District 10 Supervisor Q&A

The View asked three top contenders running for District 10 Supervisor to respond to a series of questions. Their answers are being published in the April, May, and June issues.

Q: What’s the proudest moment of your life?

DJ Brookter: The proudest moment of my life was walking across the stage at Utah State University to receive my bachelor’s degree in Communications. As the first person in my immediate family to earn a college degree, that moment represented more than academic achievement. It symbolized perseverance, sacrifice, and the fulfillment of a dream that began when I was a child. Growing up, my highest aspirations were to play Division I college football and to earn my degree. Standing on that stage in Logan, Utah, and seeing my family members who had made the trip to support me was everything I had imagined and more. It was a deeply emotional reminder that success is never achieved alone. It is built on the love, encouragement, and belief of those who stand beside you. That moment continues to drive me. It reminds me of where I come from, the responsibility I carry, and the importance of creating opportunities so others can experience milestones of their own.

Theo Ellington: Being a father to three boys, Lennox, Hendrix, and Maxwell has been the proudest moment of my life. I would also say becoming the first in my family to graduate from college. My grandfather worked as a laborer on roads and bridges in San Francisco. My mom raised my brother and I working as a concessioner at Candlestick Park for $18,000 a year. All that I am today I owe to the sacrifices they made. I can now pass along the values of hard work and determination to my own children.

J.R. Eppler: As a father, the biggest source of my pride now resides in my son. Like many city kids, he loves transit, and we’ve long enjoyed our “Muni Adventures,” on different lines around San Francisco. One of the proudest moments of my life was our first ride on the 55 Dogpatch line, a route I advocated for and helped design after the 22 Fillmore route changed. Riding it together was special because my son understood that his dad had helped make it happen, and it helped him see how citizen advocacy can make a real difference in people’s daily lives.

Q: Who is your best friend?

DJ Brookter: My sister is my best friend. Growing up, we shared a room for the first nine years of her life before our parents were able to afford a home where we each had our own bedrooms. That experience created a bond between us that has only grown stronger over time. After our mother passed away, I left for college a year later. Watching my sister grow into the incredible woman she is today has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. She is not only an amazing mother, but she has also earned two degrees, accomplishments that reflect her resilience, determination, and strength. Seeing the woman she has become continues to fill me with pride and gratitude. I truly could not have been blessed with a better sister or a better friend.

Theo Ellington: My best friend is my brother, Edwin Gipson. He’s always been my biggest confidant and the person who has shared every part of growing up in Bayview with me—from the loss of our cousin who was shot and killed in the neighborhood, to telling stories through the documentary film work I did in high school about the 24 bus line and the homelessness crisis we saw every day. Those experiences shaped how we see San Francisco and why this work matters to me. My brother has always kept me grounded and reminded me that this work–whether organizing neighbors to fight for environmental justice at the Hunters Point Shipyard or standing against the discriminatory policing practice of stop and frisk–is ultimately about people, dignity, and community.

J.R. Eppler: My best friend is Will. We met in fifth grade and went through high school together, playing baseball and spending so much time at each other’s homes that our families became each other’s second family. What bonded us was a shared curiosity about the universe; we could spend hours talking about space and the future of exploration or the history of our country. Over the years we’ve stayed close through all of life’s chapters: leaving home, building careers, starting families, and navigating the triumphs and challenges of adulthood. Will now lives in the Oklahoma City area, where he works as an adjunct history professor and an education technology project manager, but distance hasn’t changed the foundation of our friendship. We share the same values and political outlooks, and our decades-long friendship has reinforced for me how important loyalty, community, and showing up for people really are.

Q: What do you like most about District 10?

DJ Brookter: I love D 10 because it stands out for its sunny weather, vibrant culture, and strong sense of community. Our neighborhoods like Vis Valley, Little Hollywood, Bayview, Potrero Hill and Dogpatch are known for being among the sunniest parts of the city. The district is one of the most culturally diverse areas, with deep roots in communities centered around Bayview–Hunters Point. With community gardens, historic neighborhoods, and evolving waterfront spaces, District 10 reflects the resilience, diversity, and character that makes San Francisco unique.

Theo Ellington: Our greatest strength is the diversity of our residents. In no other district in San Francisco do you have a historic Black neighborhood, a burgeoning immigrant community, the new AI/Tech capital of the world, makers and creatives, first generation Americans, and working-class families all living side by side. District 10 is a welcoming neighborhood that has a real opportunity to grow without displacing longtime residents. We’ll soon have the best waterfront in the world, with development sites at Pier 70, the Power Station, the Shipyard, Candlestick, India Basin, and Schlage Lock. We need leadership that will actually fight to get these projects over the finish line and to make sure the people who live in, work in, and love this district share in its future.

J.R. Eppler: What I love most about District 10 is its character and possibility. Nowhere else in San Francisco brings together such a wide range of neighborhoods and people, with families who have been here for generations alongside newcomers building their lives and businesses. This district has always been the city’s working backbone, shaped by shipyards, rail yards, factories, and small businesses that powered San Francisco’s growth. You can still feel that history in the streets and along the waterfront. At the same time, District 10 holds enormous potential for the future. With thoughtful leadership and investment, it can strengthen its spot as the working heart of San Francisco, creating jobs and supporting families in a community where opportunity and prosperity are shared by everyone who calls it home.

District 10 Supervisor Q & A continues in the June issue.