District 10 Supervisor Q &A, Part 1

The View asked the eight candidates running for District 10 Supervisor to respond to a series of questions. Three of the top contenders responded. Their answers will be published over the next three issues.

Q:  Why do you want to be Supervisor?

DJ Brookter: Purpose. Throughout the majority of my adult working life in public service, I have come to understand that service is not just what I do. It is my calling. My career began as a workshop facilitator, where I supported formerly justice involved individuals participating in the parole system as they worked to secure employment and rebuild their lives. That experience shaped my commitment to service, accountability, and empowerment. Stepping into a supervisory role feels like a natural progression of that calling. I want to lead in a way that supports both staff and the communities we serve, fostering growth, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring that our work remains rooted in integrity and impact. As a Supervisor, I would be able to mentor others, promote a culture of excellence, and help create systems that not only meet goals but truly make a difference in people’s lives. Service has always been at the center of my work. Becoming a Supervisor allows me to expand that impact by guiding teams, supporting professional development, and ensuring that our mission is carried out with compassion, effectiveness, and purpose.

Theo Ellington: I’m a third-generation San Franciscan and Bayview native. I grew up on Third Street. My mom raised my brother and me on $18,000 a year working concessions at Candlestick Park. I’m the first in my family to graduate college, and I’ve dedicated my life to giving back and making a difference for the city that made me. I’m running for Supervisor because I know our city can do better for the people who live here, work here, and love southeast San Francisco neighborhoods. District 10 deserves the same focus, urgency, and investment as the rest of San Francisco. My wife and I are raising our three boys here, and I want to ensure our city is a place where all families can afford to live, feel safe, and thrive for generations to come.

JR Eppler: I’m running because I have a deep understanding of how City government works, and a deep commitment to delivering what this District needs so that each of its neighborhoods is complete, vibrant and connected.  I’ve been involved in this community for over a decade. It’s where my wife and I are raising our son. And I’m impressed each and every day by the passion and tenacity of D10 residents. But I’ve also seen how the City has failed this District. Promises made are often not promises kept—and even when they are, communities suffer from half solutions and years-long delays.

Q:  Why should District 10 residents want you to be Supervisor?

DJ Brookter: District 10 residents deserve a Supervisor who delivers results, and I have a proven track record of getting things done. I am results driven, solution oriented, and focused on turning community concerns into meaningful action. I believe representation starts with listening. I am committed to being a Supervisor who is accessible, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of our district. That means engaging directly with residents, partnering with local organizations and small businesses, and working alongside colleagues to move real solutions forward. District 10 needs leadership that combines accountability with action. I will advocate fiercely for our community, work to secure resources, and ensure that our district receives the attention and investment it deserves. Most importantly, I will lead with integrity and a deep commitment to improving the quality of life for every resident.

Theo Ellington: I’ve spent my career delivering for District 10. As a City Commissioner, I helped build more than 1,000 new affordable homes. As the Golden State Warriors’ Director of Public Affairs, I built a coalition of 30,000 residents and helped bring 3,000 good-paying jobs to San Francisco through the Chase Center development. At the Salvation Army, I doubled homeless services, led the organization’s  COVID-19 response, and built a mental health respite center for unhoused residents. Today, I’m leading a cultural renaissance at the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House, our city’s most historic theatre. I’m not making promises about what I’ll do, I’m building on what I’ve done. These issues are personal to me because I lived them.

JR Eppler: I understand how City government works, and how it often does NOT work for D10, and I’m ready to push for the meaningful change we need and listen to the concerns of every resident. Over the years, I’ve worked with so many great community leaders and neighborhood groups and I’ve learned more by listening than talking. So much of delivering results is getting the attention of policy makers and then diving into the details to make plans a reality. And I’m proud that I’ve been able to deliver, from affordable housing at the Power Station to establishing the 55 and 15 Muni routes and implementing safe bike lanes on 17th Street. In addition to my work in the neighborhood, I served on the Board of Appeals—that’s where residents go when they feel the City has failed them. And often, they are absolutely right. I’m proud of the work I did there but I also realized that, as Supervisor, I could work with residents from the ground up to make sure the City gets it right the first time.

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