Instructions:
1. There are 10 sections to this questionnaire. Each section
corresponds with the 10 Key Values of the Green Party.
2. Each section begins with a written question and ends with several
multiple-choice questions. Please don't skip the written question.
3. The multiple-choice questions are answered by checking the box in the
appropriate column to indicate which is closest to your position:
+ = Support / Agree / Yes
- = Oppose / Disagree / No
? = Undecided / Don't know / No opinion
4. The world is too complex to always break down neatly into
yes/no/maybe choices, so feel free to clarify any answers to multiple-choice questions with a few words.
Candidate Name: Gordon Mar
Phone Number:
Web site: gordonmar.com
E-mail: info@gordonmar.com
Name of Campaign Manager: Vanessa Pimentel
Are you receiving public financing: Yes
Signed voluntary spending limit: Yes
2nd, 3rd endorsements in District:
Major Endorsements:
I am proud to be supported by so many District 4 merchants, residents, and community leaders, by Supervisors Chan, Mandelman, Melgar, Peskin, Preston Ronen, and Walton, and by Nancy Pelosi and the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee. I'm endorsed by a wide range of labor groups, including the San Francisco Labor Council, the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, the San Francisco Deputy Sheriff's Association, the California Nurses' Association, Firefighters Local 768, and the National Union of Healthcare Workers. I've been endorsed by the Rose Pak Democratic Club, the Latinx Democratic Club, San Francisco Tenants Union, the Sierra Club, and the League of Conservation Donors. Many more endorsements can be found on the updated list here.
Incumbent Supervisor whose votes most reflect your values:
Incumbent whose votes least reflect your values:
If the election were held today, who would you support as Board President:
Who would be your second and third choices:
Who did you endorse for Mayor in 2019 (all 3 choices, if applicable):
Rank Choice
1st Jane Kim
2nd Mark Leno
3rd Amy Farrah Weiss
1) Grassroots Democracy: What are your thoughts on Instant Runoff
Voting and District Elections? How have they worked to date? What
would you change in the future?
Instant runoff voting has been successful in empowering voters to vote for candidates most closely aligned to their values. District elections have allowed for the election of candidates who come from the communities they represent and have been particularly beneficial for underrepresented groups. They are beneficial for strengthening our democracy but can certainly be improved, and alternatives should always be considered. I would increase voter education on how these processes work.
+ - ?
[+] [ ] [ ] Sub-government such as Neighborhood Assemblies, Networks or District Councils
[+] [ ] [ ] Some commissions should be democratically elected
[ ] [ - ] [ ] The Mayor should appoint all commissioners
[+] [ ] [ ] Voters' right to recall elected officials
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Ethics Commission should be disbanded
[+] [ ] [ ] Ethics Commission meetings should be televised
[+] [ ] [ ] Ethics Commission should prioritize investigating violations from well-funded campaigns
[ ] [ - ] [ ] My campaign accepts corporate contributions
[ ] [ - ] [ ] My campaign accepts contributions from paid lobbyists or related entities having any interest in City and County of San Francisco
2) Ecological Wisdom: Please outline your view of the major
environmental and ecological issues facing San Francisco and your
proposed policies to address them.
Climate change is the most pressing environmental justice issue for the planet as a whole. My proposals include preparing for and mitigating climate change. In District 4, that includes making adaptations to Ocean Beach, disaster preparedness, and helping families make the transition to living more sustainably. Environmental benefits and harm have also not been distributed evenly in San Francisco. We need to reduce barriers to sustainability programs, provide resources to communities most burdened by environmental harm, and consider how decisions made in San Francisco impact the global environment.
In San Francisco, the ongoing scandal of toxic soil, ineffective cleanup, and falsified test results at Bayview-Hunters Point is one of the largest-scale environmental justice issues in the city's history. As Supervisor, I will be a strong advocate for the communities impacted and work closely with the residents and environmental groups - including the Sierra Club - to ensure the parties responsible are held accountable and proper cleanup is done thoroughly and immediately.
In District 4, I'm sensitive to the growing concerns about the health and environmental impacts of artificial turf in our parks and playgrounds and will work with residents and the Sierra Club to assess the risks and most effective outcomes.
+ - ?
[+] [ ] [ ] Phasing out all diesel buses (e.g., Muni, tour, shuttles)
[+] [ ] [ ] Public Power with 100% local/regional clean energy mandate
[+] [ ] [ ] Install local/regional clean energy, efficiency, and battery storage to supply 100% of our electricity by 2035
[ ] [ ] [?] Reducing or eliminating parking minimums in new housing and commercial developments
[+] [ ] [ ] In the Bayview and on Treasure Island, halt all US Navy land transfers to the city or developers, and halt all development, until all sites are retested and cleaned to Residential Standards
[+] [ ] [ ] Natural Areas Program
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Tree Removals
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Use of herbicides in public parks
[+] [ ] [ ] Addition of SF Groundwater to City's potable supply
[ ] [ ] [?] Artificial turf on City-owned athletic fields
[+] [ ] [ ] Managed retreat, Coastal Zone protection, and restoring wetlands in response to Global Warming
3) Social Justice:
A) What is your assessment of homelessness in San Francisco, and what
solutions do you propose?
Homelessness is a housing issue and a public health crisis. There is a spectrum of people experiencing homelessness -- not just people who live on the street or shelters, but people “doubling up” in homes for a few months when they lose housing or a job. We need a comprehensive and data-driven approach to homelessness that responds to these different and specific needs.
High-intensity services where it's needed the most
We need to meet people where they are at, with services based on their level of need. Public dollars are best spent in areas that will serve the greatest number of people in the community.
Expand outreach, drop-in services, shelter beds, and facilities to keep streets clean, reduce street homelessness and get people into housing
Develop supportive, permanent affordable housing to keep residents housed and off the street
Invest in wraparound psychiatric resources to get the most at-need individuals into care and to protect the public health and safety of all
Mobile outreach and behavioral health services in the Sunset
Sunset residents - whether housed or unhoused - have to deal with homelessness every day, yet San Francisco's west side is often overlooked and under-resourced. District 4 needs a homelessness response that is appropriate to the needs of our district.
Implement mobile outreach services to rapidly respond to the dispersed homeless population
Coordinate service response in Golden Gate Park to protect the public health of all and keep the park safe for everyone to enjoy
Improve 311 service requests for homeless individuals and educational outreach for residents to maximize the effectiveness of city services
Preventing homelessness by addressing affordability
Preventing individuals from becoming homeless in the first place is an impactful, cost-effective, and necessary component to solving homelessness. Many of our neighbors are one paycheck from losing housing due to the affordability crisis.
Emergency and need-based rental and utility assistance
Resources for tenant counseling, and tenant-landlord dispute mediation and resolution
Prioritize affordable housing, including construction and rehabilitation
+ - ?
[+] [ ] [ ] Project Homeless Connect
[ ] [ ] [?] Care Not Cash
[ ] [ ] [?] Community courts
[+] [ ] [ ] Healthy SF
[+] [ ] [ ] SF's sick leave requirements
[ ] [ - ] [?] Law against sitting down on SF sidewalks
[+] [ ] [ ] I support more homeless navigation centers in my district
B) What are your views on housing affordability, what public sector
strategies have worked, which have failed, and what are your proposals?
Housing unaffordability continues to be one of the most acute problems impacting low and moderate income San Francisco families, seniors and residents as well as our local employers and economy. I've championed historic investments in the creation of affordable housing in District 4 including Shirley Chisolm Village our City's first ever affordable educator housing development and 2550 Irving, the Sunset first ever affordable housing for low and moderate income and formerly homeless families. I've also facilitated the Sunset's first two Small Sites Program acquisitions which have converted small market rate apartment buildings into permanently affordable housing for mostly low-income senior tenants. I've also created financial incentives and other resources to support single family homeowners to expand their homes to meet the housing needs of their extended families, friends and community members. I support balanced housing development that prioritizes important community needs including new middle income, family and senior housing.
+ - ?
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Building more market rate housing will lower housing costs for current SF residents
[ ] [ ] [ ] Impacts of all new development should be paid for in advance by fees on developers
[ ] [ ] [ ] Housing as a right
[ + ] [ ] [ ] Community Land Trusts, Housing Co-ops
[ ] [ ] [ ] Rent Control is too strong
[ ] [ ] [ ] Elected Rent Board
[ ] [ ] [ ] HOME-SF (density bonus program)
[ + ] [ ] [ ] Social Housing (similar to https://www.sfcommunityhousingact.com/)
[ ] [ ] [ ] Ban on Airbnb and other short term rentals
[ ] [ ] [ ] Require full disclosure of all corporate/speculative interests in parties purchasing/developing property
[ ] [ ] [ ] Vacancy tax on empty homes
[ ] [ ] [ ] Flipping taxes on housing speculation
[ ] [ ] [ ] Pied-a-terre Tax on residential property owners who do not reside in SF
[ ] [ ] [ ] Condo conversion is currently too difficult
4) Nonviolence: What are your solutions for SFPD accountability while
making the streets safer?
SFPD needs to be held more accountable through more transparent public processes. Public safety is more than a policing issue. Streets can be made safer when we solve the root causes of crime: income inequality, lack of a social safety net, and lack of meaningful community interaction so neighbors can hold each other accountable. We can invest more resources in building the social safety net and conflict resolution and mediation.
+ - ?
[ + ] [ ] [ ] Prioritize SFPD enforcement of moving violations
[ + ] [ ] [ ] Support expansion of foot patrols
[ + ] [ ] [ ] Demand stricter accountability in future MOUs with the SFPD
[ ] [ ] [ ] The Board of Supervisors should be able to set policies and priorities for the SFPD through legislation
[ ] [ ] [ ] Support a public safety program modeled after NYC's "Stop and Frisk"
[ + ] [ ] [ ] Prosecution of SFPD Officers involved in violet attacks on, and fatal shooting deaths of, SF residents and visitors
[ + ] [ ] [ ] End cash bail for nonviolent crimes
[ + ] [ ] [ ] Cut police funding and increase social program spending to better address root causes of crime
5) Decentralization: What are your thoughts on the Kaufman Charter
of 1996? Does it need revisiting?
+ - ?
[ ] [ ] [ ] Bring the Housing Authority under the Board of Supervisors
[ ] [ ] [ ] Will you create formal district councils to advise you?
[ ] [ ] [ ] Charter amendment allowing voters to choose the replacement of an elected official being recalled on the same ballot as the recall vote
[ ] [ ] [ ] Immediately implement open-source voting system on the local level
6) Community Based Economics: What economic policies, including
taxation and land use, would you propose that would drive capital into
our communities and keep that capital here for residents?
I would promote local businesses, affordable workforce housing so people can live near their work, and ensuring employers and developers pay their fair share of impact mitigation. I would also like to explore ways to better support community-based economics, such as community financial institutions, employee owned businesses, community land trusts, and cooperatives.
+ - ?
[+] [ ] [ ] Legislation limiting formula retail outlets/chain stores
[+] [ ] [ ] Conditional Use permit required for big box stores
[+] [ ] [ ] Municipal broadband as a public utility
[ ] [ ] [ ] Neighborhood cooperatives prioritized as a local supply chain for legalized marijuana
[ ] [ ] [ ] I support recreational marijuana stores opening in my district
[+] [ ] [ ] Local hiring requirements should be enforced and expanded to include private projects
[+] [ ] [ ] Strong preference for union jobs
[+] [ ] [ ] Conversion of some golf courses into soccer fields
[ ] [ ] [ ] Conversion of some golf courses into wild open space
[+] [ ] [ ] Prop 13 limits on tax increases should apply only to residential properties
[ + ] [ ] [ ] Commercial Rent Control
[ ] [ ] [ ] Transition all residential and small business rental
properties into not-for-profit trusts and co-ops
[ ] [ ] [ ] Vacancy and flipping taxes on local small business property
[ ] [ ] [ ] Transaction/Flipping taxes on all asset speculation to increase city budget
[+] [ ] [ ] San Francisco Public Bank by 2025
7) Feminism: Do you believe women are underrepresented in city
government? If so, why do you believe this is the case? Is this a
bad thing, and if so, what would you do to remedy the situation?
Yes. One reason is insufficient family policies that disincentivize caretakers (often women) from staying in the workforce and advancing in their careers. We need to pass policies that do not penalize women for caring for their families.
+ - ?
[+] [ ] [ ] The City should help SFUSD provide child care for children of working parents
[+] [ ] [ ] The DPH should provide reproductive health services to both residents and visitors
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Require parental consent for minors seeking an abortion
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Require parental notification for minors seeking an abortion
8) Respect for Diversity: Tell us what you believe are the best and the
worst aspects of San Francisco's diversity. How would you try to protect the best while trying to change the worst?
San Francisco is a beacon for people to find a community where they are not accepted elsewhere (eg. the LGBTQ community, immigrants/refugees/asylum seekers) and it has created a multicultural community that benefits all. San Francisco has enormous income inequality, and a bad kind of diversity. We need to close the wealth gap, reduce poverty, and ensure equality of opportunity.
+ - ?
[+] [ ] [ ] Multilingual government and public education
[+] [ ] [ ] Undocumented immigrants should have equal access to education and health care
[+] [ ] [ ] Non-citizen residents should be able to vote in all local elections
[+] [ ] [ ] Full rights for transgender and non-gender-binary persons
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Boards and commissions now reflect the ethnic diversity of San Francisco
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Boards and commissions now reflect the political diversity of San Francisco
[+] [ ] [ ] My campaign reflects the diversity of San Francisco
9) Global and Personal Responsibility: A) What are your thoughts on the Board of Supervisors taking positions on state, national and international issues?
The Board of Supervisors should take positions on state, national, and international issues that reflect the values of their constituents.
+ - ?
[ ] [ - ] [ ] City government cooperating with the PATRIOT Act
[ ] [ - ] [ ] City government cooperating with ICE/Secure Communities
[ ] [ ] [ ] City government should boycott Israel until it complies with UN resolutions and international law
[+] [ ] [ ] SF supervisors should take a position on offshore oil drilling outside CA
B) Please describe how you make your political decisions. What is the
main basis for your decision making (e.g., consultation with your
constituents, political consultants, colleagues, unions, businesses,
donors, or your gut feelings)?
I consider the input from multiple stakeholders, including constituents, labor, the business community, subject matter experts, and most importantly, the people most impacted by policy, while considering what will benefit San Franciscans in the long term. I have a background in community and worker organizing and a track record of building successful coalitions.
+ - ?
[ ] [ ] [?] Fleet Week and the Blue Angels flyover
[ ] [ - ] [ ] In a severe recession, environmental regulations should be suspended to create jobs
[ ] [ - ] [ ] Business taxes are too high
10) Sustainability: What does the Transit First City Charter provision
mean to you? How has Transit First fared in recent years, and how would
you enforce that Charter Provision if elected?
The Transit First City Charter has set a guideline on our priority for environmentally sustainable transit options and could constantly be improved.
+ - ?
[+] [ ] [ ] Muni should be funded sufficiently to replace most car use, and be free to the rider
[+] [ ] [ ] Downtown Transit Assessment Tax to support Muni
[+] [ ] [ ] Citywide Transit Assessment Tax to support Muni
[+] [ ] [ ] More weekend closures of streets in/near my district to cars (e.g., Car-Free GGP)
[ ] [ ] [?] State law change that lets bicycles treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs
[+] [ ] [ ] I ride Muni, bicycle and/or walk instead of driving on a regular basis
[+] [ ] [ ] Bus Rapid Transit expanded to all major transit corridors in SF
[+] [ ] [ ] Car hailing services like Uber and Lyft should be regulated as taxis, or banned
[ ] [ ] [?] Scooter/similar vehicle rentals should be required to store vehicles on private property
[ ] [ ] [?] Allow residents to park on the sidewalk without getting a ticket, unless their neighbors complain
[+] [ ] [ ] Congestion pricing for parking
[+] [ ] [ ] Power more City vehicles using biofuels (e.g., corn-based ethanol)
[ ] [ ] [?] Residents should be allowed to park in the street in front of their own driveway for free
[ ] [ ] [ ] Support expanding parking meter hours to include later evening hours and weekends
[ ] [ ] [ ] Remove parking spots and car lanes to create dedicated bike and bus lanes or wider sidewalks
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):
+ - ?
[ + ] [ ] [ ] 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,
http://sfgreenparty.org.