With some 200 supporters joining him on the steps of City Hall, long-time Mission community activist Roberto Hernandez formally launched his campaign for District 9 supervisor, a District that oversees the Mission.
Hernandez filed a declaration of candidacy for the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 18.
Friends, family, and supporters alike flooded City Hall as he submitted the application for the supervisorial seat currently held by Hillary Ronen, who is terming out.
Hernandez said he was “overwhelmed” by the support because local support is instrumental to his candidacy.
“We are running together because not one person can do what needs to be done right now … It’s not a me campaign, but a we campaign,” Hernandez said.
Following his declaration of candidacy, Hernandez said he and his team had already raised $10,000 within the first 10 hours of candidacy. He also said his campaign had already garnered the endorsement of Teamsters Local 350.
As a longtime Mission activist, resident and community organizer, Hernandez said his main priorities would be affordable housing, addiction recovery, homelessness, economic recovery via reviving vacant storefronts, and urban farming.
Hernandez is the founder of the Mission Food Hub, San Francisco Lowrider Council, and has been involved in the production of Carnaval for 45 years.
Hernandez said that “having worked on job force, juvenile justice reform and in numerous other areas of social justice work is part of my DNA. And most importantly, I’m here to stay.”
He added: “I’m not going anywhere. I look at our previous supervisors, you know, the majority of them have left the city, they don’t even live here anymore.”
San Francisco’s next general election takes place on Nov. 5, 2024, with District 9 having among the most candidates.