors, Chesa Boudin for San Francisco District Attorney, Nancy Tung 湯曉慧 for San Francisco District Attorney, and Leif Dautch for San Francisco District Attorney 李多福 host an SF DA debate.
October 10 – San Francisco Mayor London Breed appoints Loftus as interim district attorney following Gascón’s last day.
October 18 – Gascón’s last day as District Attorney of San Francisco.
October 25 – Coleman Advocates host a Youth-led SF DA candidates forum, a group that later endorses Chesa Boudin.
October 28 – SF Public Press hosts a DA candidate debate.
October 28 – Bernie Sanders endorses Chesa Boudin for San Francisco District Attorney.
A second article will be released with the candidates’ stances and a list of their notable endorsers.
