Grabbing a Seat on the West Side of Town
Will roots on home turf count?|
By Julie D. Soo

Willie Brown credits West-side supporters for his second term as San Francisco’s mayor. Now as district elections for supervisor make a return after 20 years this November, he’s keeping a watchful eye on who will take a seat on the Board of Supervisors representing District 4 (Outer Sunset). And it’s likely that he’s looking to those who could unseat one of his biggest naysayers, Supervisor Leland Yee, who last year moved from his Mission District home of 30 years to capitalize on Asian American supporters in the Outer Sunset.

At Yee’s campaign kick-off this weekend at the Sunset Recreation Center, Brown, who urged Yee into a political career, was visibly absent. Brown has, instead, given his endorsement to Yee’s two top challengers: Outer Sunset natives Ron Dudum and Tom Hsieh, Jr., the namesake son of the former supervisor.

Dudum, the first to launch his campaign, had the dapper and energetic mayor address a crowd of about 150 at the Sunset Recreation Center three weeks ago. Dudum is no stranger to City Hall in this and past administrations, having logged public service hours as Community Development Advisory Committee vice chair, Landmarks Advisory Board vice chair, and member of the District Attorney’s Hate Crime Task Force.

“I hope to call up Supervisor Dudum and ask why he voted the way he did on an issue,” quipped Brown. “If I were a resident in this district, I would vote for him,” he continued.

Hoping to stand out as “Son of the Sunset,” Dudum touts his lifelong ties to the Outer Sunset, having attended public schools in the area and graduating from San Francisco State. He and his wife Sue are rearing their three children on 21st Avenue, keeping three generations of extended family—grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins—within the Outer Sunset.

Indeed, most of Dudum’s early supporters are residents and voters of the Outer Sunset. And, he has crossed over for some Asian American support, most notably Mary Jung from the Mayor’s Office of Community Development and Jake Ng, one of the founders of the San Francisco Neighbors’ Association.

Dudum, a small businessman, is putting his heart and soul into the race. Dudum’s message was, “Elect a kid from the Sunset to the Board of Supervisors,” someone who puts families ahead of politics.

Dudum didn’t hesitate to take a few potshots at his challengers, referring to them only as “the one who is making his home in the Sunset based on political expediency [Yee]” and “the one who is riding on his father’s name recognition [Hsieh].”

In a district that is estimated to be 80 percent first-generation San Franciscans and children of immigrant homeowners, Dudum is banking that his homegrown message with a focus on protecting home ownership for families, and public education will resonate with them. He is also hoping to be a role model for a future generation of Arab Americans in the city. “I tell my kids that people judge you by what you say and what you do. And the most important is what you do,” said Dudum to his cheering crowd.

Yee’s campaign kick-off was flashier. The first hour was filled with the Lowell High School color guard, Chinese lion dancing, Chinese operatic singing, and a line-up of testimonials that illustrated Yee’s cross-section of support. Among the crowd were District Attorney Terence Hallinan; Board of Education commissioner, Eddie Chin; and former Board of Education commissioner, Dick Cerbatos. Supervisor candidates Rose Chung, Aaron Peskin, Rebecca Silverberg and Bud Wilson were also in attendance, as well as a host of San Francisco Neighbors’ Association ex-patriots, including Rose Tsai, Ed Liu and Sonia Ng.

To a crowd of 250 people, Yee acknowledged that he and his family moved to the Outer Sunset just last year. Yee’s message emphasized that he is the public “watch dog,” breaking through bureaucracy and protecting neighborhoods.

Yee has honed in on issues that have reeled in neighborhood and small business support, for example, a requirement that city agencies notify neighbors before placing shelters or halfway homes in residential areas; a water and sewer rate freeze; and heightened scrutiny for chain store permits. David Heller, president of the Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants Association, and Ali Altaha, representing Arab American Business Owners, pledged support for Yee.

Yet to officially kick-off his candidacy is Tom Hsieh, Jr., who has engaged himself in politics since the days of Tom Hsieh, Sr.’s appointment to the Board of Supervisors by Dianne Feinstein. A positive signal was his win this March in a crowded contest for a seat on the Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC). Hsieh finished second overall in the 12th Assembly District race and first in the Supervisor District 4 boundary.

With Dudum in his 40s and Yee in his 50s, the thirtysomething Hsieh hopes to bring the energy of his youth with him to office. He is likely to get the backing of his colleagues on the DCCC. Moreover, he is expected to get support from groups, such as the Committee On Jobs, which he worked with on initiatives such as Laguna Honda and the Academy of Sciences.

Like Dudum, Hsieh is a native Outer Sunset son, attending schools in the area and graduating from San Francisco State. Hsieh promised to continue focusing on public school and transportation issues, and working to keep the Outer Sunset affordable for young families.

“People in District 4 can expect a vigorous campaign from our camp,” said Hsieh.