Due Date: Saturday, Sep 3
Candidate Name: Maurice Chenier
Phone Number: 415. 499. 2776.
Web site: chenier4sfda.com [will be up and running by September 15]
E-mail: chenier.4.SF.DA@gmail.com and lamontchenier@gmail.com
Name of Campaign Manager: SELF
Signed voluntary spending limit: Unnecessary will not reach limits.
Major Endorsements: I am unattached, nonpartisan and have not sought any
endorsements from any major party. I plan to focus on my genuine
experience, familiarity with San Francisco and is a true independent of any
financial sources
Who did you endorse for Mayor in 2019 (all 3 choices, if applicable):
My voting and endorsement history is private and I believe it is a
fundamental right under the California and United States Constitutions. In
fact, my actual votes are influenced by a number of factors, to numerous to
mention herein. Notwithstanding, my voting history will not impact my
decision-making process as a district if I am elected. I will simply apply
the law as written and enforce the laws as written. I plan to take a more
aggressive approach to prosecuting crimes with a focus on the impact upon
the victims as opposed to the perpetrators.
1) Who else have you endorsed in other contests (this year or next)?
My voting and endorsement history is private and I believe it is a
fundamental right under the California and United States Constitutions. In
fact, my actual votes are influenced by a number of factors, to numerous to
mention herein. Notwithstanding, my voting history will not impact my
decision-making process as a district if I am elected. I will simply apply
the law as written and enforce the laws as written. I plan to take a more
aggressive approach to prosecuting crimes with a focus on the impact upon
the victims as opposed to the perpetrators.
2) What do you think of the Death Penalty?
The Death Penalty can be considered in appropriate cases. Notwithstanding
my personal beliefs, I will abide by the laws as written. Currently the
Death Penalty is outlawed in California, and as such, I would follow the
current state of the law.
3) How would you support the work of the Innocence Commission?
I would prosecute cases with full disclosures to avoid any wrongful
convictions and consider any exonerating evidence in prosecuting.
If there is substantial unrefuted evidence that an individual has been
wrongly convicted, I will support overturning the conviction is not
4) Under what circumstances, if any, would you request cash bail?
The current laws allow for cash bail. As such I must follow the law.
However, I believe that the more appropriate inquiry should be focused on
the individuals threat of danger to the community and society. Therefore, I
would consider the same on a case-by-case basis taking multiple factors
into consideration including risk of flight, recidivism, and danger to the
community. I note that individuals accused of crimes can request bail
hearings and present mitigating factors to the court, who then makes the
ultimate decision. As such, I believe that this inquiry is more
appropriately judicial in nature.
5) Under what circumstances, if any, would you try a juvenile offender as an adult?
Depending upon the severity of the crime i.e. homicide, rape and the mental
state of the individual, I would consider the same on a case-by-case basis.
6) We understand the District Attorney's office has a limited budget
and staff. How would you address the current backlog of open
criminal cases in San Francisco?
I plan to restructure the department according to abilities and needs. For
example, I plan to create a law and motion department, a trial department
and a hearing department. Attorneys will be reappropriated by type of crime
and in the area or areas they are most needed.
I also plan to immediately request additional funding from the state as
well as at the federal level to resolve the current backlogs. By
restructuring the departments to place attorneys by effectiveness and
abilities, the current backlog can be addressed. Much of the burden placed
on one attorney can be alleviated by other departments. I plan to
immediately seek additional funding to hire more district attorneys as well
as using law students and volunteers to assist with the current backlog.
7) How should the Sheriff's Office address the extreme staffing shortage?
Because I am not familiar with the precise levels of staffing and
shortages, I would defer any decision-making in this regard to The
Sheriff's Office.
8) Would you prosecute the possession and/or sale of more than 5 grams of fentanyl as a misdemeanor or a felony?
This depends upon the circumstances of the arrest and the level of proof.
Thus, it would be done on a case-by-case basis. However, in general, I plan
to aggressively prosecute fentynal related offenses.
9) How would you use community justice courts?
Based upon the severity of the crime
10) What do you think of closing 850 Bryant?
As I understand, there are alternate facilities in San Francisco and San
Bruno to host individuals accused of and convicted of crimes to address any
immediate impacts.
11) What do you think of SF closing our Juvenile Hall?
Closing the facility as it pertains to the most violent offender should be
re-examined and alternate facilities considered.
12) What do you think of current police staffing levels?
I think that the police are woefully understaffed in San Francisco.
13) Do you believe body cameras are working to prevent police misconduct in San Francisco?
I believe that body cameras are working to the benefit of all including the
police, criminal defendants, and the general public.
14) How would you address local government corruption?
I will prosecute cases which meet the charging standards under the current
statutes
15) How would you enforce laws regulating powerful local tech companies such as Airbnb, Uber, Lyft and Doordash?
I will follow the law and work together with the businesses to ensure
compliance.
16) Please state how you intend to serve victims of crime, be they property crime victims or the families of murder victims.
As a member of a family of a murder victim in San Francisco, I am
especially sympathetic to the victims of crimes and I plan to prosecute
many cold cases which were not prosecuted under previous administrations.
In addition, I plan to maintain and administration with an emphasis on
victims rights.
17) What do you think of the concept of restorative justice? What specific plans do you have to implement your ideas?
Restorative justice may be appropriate for certain non-violent crimes in
certain limited cases. This must be done on a case-by-case basis. As part
of convictions, parole and probation, the offender would be required to
enter into programs for re-entry such as job training, externships,
community service, and educational programs as well as providing
restitution and support to the victims through appropriate programs. There
would also be strict monitoring, progress and compliance for the offender.
I believe that restorative justice concept should be strictly scrutinized
for violent crimes and that in the case of violent crimes, my approach will
be victim based.
18) What standards do you support for police use of force? Are there any "less-lethal" weapons that you support arming the police with?
I support the San Francisco Police Department and believe that they are
doing an outstanding job with the level of staffing and criminality
plaguing the city. Any use of police force would have to be examined on a
case-by-case basis. I do support the use of less lethal weapons such as
rubber bullets etc. in certain cases where feasible, to avoid death to an
offender where lethal force would have otherwise occurred. I do not support
endangering officer safety when attempting to effectuate lawful arrest.
19) DA Gascon had a policy of only charging cases that he thought he'd easily win. What standard will you apply?
I plan to immediately examine cold cases where I think prosecutorial
discretion has been abused and immediately charge the same if the statute
has not expired. As such I plan to be far more aggressive than the DAs of
previous administrations. I do not believe that "reasonable doubt"
translates to "no doubt at all". I will prosecute crimes more
aggressively and take the witnesses as I find them. Therefore, my primary
concern is attempting to achieve justice for the victims. If the level of
proof is sufficient to let the jury decide.
Your positions (at the time) on selected current and past Propositions
(skip any for which you didn't live or vote in SF, or didn't take
a position at the time):
I respectfully decline to disclose my voting
history which I believe is absolutely privileged under the United States
and California Constitutions. This is not done out of disrespect, but my
decision is based on my firm belief in my voting rights which I believe are
absolutely confidential.
+ - :
[ ] [ ] [ ] June 2022 Prop A (General Bond)
[ ] [ ] [ ] June 2022 Prop C (Recall Reform)
[ ] [ ] [ ] June 2022 Prop H (Boudin Recall)
[ ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2020 Prop G (16-17 y.o. voting, local
elections)
[ ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2020 Prop I (Real Estate Transfer Tax)
[ ] [ ] [ ] June 2018 Prop F (Eviction Defense)
[ ] [ ] [ ] June 2018 Prop H (Tasers for SFPD)
[ ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop D (Vacancy appointments)
[ ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop N (Non-citizen voting, school
board)
[ ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop Q (Prohibiting tents on public
sidewalks)
[ ] [ ] [ ] Nov 2016 Prop 62 (Ending Death Penalty)
Due Date: Sat, Sep 3, 11:59 pm.
Please submit by email to cc@sfgreens.org. For more information, call
Barry Hermanson at 415-255-9494. Please return your answers in plain
text (not HTML, PDF, or Word format), so that we can post all
candidates' answers in the same format.
The SF Green Party will invite all candidates who return completed
questionnaires on time to speak and answer questions at our candidate
forum and endorsement meeting (scheduled for Wed, Sep 7 from 6:30 - 9
pm). Please note the earlier start time. We hope to finish all
candidate interviews by around 8. If you need to schedule a
particular time slot, or if you are unable to make the meeting, please
be in touch with us at cc@sfgreens.org. Otherwise, we'll interview
candidates as you arrive. This will be a hybrid meeting, so you may
also talk to us via Zoom if you prefer. Our forum and endorsement
meeting will take place at the Redstone Building, on the third floor
(room TBA). The Redstone is located at 2940 16th Street (between
Mission and South Van Ness, 1 block from 16th St BART).
Completed questionnaires will be posted on our website,