Sandra Lee Fewer (center left) and her extended family held
a campaign for School Board kick-off event yesterday evening
in the heart of Chinatown.
Photos by Luke Thomas

June 26, 2008

Joined by friends, family, colleagues and new supporters, Sandra Lee Fewer launched her campaign for School Board yesterday in Chinatown.

The event drew over 300 people to the Cathay House Restaurant, where a buffet dinner of wontons, egg rolls, sweet and sour pork and lo mein was served. As is tradition, Chinese lion dancers, youth from the Yau Kung Mon troop, performed at the kickoff to wish the candidate good luck.

“I am honored to announce my candidacy just blocks away from where I was born, in Chinese Hospital,” Fewer told the cheering crowd. “After years of working on education policy that impacts San Francisco’s public schools, I feel prepared to run for the Board of Education.”

Sandra Lee Fewer, file photo.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin led the lineup of elected officials and professional colleagues who spoke in support of Fewer’s candidacy. Other speakers included District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty, School Board President Mark Sanchez, and Andrew Ishibashi, the Principal at Lowell High School. The speakers extolled Fewer’s knowledge of the school system, her commitment to children and families and her decades-long dedication to San Francisco’s public schools.

“It is empowering to see a candidate who has such strong community support—who comes from the grassroots—start off her campaign with so much enthusiasm. This was a strong start for the campaign,” said school board member Jane Kim.

Sandra Lee Fewer, a fourth-generation Chinese-American and graduate of the San Francisco public school system, has devoted much of the last 20 years to improving San Francisco’s schools. Fewer was president of the Parent Teacher Association for 12 terms, served as a member on 10 School Site Councils, and for the last seven years has served as Education Policy and Parent Organizing Director at Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth. Fewer holds a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice and a master’s in public administration.

Fewer’s supporters circulated the room with contribution envelopes and volunteer forms, which attendees eagerly filled. Nearly all attendees offered to help the campaign in some way.

“Have you ever been to such a great kickoff event?” supporter Matt Luton said. “It’s really a testament to Sandra’s ability to bring people together. This will be an exciting race.”